qestion for grimm

[mrpet]

Do you think that two 8 lamp tek t5 54 watt t5 fixture over my aqaurium thats 72x48x25would be enough lighting? tanks going to be mostly SPS, I would be running the lights vertically from front to back rather then side to side. i guess im going to have to
go with the ic and diy it. was going to go with 6 ic 660s and
16 80w bulbs with ic reflectors just trying to save some cash
i can diy the 2nd option for about 1500.00 dont think i can do any better the fauna hoods are out just not going to work...

thanks

scott

 

[horkn]

you will get some weird light contrasts with different bulbs when running them front to back.

I suggest the DIY route

 

[mrpet]

thanks did not think about that....

 

[hahnmeister]

I know someone that has a rather similar tank.... 84x36x25"h. He went with 3x250wattDE + 6x54wattT5s. The halides are better at producing full range (10,000Ks), and the T5s are better at making blue (ATI blue+ bulbs)... together, they are the most potent combo. That would be my suggestion, esp if you want SPS. If you go all T5, you should be looking at something like 20 54watt bulbs. Yep, 20! Keep in mind that that is really only 1080 watts, but yeah... 20 bulbs is alot.