48" T5 Fixture over 60" Tank?

[SnowDog]

Opinions on 48" T5 over a 60" tank? Will I get decent coverage at the ends? Or do I need to go with a full 60" fixture?

Thanks!
EB

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It's probably fine.

 

[A. grandis]

I would go 60", but that will also depending on the aquascape and/or what you're keeping.
I aways prefer to use T5 fixtures that covers the whole tank.
Length and width...

Grandis.

 

[Reefbuds]

I use a 36" T5 over a 48" tanks. I only get coverage under the 36" light. Maybe a little more but defintly not full coverage. I use LED as well tho so the T5 is more of a targeted supplement. As stated it will depend on your aquascape, if things are placed beneath it they will be fine, but the edges may suffer

 

[A. grandis]

I use a 36" T5 over a 48" tanks. I only get coverage under the 36" light. Maybe a little more but defintly not full coverage. I use LED as well tho so the T5 is more of a targeted supplement. As stated it will depend on your aquascape, if things are placed beneath it they will be fine, but the edges may suffer

Yeah... I would add that if he is buying the T5 fixture now, please get the 60" already because the worse thing is to get a brand new small fixture and realize that he wanted a bigger one later. That is true in most cases!!!
Now... if he already has and old 48", then he can try that first... Most likely to change later for a nice 60" with full coverage.
Grandis.

 

[Daniel Waters]

Depends on how high up you plan to place the light. Most people keep a few inches clear on the sides of their tank for cleaning purposes anyway, so a 48" light centered on a tank at 8" high for example should provide light through the whole tank easily enough but intensity on the edges will be less (so your rockwork and planned coral and coral placement will play a factor). A 60" fixture might cause too much light spill if you plan on having it raised very high off the tank, but in general, T5 reflectors do a good job of pointing light more down versus some LEDs with wide angle lenses (like 120 degree lenses)

 

[Charterreefer]

If you already have a 48" fixture try it out. If you're buying new get the 60". Even if you don't put corals out to the far ends of the tank you will get less shadowing. i.e the light from the far ends of the tank will be shining in and onto the coral from the right and left sides and will look more balanced.