Light length smaller than tank?

telsonman · Sep 19, 2017

Right now I have a 30g frag tank which is 24x24x12. I have a 4x24 T5 over it. Everything's going fine with it. I have a chance to get a 60g frag tank, which is 48" long. I'm curious if I would be able to use the 24" fixture over the 48" tank. I'm thinking I could raise it a tad higher, and keep my SPS directly under it, and the lower light stuff like mushrooms and leptos, on the ends.

mcarroll · Sep 19, 2017

Still 12" deep? Maybe.

Get a light meter ($12 lux meter at minimum....what I use) and see what levels you get that far from your fixture compared to how far the water surface is now.

telsonman · Sep 21, 2017

yes its still 12" deep. I don't keep my corals on the bottom either. They are on egg crate about 5 inches off the bottom

mcarroll · Sep 21, 2017

I'd still get a light meter....I mean it's only $12 and without it you'll be guessing at your mounting height!

But that's practically no water at all between the corals and the surface – even NO fluorescent tubes might work.

My bet is you'll be at least mostly fine.