36 or 48?

[flo]

Hi i have a 4 foot tank Reefer 350 . Can I put a 36" aquatic life with two kessils 360x? Or do I need the 48" with the same two kessils? Thanks

 

[zoablasto]

Depends what your plan is for the tank, 48” will be ideal!

 

[flo]

I have had my tank running for almost 4 years but could never do SPS and want to try them. Got LPS and some other soft corals parameters are stable.

 

[desagon]

I am wondering the exact same thing. That would only be 6 inches on each side of the tank that aren’t directly hit by the t5 lights. I wonder if that really matters if there are already LEDs in the center

 

[AquaticLifeProducts]

We have a lot of customers using the 61" on 72" aquarium. They seem to do well. However, proportionally it is a bigger tank with a smaller percentage not covered compared to a 48" tank with a 36" over top. 1/6 vs 1/4.

What height are you running the Kessil? This would have an impact on how the T5 light will spread out from the light into the aquarium. Most LED are 6" - 8" above the tank and the 36" should be fine with coverage and keeping the light spillage to a minimum. My only concern is the aesthetics if the shorter fixture would look fine above the aquarium.

 

[flo]

Hi thank you for your reply. I keep the kessils at 8" above the water and the Aquatic life fixture will be at that height as well. It doesn't bother me with the lights being shorter then the tank. So i think I will get the 36" . Thanks

 

[Lizdoesreef]

If ur gonna do sps then you def need the 48". I have an elos 120 that is 48", with 4 kessils 360s. Two won't cut it if u want to grow sps.

 

[flo]

so even if I do us the 48” . I still need to us 4 kessils for SPS? Thamls

 

[Lizdoesreef]

Well no, I have a dominant sps tank...you can grow some sps as long as it's near or under the kessils. My par w the 4 bulbs under one kessil, 8" above water, near the top, is around 450-500. Ideal for growth and color. U can get away with less par of course, but not if you want good growth and coloration. If it's a mixed reef w one or two "mountains" of sps then u can get away w two kessils if strategically placed. 4 kessils allows me to place sps anywhere with even high par and coverage. Less shadowing.