Lighting a 36" tank

[olkeller]

What kind of lighting would work the best for my tank It is 36l x15wx24h. I plan on the tank being a mixed reef. I am not overly concerned with price and really want to do it right.

[olkeller]

help me please

[smorrow5773]

My sps tank is aga 65. I replaced the center brace with acrylic and run 250w reeflux right in the center. I have a few softies along the left and right where the light intensity is less. T5 would also be a good idea for 3' tanks.

[Ti]

T5 it, or PC it or MH it, or some kind of combo

[chadfarmer]

i would go with a tek 4 or 6 bulbs light

[olkeller]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7542209#post7542209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ti
T5 it, or PC it or MH it, or some kind of combo
LOL This has got to be the best advice I have ever got I'm just teasing Ti I'm glad I finally got some answers I was begining to worry

I like the idea of t-5 but I was worried because of the 24" deep part I was also thinkink 2 -250w MH but I dont want to have to get a chiller for a tank this small. I want the best lighting setup I can get rather than what will work.

[The Grim Reefer]

I think a single 250 watt with a couple of T5's would be good for a mixed reef. Good bright light in the center and lower light out at the ends.

[xtrstangx]

T5

[hahnmeister]

I would go with a 6 bulb T5/Tek unit. Dont worry about the light getting to the bottom. I would only do halide (a single center pendant) if the tank does not have a center brace.

[olkeller]

ya it doesnot have a center brace

[amheck]

I'm thinking about one of these for my upcoming 36" tank (58g - no brace). I'm also considering the Hamilton pendant (1x250w and PC's.)
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AM-75070&Category_Code=Oceanlight-T5

I have the tek fixture on my 20g now and while I like it, I just dont' think I get the best colors out of my stonies.

Aaron

[DrBDC]

On my tank, 36X18X24 I have 2X175mhs with 4X65 pc actinics. I'm swithcing the pc's for either a couple t5's or 2X95 vho actinics. If you want to go with the 175's but want a lot of par use the Iwasaki 15,000K's. I currently use the XM 10,000k's but plan to try the Iwasaki's due to thier great output on the next bulb change.

[Ti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7542910#post7542910 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by olkeller
LOL This has got to be the best advice I have ever got I'm just teasing Ti I'm glad I finally got some answers I was begining to worry

I like the idea of t-5 but I was worried because of the 24" deep part I was also thinkink 2 -250w MH but I dont want to have to get a chiller for a tank this small. I want the best lighting setup I can get rather than what will work.
I would T5 + MH it.

[hahnmeister]

Yeah, 4x39wattT5 with a single 150wattDE in the center would be nice...but a bit costly. A 6x39wattT5 would be just fine. If you go halide, a single 250wattDE pendant would be good with a pheonix 14,000K bulb or EVC 20,000K>>>but I can tell you that the 6x39watt T5s will packa bigger punch than the halides will.

[lvmartian]

will 36 inch t5 bulbs fit in a oceanic canopy? I barely got my vho's in. I haven't seen what any t5 retros look like.

[lvmartian]

who makes 36" T5?

[lvmartian]

who makes 36" T5?

[smorrow5773]

Keep in mind this tank being discussed is only 15"wide, so 4 t5 alone will take up the whole top. So 6 bulbs won't work, and if going combo with mh, then only 2 will fit.

[hahnmeister]

The tek reflectors are only 2" wide, and you can fit 6 of them over a 12" narrow tank if you like...so a 6 bulb unit would work fine. A 15" wide tank could get 6 of the icecap reflectors over it (2.5" each).

6 bulbs can fit fine.

[lvmartian]

who sells the tek products?

[The Grim Reefer]

Reefgeek.com

The Tek retrofit reflectors are about 2 1/4" wide. It is also important to measure the inside opening of the tank. A 12" tank will have closer to an 11" opening due to the trim.

[hahnmeister]

seedsetc.com

Im measuring the total depth of the tek reflectors on my 6x39watt tek fixture, and its coming in at only 11". The reflectors clip together and overlap a bit which eliminates some of their bulk.

[olkeller]

Man now I'm confused.

I would like to do the T-5's for heat reasons I live where it's hot and any thing helps. I currently have a 150w DE but I fill like its just getting by and I want what I need not just what works.

I'm kind of lucky cuz I'm a carpenter and I can build my hood to suit any thing. how far above water is ideal for the t-5?

[hahnmeister]

the lower, the better IMO. Mine are only 2-3 inches above the trim of the tank. You could pair up your 150wattDE with 3 or 4 T5 bulbs and have very nice results.