Help Lighting Corner Bow
 

I'm setting up an sps dominant corner bow and can't seem to figure out the best lighting option. I want to go with a MH and T5 combo but can't figure out the best placement based on the tank measurements and aquascaping. Have a look at some of the options and let me know what you think or if you have any other suggestions. The tank is 25" deep so i've gone with two 400W MH's since I want sps from top to bottom and clams in the middle lagoon area. The aquascaping shown in the first pic will be cascading down from the top of the tank to the floor as well. Thanks for your help and any suggestions you might have.

Top Down View

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...opDownView.jpg


Option 1

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...06/Option1.jpg


Option 2 - Should be 36" not 48"

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...06/Option2.jpg


Option 3

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...06/Option3.jpg


Or

Alternative Option 4

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...6/T5Option.jpg

Anybody?

I like Option 2 and 4. Prefer option 2 though (MH :wink: )

IMO, you're over thinking it.
A 400w halide should do a 2x2 area with no issue.
what are the dimensions of the tank aside from the depth?, might help some people offer their 2 cents.
but for the info given, option 2.

Each back wall is 32" and its 34" from the back corner to the center of the bow. Thanks.

I like option 2, however I would move the halide's a little closer to the front and swap the 36" lights with the 24" lights

I vote for Option 5:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...esman/tank.jpg

:lol:

I have a 90 gal corner tank with roughly the same dimensions as yours. I have one MH 10K across the middle towards the back and 2x36" T5 across the front (1xfiji purple and 1x10K). The single MH in the back covers that smaller area pretty well and the 2-T5s are enough for the front area. I have SPS growing well throughout the tank. Photo period: T5: 9:00am to 9:00 pm and MH: noon to 8:00 pm. Moonlights on .5 hours before and after.
See the video I took 3 months ago below. Just after that was taken I changed the T5 bulbs as they were getting old. They were a 14Kand a super actinic. The tank is quite a bit brighter with the new bulbs.

link isn't working for me??

Haha. I like your option 5. It's how my brain felt trying to figure the T5 option out. I thought about putting only one light towards the back of the tank but it wouldn't allow to equally distribute the t5 actinic and purple lighting throughout the whole tank which is what I was hoping for.

Sorry, won't copy & paste for some reason. Look under my thread from August 22 90 gal audio & video.

Here it is

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...h_reeftank.jpg

Thank You:redface:

if you insist at using two MH, I like #3 the best, it will give you the best distrbution of your t5's and the MH will cover your mounds with lots of overlap for your bottom. just got to make sure you put them the right direction if you are using SE bulbs.

what are you going to use to put all the lights in?

Steve

Did'nt I buy your 400w Bulbs off of you about 8 months ago while you were getting your tank set up? I thought that you were 'down sizing' including your lighting...

I like option 2, in such a small space you will need to move alot of air to keep it cool though.

Todd: I still did downsize but I don't have enough time in the world to fully explain the nightmare I've gone through in the last year trying to get this tank up and running. I wish I wouldn't have sold those pendants in hindsight now because I ended up going with the same setup in the end anyways. LOL

Steve: Do you mean how am I going to hang the lighting in the tank?

yup, you building a canopy or what?

Steve