Feedback on 36” Wide Lighting options

[Dono]

Hey Everyone!

I’m moving to a 72”L x 36”W x 30”D tank. My plan is to use 5x AI Hydra26 with 4x T5 (50/50 Blue Plus and Actinic). With the pucks facing front to back, will this be enough lighting to cover front to back at 16” above the water? Should I avoid or move towards diffusing the light?

I’d like to hear everyone’s experience lighting a wide tank like this. I’m wondering if I should just get rid of the T5 and add a second row of Hydra?

 

[Zach W]

Have you given any thought towards orphek v4's?

 

[Dono]

I haven’t. For no other reason than I’ve had zero experience with them. I’ve heard anecdotally that they have a serious disco effect. I’m curious how you’d run them on a 72x36”? Height, numbers of units, spacing, etc

 

[Zach W]

I personally don’t run them (currently only have a 20gal) but my LFS has them on their 300gal display and they love them. I’ve read great things about them as well in terms of coral color and growth. They’re rated at max coverage of 48x35 (recommended is smaller 40x24) so you could either run two length wise or 3 width wise. Also greatly depends on what you are growing coral wise and your scape.

If you were planning on 5 hydra 52 HDs you could get 3 of the Orpheks for less money and everything I’m reading/seeing has the orpheks on the cutting edge of LED lighting. Not sure how they would potentially incorporate into a hybrid though

 

[ca1ore]

Even though my tank is 36” wide (96 long and 30 tall) I took a different approach than most by setting up the lights as if the tank were only 24” wide. I like a decent band of sand in the front and did not plan to have any SPS in the front 12 inches anyway so why blast it with light. Approach has worked out brilliantly (if i do say so myself). I can grow LPS no problem in that lower light zone and I eliminate most light spill. Algae growth on the front is also reduced.