Lighting a 30 inch deep tank with a 2 foot center brace???
 

I have to find new lights for my 300.... I wanted to go LED but I cant seem to find anything in a decent price range that will get as deep as I need without spending over 2k....
So ive been looking into an ebay 72" light fixture or 2 48" with the 250w halides and T5s..... but now Im thinking.....
I have a 2 foot glass brace in the center..... so I cant put a hot lamp over and it will kill the LED usefullness so i would have to do 2 big lighs on either side with T5s running the length of the tank..... or maybe not????
I know a bit about lighting but this is my first reef set up so any advice is Greatly appreciated :)

Look into doing some DIY LEDS with 80 degree optics OR rip the top rim off your tank, remove the center brace & replace with a 3/4" euro brace :biggrin: that what I am doing for my 300.

It has eurobracing all around but has that center aswell.... Im not cutting it appart LOL
next tank is a 500+ and acrylic.... till then Ill learn the ropes with this one :)
The last few LED diys Ive seen are almost the same price as the standard 3w cree setups in the pendulem design but weeks of work I just cant spare....
I need it to be somewhat cost effective as far as running but also work....I dont care about brands as much as it just working even if it looks ugly I can hide it as long as it works

Ok how about these

http://www.aquatraders.com/48-716W-M...bo-p/54267.htm

I use a similar light on my 165 but mine only have 2 - T5's per fixture.

I was thinking 2 of these??? or if i can figure out what units so I dont have halides over the glass brace...

link wont show....
48" Metal Halide 250W HQI Auqrium Lighting T5 HO 54W on ebay

Be careful of the EBay fixtures, the ones I posted above are good quality at a reasonable price & they will ship using USPS so no Duti / broker fees.

I just measured my fixtures from Aqua Traders & the MH bulbs over the mid part of my tank are 30" c - c & 28" between the end caps.

Im trying to think of how that will work out tape measure wise....lol Ive got 8 feet by 30" with a 24" center brace... as far as i can tell none of the fixtures will work... Ill either have to go with 400w halides on each end with 5+ T5s in the center or..... i dont even know...

I have an 8'er with 2 of these fixtures on it but mine don't have the legs that the one in the link that I sent you has. On the ones above the legs slide in with a simple screw driver and one fixture measure's 47 5/8" so 2 of them would be 95 1/4". Sound like it would fit to me.