Which T5 fixture for a 3ft aquarium

[Wesley42079]

I am looking to purchase a 37.5 gallon acrylic aquarium. The dimensions are 36 inches Length x 15 inches width x 16 inches height.

I am debating on purchasing a ATI Sunpower 4x24 with no bulbs for $200 or a Teoh:k 6x36 with 2 week old bulbs (all ATI) for $300.

My question is, will a ATI 24" fixture be enough coverage for a 36" long tank LPS only tank or should I purchase the 36" Tek?

 

[bonomo53]

i got the tek elite 6 bulb and love it haven't had any problems with it only problem with the regular tek fixture is that it docent have any fans so it will prob heat up your tank and the bulb don't last as long

 

[ronnie]

I like my aquactinics TX5 T5 fixture over my 40B. Plenty of light. There is a fan for cooling as well.

 

[CaiN]

depends what corals you want to grow.

 

[Wesley42079]

i got the tek elite 6 bulb and love it haven't had any problems with it only problem with the regular tek fixture is that it docent have any fans so it will prob heat up your tank and the bulb don't last as long

How many hours are you running your lights on? And how often do you change your bulbs?

I currently have a Sunpod 150w 14k running on my BC29 and am looking to upgrade tank size.

 

[Wesley42079]

depends what corals you want to grow.

I will only have LPS (chalice, acan, frogspawn, zoas/palys).

If I decide to go sps, just figured I can place them at the top portion of my tank.

 

[Acrokeeper3729]

go with the 36 inch unit. I have a 36 inch tank and had a 24inch powermodule and was not happy with it. I changed to a 36 inch sunpower and it made a huge difference. The 24 inches will leave way too much space with no light. 6 inches on each end will mean 1/3rd of your tank will not have decent light. A 4 bulb 36 inch Sunpower would also be a good candidate but of the 2 options you listed I would go with the 36 inch TEK.

 

[kuyatwo]

24" fixture will work if you go six bulbs or eight since your tank is less than 20". Only reason I would reccomend a 36" fixture is if you plan to upgrade to 48" long tank you can use it.

I run a 36" 8 bulb ati powermodule tank is 48L x 30 W x 24 T and I love it as I can put chalices and new coralson the ends and slowly acclimate them so they don't get burnt up and I can keep sps in the middle section.

 

[returnofsid]

The Tek5 6 bulb fixture will allow you to grow whatever you want. You will not have any heat issues at all, as they put off very little heat. I ran this same fixture, over a 40 breeder, for 2 years. I've also ran a 6 bulb and 4 bulb Tek5, for a total of 10X54, over my 200DD, for 3 years. I can grow Acropora, on the bottom of the 27" deep tank.