Advice for lighting my tank

[LagunaGlide]

I am picking up a 72l x 24w x 30h tank. Planning a mixed reed with one day possibly some SPS. I have been looking at lighting (mostly reefbreeders and SBReeflights). I know I am going to need more than one light, but am unsure of the best method for going about lighting this wide tank. Originally I thought that going with 2 34-36in lights (one for each half length wise) would be the best bet, but the more I think about it I wonder if I will need 3 24in to go width wise. How do you all light tanks this size? What is my best bet here?

 

[brandolphjr]

I light my aquarium the same size with 3-maxspect razors 15k 24" and attached 24" T5 lamps on the side of them..my own made hybrid..I like the combo of t5 and led..[emoji3]

 

[brandolphjr]

 

[Nburg's Reef]

If you are going LED and SPS, I would say the more units the better to increase coverage and decrease shadowing. Most of the amazing SPS LED lit tanks have more LED units than recommended by manufacturers to keep all sides of the branches lit (many also incorporate a few T5s in there too). So if you could fit the 3 24" units, and run them front to back, I think you might be better off.

 

[brandolphjr]

If you are going LED and SPS, I would say the more units the better to increase coverage and decrease shadowing. Most of the amazing SPS LED lit tanks have more LED units than recommended by manufacturers to keep all sides of the branches lit (many also incorporate a few T5s in there too). So if you could fit the 3 24" units, and run them front to back, I think you might be better off.

Plus,,if one light goes down,,you still have another 2..[emoji3]

 

[LagunaGlide]

Thanks for the replies. I am thinking going with 3 units is the best bet. You think 3 Kessil A360 Wide Tuna blues will do for a mixed reef?

 

[Nburg's Reef]

honestly, no, unless you don't plan on many acros. While I LOVE kessils look and shimmer, I think you would need more to get proper coverage. The tank will look dim, visually, and they don't crank out enough PAR to grow SPS anywhere but right under the lights and not too deep.

Those 24" reefbreeders can really put out a TON of par. Much more than a Kessil. If you wanted to go the Kessil route, I think Kessil paired with T5s would be heavenly...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’m kind of a coverage freak.

That 3 16in crammed on a 48.


3 360 isn’t enough enough really. You want to get that 350 or so at min at the op of the rock , plus you’ll be dealing with the shadows.

Dollar for dollar , the reefbreeder and SB have more coverage and par.

The SB BB cover a 20x20 or close to it at 12in. , you can pull some lenses to get it wider and lessen the hot spot.
Heck you can pull all the lenses and hang em at Six in and not turn them all the way up really.

I was talking to mike at SB a few weeks ago but I forget how the Ultras cover.

 

[jonnyu]

These with the 360’s would be perfect. Aquatic life 36” t5 fixture with 2 kessil ea would grow anything