Diving in and Need Help on # of LED fixtures

[billafish]

Been reading the forum for some time, but just joined today to hopefully get some help. I am having a custom acrylic tank built, and ready to start my first planted tank. Here is the set up I will have waiting for the aquarium

112 gallon tank
60" x 24" x 18"

Fluval FX5 filter
Semi Automatic Dr. Foster & Smith CO2
API First Layer Pure in the substrate
Marineland 48"-60" Plant specific LED fixture

Now, my major question is whether the one Marineland fixture will be enough to grow plants, or if I will have to bite the bullet and purchase another one.

Thanks so much!!

[somewhatshocked]

The Marineland fixture will not be appropriate, as the light itself will only cover about 48" of your tank - right in the center. It won't provide much for the six inches of tank space on either side.

Have you considered other LED lighting options like those from Finnex? They're a forum sponsor and are worth checking out.

What kind of plants will you house? Will you be dosing ferts? Using CO2?

[billafish]

I actually already have the Marineland light. I was thinking about getting two (if completely necessary) and offsetting them so they covered each side of the tank. I wanted to see how one would produce before spending the additional money.

Yes, I will be using a CO2 drip and ferts.

[billafish]

Let me restate that. I have the Marineland light. I bought it on eBay, I suppose I could re-sell it if need be if Finnex had a led fixture that would work, but looking through their site, it seems they do not have anything that would go 60" across.

[l8nite]

The finnex fixtures have pretty good coverage/spillover. I have two 48" ones for my 60" tank coming this weekend. I'll let you know how it does.