Bigger tank Lighting question

[llewella]

I have 4x54W T5HO on my 55 right now. I am upgrading to a 110g. I do have another set of these lights. Do I need to run both sets for 432W of T5 on the 110g, or will one set be enough? I have softies, LPS, and SPS.
Thanks!

 

[ichthyoid]

What are the dimensions of the 110?

 

[llewella]

48"x18"x29

 

[weaglereefer]

Likely you'll need to find a way to overdrive the bulbs in order to provide sufficient lighting to the bottom of that tank, if you stay with T5's that is.

 

[ichthyoid]

Run all 8 you already have (it will look like an arc welder, corals will smile)

 

[weaglereefer]

ichthyoid;471606 wrote: Run all 8 you already have (it will look like an arc welder, corals will smile)

Unfortunately, without individual reflectors, this will not cut it. And most fixtures I've seen that have individual reflectors for T5s are already 18" wide with 6 bulbs, so if they can fit 2 fixtures on there, it's doubtful they are running individuals, but more likely one large reflector for each fixture. And even then, 54w T5's don't penetrate well past 24" or so, and that is when you need to overdrive them to 80w, or switch to MH.

It's not all about the number of bulbs...

 

[cr500_af]

True... but if the light-hungry corals are placed high in the tank, it may be enough. 4x54 isn't going to be enough on that tank under any circumstance IMO.

 

[lilrobb]

That "single" reflector idea is only true to a certain extent.
One bulb will do much better with a single reflector - but with 8 bulbs on a tank that narrow the reflectors won't make much of a difference.
Now the statement that the same amount of bulbs with the same spread between them will be better with individual reflectors is correct, though

QUOTE=au01st;471609]Unfortunately, without individual reflectors, this will not cut it. And most fixtures I've seen that have individual reflectors for T5s are already 18" wide with 6 bulbs, so if they can fit 2 fixtures on there, it's doubtful they are running individuals, but more likely one large reflector for each fixture. And even then, 54w T5's don't penetrate well past 24" or so, and that is when you need to overdrive them to 80w, or switch to MH.

It's not all about the number of bulbs...[/QUOTE]

 

[ichthyoid]

au01st;471609 wrote: Unfortunately, without individual reflectors, this will not cut it. And most fixtures I've seen that have individual reflectors for T5s are already 18" wide with 6 bulbs, so if they can fit 2 fixtures on there, it's doubtful they are running individuals, but more likely one large reflector for each fixture. And even then, 54w T5's don't penetrate well past 24" or so, and that is when you need to overdrive them to 80w, or switch to MH.

It's not all about the number of bulbs...

I recommended this mostly because they already have them, but individuals can work too.

reflector width 2.25 inches
2.25 x 8 = 18 inches

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