Need Opinions?

[douglam]

Currently i am running a 2x150 sunpod over my 40 breeder. I have the tank set up with the short side against a walls it can be viewed from the 2 long and 1 short side. with light running down the middle of the tank i am not getting the light coverage i would like throughout the tank. there are a lot of shaded areas where the rockwork is taller. I am planning to do something about it but would like opinions.

A) switch to a Current Nova Extreme pro 6x39 watt T5
B) Build a hood to accomodate the sunpod and add t5 supplementation
C) Nothing
D) Save up for a long time and buy an Outer Orbit Fixture.

 

[oldsaltman]

I have two 400w MH and two 54w T5sw on the top of my 90g and I have lots of shadows in the rockwork. I think that is a good thing.

 

[douglam]

the shadows are making it very hard to place corals. even the corals that i place almost right in the middle under the lights are shaded on the viewing side. light is very focused under the reflectors, im a little disatisfied with the size of the sunpod reflectors.

 

[macreefster]

i used to use a sunpod, but after switching to lumenmax reflectors i don't know what i was thinking when i had the sunpod...... there is no comparison! the sunpod is a nice fixture for narrow width tanks, but their small reflectors just don't get the job done.

IMO if you want more spread of light, go with high quality reflectors, you won't believe the difference.

 

[luther1200]

I would try a new reflector. That should be plenty of light for that tank.

 

[douglam]

i considered building hood and purchasing all the necessary lighting components, but its just to costly. Would the Nova extreme T5 fixture be enough light for my tank. I was considering it because its is a good deal wider than the sunpod and i thought this may allow for better light coverage.

 

[douglam]

any more ideas. does anyone think its a bad idea to switch to the NEP 234 watt T5 fixture?

 

[luther1200]

What do you want to have in the tank?

 

[douglam]

i want to keep a mixed reef with mostly SPS. I want to be able to keep them on the tob as well as down the sides of the rock work probably as far as 3/4 of the way down the tank so about 12 inches below the top of the water.

 

[luther1200]

Many people say they keep SPS under T-5's. I don't have any experience with them though. I have only used MH+PC combo. But I have a 65 that is 22" tall and I can keep SPS alomost all the way on the bottom. And that is with 2-150w MH and 2-65w PC.

Can you get a picture?