How many lights

slr · Aug 30, 2022

I have a 8 foot long 4 foot wide 32 inches hight tank and I want to do a sps. I have some ai 26s already how many do you think I need

blaxsun · Aug 30, 2022

More than a few. Probably 8 for SPS.

thatmanMIKEson · Aug 30, 2022

Maybe a mixture of different lights could work good for you.

Spare time · Aug 30, 2022

You would want 1 (double puck) AI light per roughly each 24 inch area. I'd set the lights up with the pucks in ":" shape rather than a ". ." arrangement. You could add led bars along the sides to help. Of course, this depends on the coral you keep and where they are placed.

mtraylor · Aug 31, 2022

I would look into the orphek cube light as you will most likely need allot of those lights with some bar supplements for full coverage depending on rock work

slr · Aug 31, 2022

I have 7 so far and one I sent back to ai for repair So I will have a total of 8 hydra 26s. I have 5 sols in the shed I just need a controller for them

nereefpat · Aug 31, 2022

By SPS, do you mean 8x4 of sticks? If so, I don't think you'll be happy with 8 Hydra 26 as the corals grow and branch out. Although you could start with that.

mtraylor · Aug 31, 2022

Those hydra 26's are only like 90 watts I think. Obviously that is with all channels at 100%. Not sure you will run them that way....but even if you did. The tank is 48" wide. You will need to put led bars or t5 supplement lighting for sps all along the sides. If you are set on those lights to save some chips. You may get descent PAR you want through middle of aquarium. You simply will just not get good spread for 48". That is why I would go with something different. But I guess you could do your rock work based on middle of aquarium. That may work for you