Looking for lighting tips

[P.Kelly]

I have a 92 gallon corner tank. It is a standard All Glass unit and measures 36 x 36 x24 tall and of course is a quarter circle radius across the front. Like so:

I have the following lighting that I can use in a custom hood that I will be building. What are your suggestions, and why? I plan on keeping a large quantity of soft and LPS coral at all heights in the tank. I will probably have a small quantity of SPS as my wife decides that there are particular pieces that she likes. In general we both prefer soft and LPS over SPS.

- (1) 175 watt single ended metal halide with Ice Cap electronic ballast
- (2) 175 watt single ended metal halide with PFO dual magnetic ballast
- (2) 96 watt 24" power compact
- (2) 96 watt 24" power compact
- (2) 36" VHO with dual PFO ballast (wattage unknown off the top of my head)
- (2) moonlights

I have 10k and 14/15k (maybe even 20k) MH bulbs, actinics for the VHO and I think 10k and actinics for the PC.

In general I seem to like to look of 10k MH with actinic supplementation over 20k MH.

Given the triangular shape of the tank, 36" of lighting is the biggest I can fit, and only across the front of the tank.

 

[1F2FRFBF]

Sounds like the dual VHO actinics and the dual halides may be the way for you to go.

I have a 54 corner with a single halide and 2 T5's for actinics, and I set it up so that the halide is in the center with the actinics running almost parallel with the two sides of the tank.

 

[cdangel0]

Not that this option is in your list of choices - but FWIW

I have the same tank - I run a 6 bulb 36" T5 unit and it works beautifully. I am not sure how much useable light the MH lights will provide at the bottom of your tank. These things are really kinda deep.

 

[P.Kelly]

I just read an article that said MH have a greater depth than T5. Can anyone point me at a good source for depth and lumen/brightness reduction?