SPS Lighting question

[liquidcowboy]

I am in the process of gathering everything to eventually set up a new tank. The tank is a 48x48x24 cube, which is ~190gal. My question is would a T5HO fixture 8x54w be sufficeint for this tank? The light fixture is aprox. 23in. wide. Would the light spread enough across the tank if this was positioned over the middle of the tank?

 

[Allmost]

ID go with more,

although you can still grow corals directly under the fixture and leave the rest of the area empty for fish to swim

 

[liquidcowboy]

So I should do 2 of these fixtures over the tank? Would that be too much light at 16x54w?

 

[Allmost]

well I have a friend who has the same tank size and he is running 12 T5s, Excellent growth and coloration.

 

[liquidcowboy]

Ok cool. Thanks for the info guys. So I guess I will get two fixtures and hang them both above the tank. Any suggestions on which bulbs and quantity of each to run?

 

[LifeAquatic]

If your tank is 24" wide and the fixtre is 23" wide how would you add more lighting? Thats the most you can put over that tank. 54wt t5 is for the 48" fixture. Sounds like a perfect fit.

 

[LifeAquatic]

My mistake... Go with two of those fixtures. Thats tank is going to rock. = )

 

[liquidcowboy]

My mistake... Go with two of those fixtures. Thats tank is going to rock. = )

LOL Thanks! Yea this tank is about a year in planning so far and I am about 4 months away from actually getting to finally set it up. I have never done SPS before so I am lost at trying to figure out the whole lighting issue.

 

[liquidcowboy]

Any recommendations or suggestions for what bulbs to use?