Help Lighting a 84x30x24

[GlassMunky]

I agree. If OP is going to use MH's be prepared to spend for cooling and ~$300 every 6 to 8 months for good bulbs not to mention a hefty electric bill.

Hence reasons I went LED on the one I showed. In fact, I went LED on everything but admit I miss halides sometimes.

i originally switched from MH to LED for the energy reasons, as i was in an apartment and was blowing breakers, but with a multi LED setup, the MH would really just be there for supplemental light for maybe like 4 hours a day, not full time.

 

[GlassMunky]

Depending on what fish you want to keep if you have the room I would go with the 96” tank! We just upgraded and wish we had started with this size. We Lov our new 8’ tank! I’m not sure about the lighting not my specialty but I wish you luck and hope you go for the larger tank!

the biggest reason we are debating the 7ft or 8ft is the price. there seems to be a pretty drastic price jump for that extra 1ft form the quotes weve gotten. either way i think we will be happy :)

 

[Jay Norris]

i originally switched from MH to LED for the energy reasons, as i was in an apartment and was blowing breakers, but with a multi LED setup, the MH would really just be there for supplemental light for maybe like 4 hours a day, not full time.

Well good luck with whatever you choose. The only trouble with bigger tanks is the cost of everything, you will need bigger pumps, a chiller upgrade will be necessary, a protein skimmer upgrade will be needed if you are using one, a bigger Calcium Reactor will be needed and all the other additives plus larger water changes will be needed, and I am sure I left things off. One more thing your use of electricity will also go up. If need be just take your time setting up the system, as you seem to already have the lights, that is a good start.

 

[symon_say]

I'm planning a tank almost like yours 90x30x24 and i have narrow my choices to 10 AI primes in 2 rows of 5 lights (if i want higher demand corals just have to add a couple of lights later) or 4 RB photon v2.

According to an email i get from ecotech when researching for lights, radion can handle 36x36 for mixed according to what they write me (that's looks like a little to much), but it should give you good coverage if mounted front to back and higher.