Lighting Question

[cthedaytrader]

Hello,

I have a tank with unusual dimensions and was wondering which fixture you would recommend.

My tank is 40L x 24W x18H

I was looking at the infinity DDE 2x150, will this be able to cover my dimensions?

I saw the DSE only comes in 250W, I just can't see having 500W over the tank when it is only 18inches deep.

The other fixture I was looking at was Infinity XR6 1 250W, but I wasnt sure if that would have enough coverage for a 40inch Long tank.

Any suggestions would be very helpful.

Thanks
Chris

[Aquatics Elite]

Originally Posted by cthedaytrader

Hello,

I have a tank with unusual dimensions and was wondering which fixture you would recommend.

My tank is 40L x 24W x18H

I was looking at the infinity DDE 2x150, will this be able to cover my dimensions?

I saw the DSE only comes in 250W, I just can't see having 500W over the tank when it is only 18inches deep.

The other fixture I was looking at was Infinity XR6 1 250W, but I wasnt sure if that would have enough coverage for a 40inch Long tank.

Any suggestions would be very helpful.

Thanks
Chris

For a tank your size I would first suggest the 36" Stealth T5/HQI combo fixture with 8 T5 and 2x150 MH. This would be the best option for you. However, if you are set on the Infinity design, I would definately go with the DDE as a single lamp will definately not provide enough coverage. The DDE may be questionable as well but with twin lamps and off-centered positioning the DDE may be enough. A 24" fixture usually still performs well on a 36" tank but adding an extra 2" to the inset would perhaps worry me. I guess it also depends on your rock work and how close to the ends of your tank you plan to keep SPS.

[cthedaytrader]

Thanks for the information, I will have to keep thinking about it. I am kind of stuck on the infinities, plus I also don't know if I want 8 t-5s in addtion to the MHs.

I should add that the inside dimensions of my tank are actually 39inches, 40 inches outside and 1/2inch glass, with a right corner overflow, making 1.5 inches on each end. I plan on keeping at least two to 3 inches between my rock work and the edges as well, so I can clean it, but that doesnt mean the sps wont keep growing lol.

I also saw this older study of the xr4

http://www.korallenriff.de/Sindelfin...essung_06.html

which had the light spread, showing the drop off on a 35 inch tank. I didnt know if the knew models had the same spread or not?

Plus I thought the DDE might help out even more.

My other concern in the t5's I am guessing they will definetly have less spread, and I would end up with some dead spots on the edges.

Thanks for the help, any other input would be appeciated.

[Aquatics Elite]

If you are more set on the Infinity design then I would say you are best to go with a DDE/DSE just to give you that extra coverage towards the ends of the fixture. If you decided to go with the 250w model you will then have more flexibility in allowing you to raise the fixture to achieve more adequate coverage where needed while still maintaining, or still exceeding, the level of illumination a 150w fixture would provide. Believe it or not, I do know someone who ran a 1x400w XR6 on a 60" tank. That's not to say it is ideal, but it was still effective.