AI HYDRA 52 or 26????????????????

[ron323]

cycling a new 550 gallon cube with a 15 gallon sump right now. I am currently looking for a new light for the tank. The dimensions are 24x24x20 and was wondering if the AI HYDRA 26 would be enough or if I would have to spend on the 52. I know bigger is better but do you guys think the 26 would be good enough? please let me know, and also any other suggestions on lights you guys might have used on similar tanks would be appreciated...

 

[ron323]

Bump!!!!!

 

[newe70]

Are you planning to have sps down the road? If so, I would advice go w/ the 52.

 

[ZorroV]

550 must of been a typo but for a 50 gallon cube i would definitely do a hydra 52.

 

[DocHogan]

If it were me... I would do two 26's and mount them from front to back on the tank.

 

[vhuang168]

+1. 2 Hydra 26 would be perfect. Will give you a coverage that is more even. Mount them perpendicular to the front glass so you get a square arrangement from the pucks.

 

[swiftvision]

Why would front to back be any different result then side to side? It's a cube so you got either less lighting on the sides OR the front/back.

 

[Wazzel]

If you want to keep SPS I would suggest starting with 1, 52 on the rails and plan on adding a second down the line. If you are going to do LPS or softies go with the 26, but the same plan. 1 unit will not give you good coverage once things grow in.

 

[vhuang168]

Why would front to back be any different result then side to side? It's a cube so you got either less lighting on the sides OR the front/back.

Because most have the rock work up against the rear pane.

So if he hangs them perpendicular to that, he can put them closer to the rear but spread them out side to side to get more even light spread sideways but less in the front while concentrating the most in the center.