View Full Version : Lighting Big Tanks
Jaykit
10-03-2009, 1:48 PM
Hey all,
So I think that I am finally going big getting a 72"x24"'x30"(LxWxH) tank and turning it into a high tech planted system. Question is should I be getting 1x72" light fixture or 2x36" fixtures?
If I went with the 36" I think that I would get a second sundial t5ho and use the other one from my other tank as I have been really pleased with that product. There was only a couple 72" t5ho fixtures that i've found being the nova extreme and the aquatic life. The nova extreme has 468w of light but appear to be only a large single refector where as the aquatic life is 312w of light with single reflectors for each bulb.
Any opinions or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much in advance.
FindingBlemo
10-03-2009, 2:44 PM
You could even get four and lay them out in a grid on the top of the tank. Does your hood have a middle bracket? or bar?
bushwhacker
10-03-2009, 2:59 PM
i have a 60" tank, and trying to find a light fro that is next best thing to impossible. i'm looking into using 2 30 inch fixtures if i can find enough wattage
stratusfearrr
10-03-2009, 3:24 PM
http://www.marineandreef.com/Nova_Extreme_Pro_T5_72_inch_Current_USA_p/rcu01082.htm
This nova extreme boast 468 watts, with single bulb reflectors. I have the nova extreme 4x39 watt light fixture and LOVE it. these fixtures are excellent. Mines on a freshwater tank and its excellent for high-light plants
Jaykit
10-03-2009, 3:50 PM
You could even get four and lay them out in a grid on the top of the tank. Does your hood have a middle bracket? or bar?
There is no hood for this tank so it would be using the legs from the lights and setting them on top off the tank. Not sure that would multiple lights saggered criss-cross would look the best but probably will use this idea with all my old singles fixtures to light the tank while progession takes place.
This nova extreme boast 468 watts, with single bulb reflectors. I have the nova extreme 4x39 watt light fixture and LOVE it. these fixtures are excellent. Mines on a freshwater tank and its excellent for high-light plants
Thats the one I was looking at(different site but same thing), I guess I must have miss read as it does say that each bulb has single relectors. Would 6' of lights heating up sag/deform in the middle though with that much span?
The only problem with the Nova Extreme Pro, is that need to replace 6 bulbs from the start, it ships with 10k and Actinic bulbs. IMO it would be easier to go with 3 150watt MH fixtures instead, especially with a 30" tall tank. Plus if you go with fishneedit.com, you save about $300 too.
http://www.fishneedit.com/150w-metal-halide-pendant-lig.html - Also get a nice choice lighting temps, I like 8000k personally.
Jaykit
10-03-2009, 4:45 PM
So I have read that MH lighting is different than T5HO. With the 3 MH lights would I have to worry about hot and low spots in the tank or if they were positioned properly they would cover the area as good or better than a 72" fixture?
With 3 fixtures, the spread should be pretty even, just space them at 1.5' from each other.
stratusfearrr
10-03-2009, 6:07 PM
i doubt it would sag. those light fixtures are awesome fixtures
Jaykit
10-03-2009, 6:34 PM
With 3 fixtures, the spread should be pretty even, just space them at 1.5' from each other.
I'm a complete rookie when it comes to MH lighting. Is there any certain brand of MH light that is better than the others? Are the ones that you recommended are compareable? If I were to get the MH should I get all 8k bulbs or 2 - 8k and 1 - 6.5k? What is the recommended height above the top of the water for them?
Jaykit
10-04-2009, 1:49 PM
Would a chiller be needed to maintain a temperature of 76 with mh?
mgarrido
10-04-2009, 2:11 PM
I have the same tank and is a planted tank, what I have is a coralife pro 3mh x150w and 4 PC. The mh are 10000k and the PC are 6700k and 10000k, but if you can find the 8800k go whit them. My photoperiod is 9 to 8 the 4 pcs and 12 to 4pm the MH. I have my lights mounted on the roof and over 1.5ft of the top of the tank. Hope this help you.
mgarrido
10-04-2009, 2:13 PM
About the temp, what is your temp? And also depend not just of the ligths.
Jaykit
10-04-2009, 2:20 PM
This is all theoretical right now I'm just trying to plan for when I get it home and help decide which way to go with lighting. It seems if I want the light to penetrate all the way to the substrate I would require the Metal Hallides. I would like keep the tank at 76F and room temp is 70F would the 3 mh cause raising of the temperature?
mgarrido
10-04-2009, 2:28 PM
No, and you don't need the mh on all the time with 4 hours is enough for your deep plants. Also you need a co2 system, i keep mine on 24/7
mgarrido
10-04-2009, 2:33 PM
My tank temp is 85F with no mh, with mh 86F and my room temp is 76F. The coralife pro has the fans on the top of the fixture.
Jaykit
10-04-2009, 3:14 PM
Yes I have a pressurized CO2 system on my smaller tank that I'll be transfering over and upgrading the diffuser for the much larger tank. Would it be possible to run on only 3 mh?