Why is lighting so difficult?!

[RJKain-777]

Hey reefers. Trying to decide how many lights I’d need, I’m pretty determined on the hydra 32/26hd, as I already have 2. And supplementing with 4 t5.

the tank is 72x30x30 and will be SPS dominant.
Would 4 lights in the centre with 2 t5 be enough? Or do I do 2 rows of 4?

 

[RCS82]

Without getting into the scientific aspect of it, something I'm no expert in lol. I feel lighting is fairly simple. You're setting up a large tank and going SPS dominant and considering multiple puck style, spotlight LEDs, with T5s that will inevitably be doing more of the lifting. I would place more of my resources on the T5s and look for a good 6 or 8x80w T5 unit and use your 2 hydras to supplement that.

 

[ecamden]

I used 4 32's on my 72in with t5s and had to turn them down to 40% in an all sps tank. I needed 4 because of the spread is limited. I recently took them down and went back to my kessil ap700s that I ran on my old tank because I like the color a little better

 

[RJKain-777]

O

I used 4 32's on my 72in with t5s and had to turn them down to 40% in an all sps tank. I needed 4 because of the spread is limited. I recently took them down and went back to my kessil ap700s that I ran on my old tank because I like the color a little better

I’m happy with my 2 26hds on my 4 ft tank , I had 3 of them on it before, and grew a ton of SpS.
My issue isn’t so much the length, it’s more the depth, and height.

 

[ecamden]

O


I’m happy with my 2 26hds on my 4 ft tank , I had 3 of them on it before, and grew a ton of SpS.
My issue isn’t so much the length, it’s more the depth, and height.

Turn them so they're facing the width of the tank and you'll get the front to back. Brs did an episode on the best mounting height. I had mine at 14inches above the water in conjunction with 4 bulb t5 and was able to hit over 250 par on the sand bed in a 24 inch deep tank

 

[jda]

It is mostly hard because most manufacturers lie to you and suggest way less units than what people in the real world use. I would plan on double what a LED manufacturer says if you want to light acropora any time, any where.

 

[RJKain-777]

It is mostly hard because most manufacturers lie to you and suggest way less units than what people in the real world use. I would plan on double what a LED manufacturer says if you want to light acropora any time, any where.

So 2 rows of 4 hydras, for a total of 8 would be ideal for my tank