How do you light a 6 ft tank

[JJSins]

Looking at getting my dream tank, the waterbox 220.6 ( 72.3"×25.3"×23.6" ) but looking to have a sps dominated. I do like the ati sunpower for t5s but they do not make 72" ones. They do make a 60" but won't get equal spread throughout the entire tank. Maybe some fillers at the ends ? or what about some of these LINK ?
Don't really want to spend an arm and a leg on lighting when I have seen some successful reefers with big tanks not using the high end lights ?
please give me some feedback on what to do.

Also would 3 hydra 32HDs do justice knowing that they have a 24x24 spread ?
or
what about the Kessil A360X ?

Thanks

 

[lazlodawg]

Can you buy two 36" fixtures?

 

[JJSins]

Can you buy two 36" fixtures?

Whats over $400 of bulbs every 8-12 months, I feel as I might as well get LEDs.

 

[btackerman]

I had 3 hydra 26s and that had supported softies and clam growth in my 6 ft 400 gallon.

 

[DrZoidburg]

I Have an ati that takes 6 80 w bulbs it is pretty good for that. Only about 3-4 inches get marginally less par on the sides. Good spot for lower light sps.

 

[tehmadreefer]

The 60 inch t5’s is more than sufficient. I’d go with an 8 bulb however.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Whats over $400 of bulbs every 8-12 months, I feel as I might as well get LEDs.

Gotta pay to play!

 

[JJSins]

I Have an ati that takes 6 80 w bulbs it is pretty good for that. Only about 3-4 inches get marginally less par on the sides. Good spot for lower light sps.

what size tank do you have ? 6 ft ?

 

[Smokeshow]

Built a canopy and have 3 160W Blackbox leds on top. It's a 125gal

 

[DrZoidburg]

They are on a 6 ft 220.

 

[DrZoidburg]

Roughly 170 par on the bottom and 330 on some of the higher rocks. The sides of the higher rocks towards the end about 180 if I remember right.

 

[NoVa Reefer]

I have 4 Kessil A-360x’s on my waterbox 220.6 and corals seem to doing fine. Mix of LPS and some Sps.

 

[JJSins]

I have 4 Kessil A-360x’s on my waterbox 220.6 and corals seem to doing fine. Mix of LPS and some Sps.

What kind of sps do you have ?

 

[JJSins]

Roughly 170 par on the bottom and 330 on some of the higher rocks. The sides of the higher rocks towards the end about 180 if I remember right.

do you know how deep your tank is ?

 

[JJSins]

Built a canopy and have 3 160W Blackbox leds on top. It's a 125gal

do you know the par ?

 

[DrZoidburg]

Roughly 29 inches.

 

[Jekyl]

3 kessil ap9x

 

[Smokeshow]

do you know the par ?

No par readings yet. Just upgraded from a 75 2 weeks ago so have the lights on their lowest settings to let the coral I have acculamate to the new lights

 

[JJSins]

The 60 inch t5’s is more than sufficient. I’d go with an 8 bulb however.

for a 72 inch tank how high would I have to mount them for a full tank spread ?

 

[DrZoidburg]

I have mine about 9 -10 inches off the water.