Is one bulb ok for a tank 32" in length?

[M Woodhill]

I am about to set up a tank 32" in length and 30" in width and planning to use an XM bulb of 250 watts 10K with a lumimax.

So is one bulb enough? Some told me I need too bulbs cuz one bulb can cover only 10"*10".

 

[Nanook]

Typically, a metal halide covers a 24"x24" area. Some reflectors will spread the light out a bit wider depending on what you want to do. I have a 30"x30" frag tank and am using two single ended 250 watt bulbs in Lumenmax II reflectors and it is perfect.

 

[Justdrew]

I used a Lumenbright mini wide to cover a 30 x 30 tank with no problems. You could get the Lumenbright large and have no worries at all with a single bulb.

 

[lolgranny]

Im using one 250w 14k ushio on a crappppppppyyyy coralife fixture which i would have never bought, but it works and i can grow sps on my 36" tank on each side. Have no issues with color and growth to be honest.

If i was you you could always use the 1 for now and upgrade, personally i would use 2 if i had the $ right now.

 

[allsps40]

I have a single 250w Reef Optics3 pendant over my 36 inch long tank. I have sps in all corners and get pretty good growth.