Help me decide on lighting for a 5ft 120

[Dans85]

My original plan was to start a 65g, but plans have changed and we are going with a 5ft 120. I bought 2 G4 xr15 pros for the 65, and knowing that they aren't enough light, I'm looking for more options. I'm wanting this tank to be primarily sps with a few lps and maybe a few cool mushrooms. I have noticed that quite a few people are switching back to t5 and it got me thinking that I might use the xr15s for supplemental light and have a t5 fixture as the main source. I know that everyone recommends the ATI fixtures, but they just don't fit in the budget. I'm looking at the sunblaze fixtures on BRS and they are definitely affordable, so if I do go with t5 this is probably the direction I'll head. So the question is, do I save up and add another xr15 or go t5? Will 3 xr15s be enough for that size of a tank?

 

[jayball]

My original plan was to start a 65g, but plans have changed and we are going with a 5ft 120. I bought 2 G4 xr15 pros for the 65, and knowing that they aren't enough light, I'm looking for more options. I'm wanting this tank to be primarily sps with a few lps and maybe a few cool mushrooms. I have noticed that quite a few people are switching back to t5 and it got me thinking that I might use the xr15s for supplemental light and have a t5 fixture as the main source. I know that everyone recommends the ATI fixtures, but they just don't fit in the budget. I'm looking at the sunblaze fixtures on BRS and they are definitely affordable, so if I do go with t5 this is probably the direction I'll head. So the question is, do I save up and add another xr15 or go t5? Will 3 xr15s be enough for that size of a tank?

What are the dimensions of a 5 ft 120?

 

[Dans85]

60x18x26

 

[jduck]

20x18 should easily cover that with a xr15wpro

 

[BryanS4]

Sell the Xr15's and snag a Sunpower. Only being 18" wide you could get away with a 6x54.

If you want some sort of led down the line save up and add a Reefbrite.