dmilne85
New member
i just bought a new tank and here is my situation. So i ask that you lend me your thoughts, thanks!
As of now i have a 120 gallon(4x2x2 ft) with the current lighting in my canopy:
-4x48 t5's in individual reflectors w/ icecap ballast
-2x 250 watt hqi metal halides in lumenarc mini reflectors w/icecap ballast
my new tank: 150 gallon marineland (36x36x27)- looking at these demensions you can already see that my lighting on the 120 wont fit over.
Secondly, i opted not to buy canopy because of how low it was(wouldnt allow much room for mh's) and it cost 550 dollars. I need to decide how to light this tank and it will be hosting sps only.
Should i buy new reflectors/t5 bulbs that are a foot shorter and shallow metal halide reflectors that would allow me to buy canopy and fit lights in them?
OR do i ditch the canopy and buy some sort of pendant/lighting system that looks pretty. i estimate that will cost just about the same. However im at a complete loss on what products are out there that can offer me the amount of light im currently packing into my 120. i like icecap t5's but they only make retrofiting systems, no other t5 manufatures have seem to catch on to the high ouput ballast yet.
As of now i have a 120 gallon(4x2x2 ft) with the current lighting in my canopy:
-4x48 t5's in individual reflectors w/ icecap ballast
-2x 250 watt hqi metal halides in lumenarc mini reflectors w/icecap ballast
my new tank: 150 gallon marineland (36x36x27)- looking at these demensions you can already see that my lighting on the 120 wont fit over.
Secondly, i opted not to buy canopy because of how low it was(wouldnt allow much room for mh's) and it cost 550 dollars. I need to decide how to light this tank and it will be hosting sps only.
Should i buy new reflectors/t5 bulbs that are a foot shorter and shallow metal halide reflectors that would allow me to buy canopy and fit lights in them?
OR do i ditch the canopy and buy some sort of pendant/lighting system that looks pretty. i estimate that will cost just about the same. However im at a complete loss on what products are out there that can offer me the amount of light im currently packing into my 120. i like icecap t5's but they only make retrofiting systems, no other t5 manufatures have seem to catch on to the high ouput ballast yet.