Lighting Suggestions 48x36x18

tlips

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 11, 2019
Messages
559
Reaction score
176
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey Everyone,

I'm looking to get some suggestions for lighting for a new tank build I'm gonna be doing. The tank is 48x36x18. Im currently running a RSR250 and im gonna be transferring my corals and fish to the new tank. Im currently running mainly LPS and some softies and I don't plan to have any SPS other then plating monti cap. Ive currently got 2 G4 XR15 and was thinking about doing a 48" T5 hybrid with the 2 Xr15. I greatly appreciate anyone's advice and suggestions.

Thanks!
 

blaxsun

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 15, 2020
Messages
26,709
Reaction score
31,146
Location
The Abyss
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You might have to raise the lights up a bit and play around with the intensity, but if it's mostly soft and LPS you may be fine with just the XR15s. Barring that, a pair of Neptune SKYs would probably look great over the new tank.
 
OP
OP
T

tlips

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 11, 2019
Messages
559
Reaction score
176
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You might have to raise the lights up a bit and play around with the intensity, but if it's mostly soft and LPS you may be fine with just the XR15s. Barring that, a pair of Neptune SKYs would probably look great over the new tank.
so do you think I would need a 3rd xr15?
 

TX_Punisher

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 8, 2017
Messages
1,420
Reaction score
790
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
For lps and softies that will probably work depending on rock layout.
 

nereefpat

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 20, 2018
Messages
8,020
Reaction score
8,775
Location
Central Nebraska
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The problem I would have with the XR15s is that the tank is 36" wide, and the spread of those lights is closer to 18". A third XR15 doesn't help that much with the spread, although four XR15s would work really well as each would cover a 18x24" area.

2 XR15s with a 4 bulb T5 is a decent option too.
 
OP
OP
T

tlips

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 11, 2019
Messages
559
Reaction score
176
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The problem I would have with the XR15s is that the tank is 36" wide, and the spread of those lights is closer to 18". A third XR15 doesn't help that much with the spread, although four XR15s would work really well as each would cover a 18x24" area.

2 XR15s with a 4 bulb T5 is a decent option too.
im not the biggest fan of T5 but im open to the hybrid option..... ya 4 would work nicely for the tank
 

blaxsun

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 15, 2020
Messages
26,709
Reaction score
31,146
Location
The Abyss
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Four XR15s would work, as would a pair of XR30s or Neptune SKYs. But it all really depends on how you're mounting your lights and where the corals are going to be situated.

My LFS has an 8' x 3' coral tank illuminated by four XR15 G4s suspended from the ceiling, so given enough height and your intensity setting you could still probably manage with the pair of Xr15s.
 

High pressure shells: Do you look for signs of stress in the invertebrates in your reef tank?

  • I regularly look for signs of invertebrate stress in my reef tank.

    Votes: 41 32.0%
  • I occasionally look for signs of invertebrate stress in my reef tank.

    Votes: 29 22.7%
  • I rarely look for signs of invertebrate stress in my reef tank.

    Votes: 25 19.5%
  • I never look for signs of invertebrate stress in my reef tank.

    Votes: 33 25.8%
  • Other.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
Back
Top