54 gal corner bowfront lighting help needed!

[bgabitzsch]

I am going insane trying to figure out the best lighting option for my 54 gal corner bowfront! I want to dive into some more corals. Here is what I currently have....a 2X65 watt 30" Coralife pc fixture with 50/50 bulbs. I want to go to t5 but the dimensions are weird obviously. My options are using 24" fixtures for the most part. I like the new finnex 4x24 with LED’s (cool cool cool!), but the lighting may be too weak. I was also thinking a sunpod 150w or 250w mh 24". I would like to cap my bill at 300-400. I would likely scoop up the mh, but the heat scares me a bit. I live in the desert sw and summer is on the way. I know the par ratings for t5 are higher than pc, but that does seem like a wattage hit, and 100w with 9w of LED's seems like a lateral move maybe? I can fit either a 24"l x 12"w OR 30"l x 8"w fixture. The tank is about 20" deep.

I have some basic mushrooms in there now...there are doing ok, but not thriving. They have divided though.

Other stats: about 30# live rock, Rena XP3 canister with carbon and ferric oxide, and a octopus 100ss skimmer. Two clowns, two yellowtail damsels. Tank has been active about 3 years.

Thanks!!!!

[alex.parker]

I run a 250 W MH on my 54. Works great. You'll need a chiller, though.

[MadBeach79]

I use to run a 24" Current USA Outer Orbit 1x150w HQI + 4x24w T5's with no chiller, I had it suspended over my old 54g and it worked out awesome!

[bgabitzsch]

Thanks for the input! Yeah...I really don't think I can swing the chiller. I may go on the cheap for a odyssea 150w mh t5 combo 178w total until the LED lights come down in price. I know they suck...are underpowered, etc etc but I hate to shell out 50-60 bucks to replace bulbs for underpowered pc lighting. Even a cheap underpowered mh will have better PAR I bet. I am not overly impressed with the coralife unit I got. I would bet the odyssea is comparable in quality anyway. I noticed that Current is not putting out much currently. Company going under? :hmm6:

Any other opinions? I can use all the help I can get!

[mchud]

I run a Aqua Light pro 24 inch over mine and it works good. Just change out the bulbs. It has been a decent and reliable light.