90g lighting

[c_scherer123]

I have been debating for a couple months whether I should get the 6 bulb or 8 bulb Tek lighting for my 90g.
I am planning on mostly mushrooms, polyps, and other softies.
I notice my mushrooms in my 20g seem to find the one T-5 too bright and I have to hide them in the LR shadows, though my fire and ice polyp frag seems perfectly happy.

I am kind of leaning towards the 6-bulb to avoid burning my mushrooms. I also have no interest in SPS, anemones, clams, or other high light lovers.

What do you think?

[Carmen]

I have a 72G Bowfront approx same dimensions and find the 6 bulb more than adequate for softies/LPS. Infact too high in the tank is too bright for some like you were saying. For just softies 8 bulb may be overkill HOWEVER........ if you may change to SPS, clams, etc you will probably want the extra 2 bulbs!

[mseepman]

If you are thinking on only getting softies then you may be overdoing it with the TEK light completely. Why not save some dough and get a cheaper knockoff that will give you plenty of light for a softie tank...ie: Aquatraders or Fishneedit. Use the money to do something else for your tank.

Here's an example: http://shop.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-...es-p/52211.htm

[c_scherer123]

I was going with TEK due their good reputation, low electricity use, and silent operation. The cost is higher, but they seem very reliable. (whose signature had the quote "the bitterness of failure long outlasts the joy of low price" or something like that?)

Hmm... Should I be considering a 4-bulb? I somehow don't think so...

I am basically only after mushrooms and polyps...

[Doug]

If your sure sps are not in the future then 6 would be fine. Eight would give you the punch and flexability for other corals. You could always run more bluer bulbs for now. I ran a 6 bulb {not Tek} over my 90 and it was plenty for most all corals, except sps from midway down.

And the are "quiet" because they dont have any active cooling. IMO, I would not run them without some form of cooling fan, even with them having no protective cover shield.

[Carmen]

I went from a 4 bulb to a 6 and I would think you would find a 4 not quite enough. Adequate if $ is a concern for sure but near the bottom is quite dim. I too do not have SPS but found even some softies did not seem "happiest" at the bottom under 4 bulb. You can see some comparisons in my pic thread although pictures don't seem to really capture the brightness well.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45688

[c_scherer123]

I wasn't aware that they lacked the fans...
*sigh* and here I thought I was close to ordering.

The Odyssea doesn't look bad, but a few reviews give a bad reputation for bursting into flames...

Is there a way to add fans to the Tek? I can get computer fans almost for free, is there a way to add them to the light?

Or can anyone suggest a light fixture which has a fan, is fairly reliable, and doesn't look bad hanging from the ceiling.