Size of light

[izzyfish73]

I have a 55 gallon 48" wide tank. I currently have a live rock setup. I'd like to move toward beginning a reef. Baby steps though. My first question is whether I should get the 36-48" or the 48-60" version of the Current USA Orbit Marine LED Saltwater Reef Lighting System.

I'm concerned the shorter one won't light the whole tank or the longer one might bleed light obnoxiously outside the tank. Maybe these lights don't really do that??

Also, what is a great thing to add for a person taking baby steps into the reef world? I've been in saltwater in general for about 5 years now. 2 clowns that have been with me through all the crappy water problems and stuff, along with a grama, a chromis, a cardinal, coral beauty angel (reef caution, I know ), and little clown goby.

 

[Ron Reefman]

izzy, is this going to be a fish only tank? Or fish with easy, low light corals?

If not, may I suggest, the first thing you should do is search the RC posts for info on Current Orbit led fixtures. They use leds at 0.3 to 0.5 watts, which is fine if your tank is 12" deep or even 18" deep and you are going to do soft coral (low light).

Look at all the other led fixtures out there and they use 3.0 watt or even 5.0 watt leds.

As to your specific question, a fixture that is 32" to 36" wide (the light, not the legs!) will do a fairly good job covering a 48" tank. You may need to mount it a bit higher than the typical 8" to 12" off the water to really light up the ends of the tank. The led lenses make a difference as well. Bare leds are 120 degree spread, most aquarium fixtures have 90 degree lenses added on. Removing the additional lenses at the ends of the fixture can help with the coverage of a 48" tank.

Good luck.