Upgrade lighting?

[2bafish]

I currently run 2 4 bulb t5 ho fixtures on my 8 foot reef tank. I can get a decent deal on a 6 bulb t5 fixture. Is it worth upgrading to 2 6 bulb fixtures compared to 4 bulbs. Or should I save up for metal halides?

 

[Electrobes]

This is tricky, to be honest. Are you current lights not holding up to snuff? Do you think that the upgraded T5's will be enough? Halides are still pervasive in the market, and do well, but cooling may be an issue that you'd have to keep up with, not that T5's are perfect either.

 

[2bafish]

I have an open top tank so heat might not be an issue with halides. I would like to keep clams and anemones but I doubt t5 lights are strong enough. It's a 30 inch deep tank.

 

[shred5]

Well you dont say the dimentions of the tank or what t-5 fixture you can get. A wider tank requires more bulbs.

A t5 fixture can put out as much or more average par than a halide dpeneding on how good a fixture it is.

 

[2bafish]

Tank is 20 inches wide. Sorry forgot to mention that

 

[shred5]

Tank is 20 inches wide. Sorry forgot to mention that

Yea 6 to 8 lamps of t-5 would be necessary for full coverage front to back on a 20 inch tank. 8 for sure if its full blown sps tank.