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24" tall Hex Lighting options?

775 views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  lbacha 
#1 ·
Hey, I have a 24" deep (40gal?) hex tank that I plan on building a brackish setup. I dont know too much about lighting but from browsing I figure a 4x24 t5HO would be the solution. Assuming that would work, the main question I am wondering is about the light positioning.

My tank top dimensions are 19 1/2 from side to side, and 22 1/2 from corner to corner.

This light setup http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=71_136&products_id=1411 has a width of 8 inches which I was thinking might be too thin and not allow sufficient light to certain parts on the tank.

My other option would be two 2x T5HO spaced out more. The two would look something like this.

 
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#2 ·
I think I would try to get http://www.directaquarium.com/Current-USA-Aquarium-Lighting-2X18w-18in-p/10478.htm with two 6700K or one 6700K and one 10,000K bulb in it. And, I would hang it about 6-10 inches above the top of the tank to get good spread of the light. I haven't seen any PAR data for 18 inch T5HO bulbs, and older Current Nova lights didn't have very good reflectors, but this one may have a good one.
 
#3 ·
so you think 36Watts is enough? Is T5HO light especially penetrating or something? Because that comes out to be less than 1 watt per gallon in my 40G which I believe is considered to be extremely low? Correct me if I am wrong:icon_frow
 
#4 ·
Watts per gallon doesn't mean anything. T5HO lights are very bright, which is all you need. All light "penetrates" equally well, because it takes more than 2 feet of water to absorb enough light to mean anything. In fact the water helps focus the light better, so you get more light with water in the tank, than without water in the tank.
 
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