Lighting DEEP reef tanks

[GoToSleep]

My mixed reef tank is over 48" high. The tank is relatively new and I am constantly receiving comments about how I'll never be able to get enough light to the bottom of the tank (I running four 400W MH with LumenMax Elite reflectors over a 3' by 6' footprint).

My questions are:

Who else has a deep(tall) reef tank over 42" (107cm)?

How do you light your tank?

Does anyone have PAR readings from the bottom of their deep tank?

Please post a FTS of you tank if you can.

Is their any interest in a Deep Tank sub-forum within the Large Tank forum?

 

[mm949]

when i tested mine i was around 100-120par at the very bottom w/400w 20k rad's in a lrg lumenarc ....that was w/o the 1000w 12k VHO supplemental
the halides are hanging from an 8' ceiling

here's a pic w/20k's

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here's a pic w/10k's

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here's a recent pic w/(2) extra MH which are all 20k's and full supplemental

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im pretty sure u wont have an issuse w/corals at the bottom

 

[obiwanthegoby]

I personally have a 30" deep tank using 400w. With a 48" deep I know people who have employed 1000w 10K with good results. If you have an aquarium close by that has a deep tank ask them what they use, I know the local one here uses 1000watters. Not much selection at 1000w for color spectrum, mostly 10K. If your doing as you say though and keeping a mixed reef, as long as you keep the sps high in the tank (and some LPS) you should be fine with 400 watts..... good luck,... post some pictures......

Obi

 

[eros]

Radium makes a 1000 watt 20k, I think the bulbs are around $250

 

[GoToSleep]

I personally have a 30" deep tank using 400w. With a 48" deep I know people who have employed 1000w 10K with good results. If you have an aquarium close by that has a deep tank ask them what they use, I know the local one here uses 1000watters. Not much selection at 1000w for color spectrum, mostly 10K. If your doing as you say though and keeping a mixed reef, as long as you keep the sps high in the tank (and some LPS) you should be fine with 400 watts..... good luck,... post some pictures......

Obi

This was my tank last week (just seven weeks old). I only have 2 of the 400W MH turned on in this shot. My LFS does have a tank this depth and it is lit my 400W MHs also. They have 9 lamps over a 4' x 10' footprint.

 

[eros]

It's hard to tell how big that tank is until you see how tiny the powerhead looks on the right side.

This was my tank last week (just seven weeks old). I only have 2 of the 400W MH turned on in this shot. My LFS does have a tank this depth and it is lit my 400W MHs also. They have 9 lamps over a 4' x 10' footprint.