How do you light a 6 ft tank

[DaddyFish]

do you get a lot of light spill mounting them that high?

Actually no. It's a peninsula tank sitting as a great room divider between dining and living room areas. Spillover was a huge concern for me, which is why I decided to try the Reef Breeders. They are well diffused and I get almost zero spillover. My recliner is positioned directly beside the tank, parallel and within inches. I can comfortably watch TV with the tanks lights on, no problem!

 

[tehmadreefer]

My former 180 with 8 bulb t5’s about 5 inches off the surface.

 

[JJSins]

My former 180 with 8 bulb t5’s about 5 inches off the surface.

how many fixtures did you have ?

 

[tehmadreefer]

how many fixtures did you have ?

1. I used the 60 inch t5 retro kit. Much better than any premade fixture.

 

[JJSins]

1. I used the 60 inch t5 retro kit. Much better than any premade fixture.

Do you have a picture or like a link to the kit ? if you dont mind

 

[tehmadreefer]

Do you have a picture or like a link to the kit ? if you dont mind

T5 Retrofit Kit - Bulk Reef Supply

Find T5 Retrofit Kit at Bulk Reef Supply to keep your saltwater aquarium looking its best.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I put a piece of plywood 6x2. Top part had the ballasts under side held the bulbs, drilled holes to run wires through and for heat release then mounted inside open top canopy, but still had the front part able to open and close. You can raise if higher if the canopy if there is room for easy access to tank.

 

[slojim]

you asked about hydra's. I don't recall the name, but there is a user on here who has the same tank as I do, a 30" deep 110. He reported he was happy with a pair of hydra's - they were either 26's or 32's, not the 52/64's. My LFS owner has a 125G at home that I think is 24" deep, he is happy with hydra 26's - but I don't know if it is 2 or 3.
Might depend on if you want clams in the sandbed or softies on the rockscape.

 

[BZOFIQ]

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

It's a myth that you have to change bulbs every 8-12 months. BRS already did a video about this very topic.

 

[BZOFIQ]

They do make a 60" but won't get equal spread throughout the entire tank. Maybe some fillers at the ends ?
please give me some feedback on what to do.

You'll be PERFECLTY fine with a 60" fixture. There is more spill from the T5s than any of the LED fixtures. It will cover the 6 inches on each side easily.

I'm actually working on a build that's 83 x 32 which will be lit with a 60" 80-bulb powermodule hybrid. I have no worries that it will be fully lit.

 

[BZOFIQ]

60” 8 bulb is more than adequate

It's a PAR monster.

 

[JJSins]

You'll be PERFECLTY fine with a 60" fixture. There is more spill from the T5s than any of the LED fixtures. It will cover the 6 inches on each side easily.

I'm actually working on a build that's 83 x 32 which will be lit with a 60" 80-bulb powermodule hybrid. I have no worries that it will be fully lit.

will i be able to have some torches on the bottom with an 8 bulb t5 or is that to much light ?

 

[dragon99]

I'm lighting a WB 7226 (similar dimensions) with an ati hybrid 8 bulb. Mine is mounted fairly high, 13" over water, and gets great coverage on both ends although I did LPS placement on the end because it's slightly lower PAR. I only run the full 8 bulbs for 3hrs a day and I'm getting 200ish par on the bottom.

 

[BZOFIQ]

will i be able to have some torches on the bottom with an 8 bulb t5 or is that to much light ?

You'll be fine. Before the LED craze people had and still have amazing tanks using ATI and other T5 fixtures.

 

[JJSins]

I'm lighting a WB 7226 (similar dimensions) with an ati hybrid 8 bulb. Mine is mounted fairly high, 13" over water, and gets great coverage on both ends although I did LPS placement on the end because it's slightly lower PAR. I only run the full 8 bulbs for 3hrs a day and I'm getting 200ish par on the bottom.

are you running sps ?

 

[Smite]

You'll be PERFECLTY fine with a 60" fixture. There is more spill from the T5s than any of the LED fixtures. It will cover the 6 inches on each side easily.

I'm actually working on a build that's 83 x 32 which will be lit with a 60" 80-bulb powermodule hybrid. I have no worries that it will be fully lit.

Sweet dims!

 

[dragon99]

are you running sps ?

Yep, top to bottom. I've got a few lps peices on the bottom, but mostly acros.

 

[DrZoidburg]

Imo 8 bulb is over kill for some lps types on the bottom. I also only run all 6 for 4 hrs of the day.

 

[NoVa Reefer]

What kind of sps do you have ?

not too much SPS yet (tank has been running about 7 months) - I have some LA Laker scroll coral, montipora, and a few cyphastrea at the moment.

 

[Dolphins18]

I run 3 Hydra 32s and one Hydra 64 on my 6 foot. You will not be growing any SPS with 3.