T5 Purchase help needed

[jdmcdowe]

Grim,
Need your help. Tank setup 72x18x24 3in sand bed, 4x110 48in VHO lighting, mostly softies, polyps, zoo's, would like to move up to T5 lighting and start adding LPS, clams and few SPS. Looking at ATI 6x80 60in, 8x80 60in and constellation 72in. 8 bulbs may be to wide, the inside top of the tank is only 16.5 with the lip. Bulbs setup also is needed. thanks

 

[swhaley40]

If you don't want the darker spots on the side, you won't be dissappointed with the constellation, I love mine. For bulbs, I would do a mix of ATI blue plus and aquablue specials, and a Fiji purple. Depending on how blue you want the tank, sub more blue plus for aquablue. I'm currently running 2 blue plus, 2 aquascience 22k(basically blue plus), 2 aquablues, and a Fiji purple. This is still a little too white for me(the aquablues are bright). I'm thinking of adding another blue plus for an aquablue.

 

[hansmatt]

I know of others who use 60" bulbs for 72" tanks with good luck. The PM is very bright, fantastic fixture. I have a 6 bulb on my 90g ,18wide, and it fits perfect. The ends without direct light would be good for low light stuff...my acans on the sandbed are blown away from the intensity & needed to be shaded. 3-4 blue+, fiji purple, and 1 aquablue special is a nice mix that makes things pop.

 

[jdmcdowe]

Thanks for the info, as they say it's up to me,-