Lighting A 2ft Cube Help

Wrangy · Feb 3, 2015

So I'm currently in the market for a new lighting setup for my tank and I need some help in deciding on sizes and such. I'm a big fan of LED's and think they're underrated and misunderstood creatures but that being said I'm looking to expand my horizons and try other lighting, namely T5's for a bit more variation and spread in my lighting.
I currently run a 100w LED light over the tank and it does a fantastic job for my sps, clam and other corals happy, growing and colourful but I'm looking for a nice new unit now and I would preferably want to get an led-t5 hybrid light as I think there's something that can't be gained elsewhere through this combo. Now my question involves how much power and tubes would be a decent amount to place over my tank. It's a 2ft cube and is now up and running with a full zeovit system. I've been looking at several different lights to get and I feel like they would do a good job but part of me thinks that they might not be enough light even though it's much more than what I have!
The highest on my list is a Giesemann Aurora hybrid, 4x 24w T5 with a 75-80w led cluster and most other options involve using 4x 24w T5's but I guess I feel it might not be enough even though it's nearly double the power of my current lighting.
The other lighting I've been looking at is getting a straight 6 or 8 bulb T5 light but I don't really want to give up my led's so that's a hard decision I'd be making.

I simply need some reassurance that a 4 bulb hybrid unit would indeed be enough lighting over my tank and that I'm being a little over cautious thinking that it's not enough! Any help and info would be greatly appreciated!!

Wrangy · Feb 3, 2015

Any thoughts from anyone?
I'd get a 6 bulb hybrid without thinking about it but no one makes them!

tonymission · Feb 3, 2015

Honestly-- I love T5s, run them on about 240g of grow tanks, but I have a radion g3 on my wife's 30g tank which started out as a zoa garden, but now I keep putting sticks in there. I'm getting great growth and color from that. Surprisingly so. I only bought her a radion because she likes the hardcore blue at night and thinks it "looks pretty".

Wrangy · Feb 4, 2015

I do love my leds and would love to keep some over the tank but I really really want to give t5's a go so it's a matter of if I can find the right fixture to add to the tank! Hopefully I can sort something out, still not convinced 4 bulbs will be enough though

tonymission · Feb 4, 2015

Wrangy said:
I do love my leds and would love to keep some over the tank but I really really want to give t5's a go so it's a matter of if I can find the right fixture to add to the tank! Hopefully I can sort something out, still not convinced 4 bulbs will be enough though

4 bulb might be ok with a hybrid led but I would go 6 or 8 as standalone. I have both and just being able to have a more complete bulb combo with the 8 makes it worth it for me. Looking to replace the 6 bulb now

Wrangy · Feb 4, 2015

tonymission said:
4 bulb might be ok with a hybrid led but I would go 6 or 8 as standalone. I have both and just being able to have a more complete bulb combo with the 8 makes it worth it for me. Looking to replace the 6 bulb now

If I do get a straight t5 light it will definitely be 8 bulbs, have to make sure everyone gets there share of light! As for the hybrid I'm still on the hunt! Maybe I'll start approaching companies to see if they'll make custom lights! Lol