[Maxlugar]

After years of trying to get lower level lush grasses to grow like a thick carpet, I'm finally thinking of going Metal Halide. I've been running a Coralife power compact with 2 x 65w 6700 and 2x65w 10,000 on my 72 gallon bowfront and I feel the tank is just too deep to get the bottom plants growing like you see in the books. I inject C02. I've tried long lighting times and shorter. Not sure what else to do. Can anyone recommned fixtures and bulbs for this size tank in Metal Halide?

 

[roybot73]

Tank dimensions?

 

[londonloco]

Think 10x before doing it. I had MH lighting when my 120g was a reef. I recently changed over to planted, and changed all my tanks over to T5's. I like T5's much better. And so does my electric bill.

 

[Maxlugar]

Think 10x before doing it. I had MH lighting when my 120g was a reef. I recently changed over to planted, and changed all my tanks over to T5's. I like T5's much better. And so does my electric bill.

So T5 is in between the Carolife power compact set up and the MH?

 

[Maxlugar]

Tank dimensions?

Gotta measure. Not sure. Thought it was the same as a 55 gal but the bow front gives it the extra 17 gallons?

 

[rich815]

Go T5HO, unless you like algae, and enjoy trimming your stem plants 2-3x a week.

 

[GTR]

The other thing with MH is you'll don't have the option of reducing/increasing the amount of light, it's either on or off. With T5 and multiple ballasts not everything has to be on at the same time. Also with multiple T5 you have some options for mixing color temps to get the look you prefer.

I think that bowfront is a little less than 24" tall

SteveU