Cheapest way to get deep light penetration?

[Tuffyyyyy]

My goal is to make this into a true show tank. This is the closest thing we have to an aquarium in town, so my true goal is to make something awesome enough to inspire more people to join the hobby. I’ve been doing this long enough to know how to mix and match colors and whatnot to accomplish this goal, I’m just not sure how to get light that deep down.

FWIW the tank has everything it needs to be elite (Apex, chiller, MP40s, calcium reactor, etc.) they just skimped out on lighting for some reason (and even then they spent probably $700-800 but just didn’t take tank depth into the purchase).

The kessils they have on there are giving me great shimmer for the corals up top, but just not conducive to growth 40” down.

Here’s some updated photos after working on it this weekend. I added a single bulb 48” T5 fixture that I had laying around in my fish room and it’s really helping to illuminate the Hollywood stunner. Also added several Frags to try and get the corals going. But you can see the mushrooms at the bottom are reaching.

Tank is 48” long, 36” back half circle, and approx 40” deep.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Deep light penetration = high watt power + high quality lens ......

which does NOT = cheap

Metal Halide that's been mentioned is your best option but a power supply ($250+) plus a pendant ($200+) plus a HQI bulb ($100+) is gonna cost you.

Gotta pay to play Boyz


.

Is that how much a used set is? I’ve never used halides so not familiar with them.

 

[bobyboy]

watch the BRS videos on lighting, MH in the end really are not that much better than an array of T5's with half the power usage.

With that said, I'm a fan of T5/LED hybrid setups and will never setup another tank any other way from now on.

 

[A. grandis]

Never mind.