Lighting for my 5 foot tank

gabesreef

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So I’m on the fence and I can’t make up my mind. I’m looking at different lighting options. Currently I have 3 hydra 32hds that I was going to use to light my tank. (Ive been out of the hobby for a while and only
Had a nano tank). Well after researching people are not really using puck style lighting anymore and light bars and fixtures for dispersed light is the way people do things now. Also I figured out I can’t use 3 hydras because I can’t mount a tank in the middle of the overflow box.

So my question is should I just accept my loss and sell these hydras and get something else or should I buy an addition hydra and do a total of 4.

The other lights I’ve been looking at have been used because I’m broke lol but the Neptune sky x2 I have an apex and it seems like 2 of these would be enough light. My concern with these is that they are discontinued… also they seem really flat like no shimmer at all.

Next on the light is 2 gen 5 XR30s…. My concern with these is that it’s not enough light and I’m not in the position to get another one. Also if I did get a 3rd one I couldn’t mount it in the middle of my tank again because of the plumbing in my overflow box.

So I would love to hear others opinions on this. I’m on a budget but my goal for this tank is eventually to have a mixed reef with sps on top.
 
Okay so you think I should stick with the hydras and then eventually add a light bar for fill lights.
 
I have 4 hydra 32’s on my 6’ 135g and have been pretty happy with them. The only issue is melting lenses, however every time I email AI they send me new lenses free of charge.

I’ve never tested for par but everything seems to be growing fine. I have soft, LPS, and SPS corals.
 
I have 4 hydra 32’s on my 6’ 135g and have been pretty happy with them. The only issue is melting lenses, however every time I email AI they send me new lenses free of charge.

I’ve never tested for par but everything seems to be growing fine. I have soft, LPS, and SPS corals.
That’s good I’m sure the hydras will be enough especially if I just mount them 14 inches high like BRS says
 

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