With that sort of depth involved (29 in.) you will be best off with MH to get the maximum light intensity.
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SunlightSupply's LumenMax has been getting great reviews also PFO pendants are good. Both are ~$140ea. Both do a really good job at light distribution. 2 pendants would be in order. Factoring ballasts and bulbs and I'm afraid we are well above you $400 budget. HQI is the way to go for MH imo. Reeftankers are constantly upgrading lights and you can easily find good deals on ebay or cragslist etc. Probably go 250watters so you can raise them up to get the light spread you'll want
If you have a canopy on your aquarium I would highly suggest some ICECAP t5 retrokits. KILLER reflectors. Being able to evenly space them across your tank would be ideal. 6 would grow your HC. The PFO retrokits as the poster stated are very nice..in a canopy.
If you have or are aiming for an open tank look the TEK 6x -should- grow your HC how you would like. The 324 Tek watts are going to blow away the 390 from your current fixtures. If you are getting pretty good HC growth by draining 7 inches of water I think the 6x should suffice. The 8x is only what $30 more..? My concern would be getting enough light front to back. I haven't read anything regarding TEK fixtures in such a wide tank. 8 lamps would be nice, and perhaps would be a good idea for the flexibility, extra width, and added oomph if needed
Stay away from the sunpod..
Aquactinics Constellation 7x54w T5HO.. really kick ass wtfpwn light man, this fixture will rock your tank... and I'd be jealous big time
Call/Email Bob for TEKs at SeedsEtc He has a store on ebay..free shipping and geissmanns for $15. Thats a lot of saved money on shipping. 8xtek = $540 shipped and bulb'd. nice
ps: sweet tank! all that depth and height must be fun to scape!
If you have a canopy on your aquarium I would highly suggest some ICECAP t5 retrokits. KILLER reflectors. Being able to evenly space them across your tank would be ideal. 6 would grow your HC. The PFO retrokits as the poster stated are very nice..in a canopy.
If you have or are aiming for an open tank look the TEK 6x -should- grow your HC how you would like. The 324 Tek watts are going to blow away the 390 from your current fixtures. If you are getting pretty good HC growth by draining 7 inches of water I think the 6x should suffice. The 8x is only what $30 more..? My concern would be getting enough light front to back. I haven't read anything regarding TEK fixtures in such a wide tank. 8 lamps would be nice, and perhaps would be a good idea for the flexibility, extra width, and added oomph if needed
Stay away from the sunpod..
Aquactinics Constellation 7x54w T5HO.. really kick ass wtfpwn light man, this fixture will rock your tank... and I'd be jealous big time
Call/Email Bob for TEKs at SeedsEtc He has a store on ebay..free shipping and geissmanns for $15. Thats a lot of saved money on shipping. 8xtek = $540 shipped and bulb'd. nice
ps: sweet tank! all that depth and height must be fun to scape!
Aye..albeit Knott is a premier aquascaper, even so.. it show it can be done beautifully. Surely he is using retrokits of some sort.
Like I posted before the 6x54 should be enough, but the TEK fixtures are quite narrow and given the marginal price increase from 6->8...
Rauls suggestion for the hellolight retros would be a great option. The reflectors look very similar to PFO/Lumenmax. My only concern would be the longevity and quality of the ballasts and protecting the 'fixture' from condensation.
I'm sure you could get 2 LumenMax and do some homework regarding ballasts to fit your budget.
It's really a toss up from those..well IMO. MH can make a tank look really pretty.
I can totally understand your feelings regarding dumping more money into a tank replacing something you already spent a lot of money on. I have a closet with all sort of broken inadequate and idle equipment.. some bought at the LFS for way too much. Your current fixtures are still good for people with smaller tanks and you could help out someone just getting started by selling them here for a decent price to recoup some of your losses..trust me you are not alone
Like I posted before the 6x54 should be enough, but the TEK fixtures are quite narrow and given the marginal price increase from 6->8...
Rauls suggestion for the hellolight retros would be a great option. The reflectors look very similar to PFO/Lumenmax. My only concern would be the longevity and quality of the ballasts and protecting the 'fixture' from condensation.
I'm sure you could get 2 LumenMax and do some homework regarding ballasts to fit your budget.
It's really a toss up from those..well IMO. MH can make a tank look really pretty.
I can totally understand your feelings regarding dumping more money into a tank replacing something you already spent a lot of money on. I have a closet with all sort of broken inadequate and idle equipment.. some bought at the LFS for way too much. Your current fixtures are still good for people with smaller tanks and you could help out someone just getting started by selling them here for a decent price to recoup some of your losses..trust me you are not alone
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