need help with lighting issues!

[fourlittlefish]

i have an oceaniac 175 bow front tank. it is going to be fish only but will contain certin corals due to the fish i have selected.

right now i have:
mushroom clusters(around the middle)
4 head frogspawn( at top)
and a small leather(at top)

was wondering the best way to light my tank so they are happy but also do it the most cost efficant way. I was thinking 4 or 8 T5's i know metal halides are expensive and HOT! so if the T5's will work on my 24" deep tank would work please let me know if 4 or 8 would do it.

 

[weaglereefer]

T5's will be great. How long is the tank?

 

[fourlittlefish]

i have a 175 oceaniac bow front tank witch is fish only due to my fish selection. i do have some corals though.

mushroom clusters( in middle)
4 head frogspawn ( at top)
small toad stool leather (at top)

i want to put T5's and not sure if it will be ok for a 24" deep tank.

any help or ideas will be great thanks

 

[fourlittlefish]

72" by 24" deep

 

[weaglereefer]

4x72" bulbs should be enough light for some shrooms and frogspawn. If you get a unit with individually contoured reflectors it would be best.

 

[fourlittlefish]

So then 6 or 8 would be the best??

 

[weaglereefer]

How far is it front to back (I know it's bowed, how far at the ends and center?)

It depends. Are you going to retro fit some stuff into a canopy, or are you wanting a fixture. A good 6 bulb fixture will outperform an okay 8 bulb fixture, it's about finding what you want, first. Are you going to want more corals in the future?

 

[fourlittlefish]

17" on the end and 24" dead center.

I will put more corals in over time (shrooms,leathers,frogspawns that kind of stuff) i have 2 semilavartis (golden butterflys) in now and they will eat any small polypd stuff. So yes more corals over time.

I do not want to retro fit anything i want a fixture ican "plug in and play" kinda deal and i have found some on ebay and gogle round 300-600 and i dont know much and wanted your advice on what knid of brand and such.

 

[weaglereefer]

Most 6-8 bulb fixtures will be wider than 18" and hang off the ends. Really, a 4 bulb fixture with individually contoured reflectors will be just fine for those corals and probably the most cost efficient as well.

I don't have much info on manufacturers, but ATI and Tek will be on the upper end (and you may have to get your own bulbs), with Current in the middle, and some no-names on the lower end.

 

[jason sartain]

You should be able to grow these corals with T-5's.A nice 6 or 8 bulb four foot fixture should be fine.

fourlittlefish;453020 wrote: i have a 175 oceaniac bow front tank witch is fish only due to my fish selection. i do have some corals though.

mushroom clusters( in middle)
4 head frogspawn ( at top)
small toad stool leather (at top)

i want to put T5's and not sure if it will be ok for a 24" deep tank.

any help or ideas will be great thanks

 

[fourlittlefish]

will it still be prety bright? and what about nova????

 

[weaglereefer]

A Nova Extreme Pro with the individual reflectors would work just fine.

 

[jason sartain]

We're two threads merged here?

 

[fourlittlefish]

ok i will be on the look out for a good t5 fixture. if you know of any one who might have one please let me know. i am offically on the market now.

 

[fourlittlefish]

yes