Which Lighting for my tank?

[tcampbell23]

Though I have had good growth with my LEDs I have the opportunity to switch from my 48" reef breeder LED fixture to an ATI T5 fixture. In my price range I can get either of the following:

48" 6 Bulb
60" 6 Bulb
60" 8 Bulb

My tank is a predominantly SPS 120gal. The dimensions are 60x18x21". Any opinions and advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You'll be happier with a 60.
The tubes may be more speedy though.
6 or 8 tube is kinda how much par you want or have now. So is how high it's hung

 

[tcampbell23]

You'll be happier with a 60.
The tubes may be more speedy though.
6 or 8 tube is kinda how much par you want or have now. So is how high it's hung

Looking at my current set up, I'd just put the ATI on the same brackets my LEDs are on and that's about 12" above the water. I know these fixtures put out a ton of par and I'm probably gonna have to move my corals down to adjust.

My only major concern between 6 and 8 bulbs would be is 8 bulbs just overkill? The fixture is 17.6" wide and my tank is 18"

 

[jvb89]

Looking at my current set up, I'd just put the ATI on the same brackets my LEDs are on and that's about 12" above the water. I know these fixtures put out a ton of par and I'm probably gonna have to move my corals down to adjust.

My only major concern between 6 and 8 bulbs would be is 8 bulbs just overkill? The fixture is 17.6" wide and my tank is 18"

You will have a very even blanket of par over the whole tank with the 8 bulb. Especially at 12". Sps everywhere!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Looking at my current set up, I'd just put the ATI on the same brackets my LEDs are on and that's about 12" above the water. I know these fixtures put out a ton of par and I'm probably gonna have to move my corals down to adjust.

My only major concern between 6 and 8 bulbs would be is 8 bulbs just overkill? The fixture is 17.6" wide and my tank is 18"

you can test the par on the led with a lux meter. 6000 lux is 100 par. A good t5 at just under 12in is about 200 par(just under 160 180) and measure at the top. so a 8 tube is around 1300 1400 par @ 10 in.

A six might be fine and the corals will acclimate. T5 has an ease to it. just add tubes or time.

the RB at 12in at full is around 1500 par.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You will have a very even blanket of par over the whole tank with the 8 bulb. Especially at 12". Sps everywhere!

don't hang it too low! The corals growing out of the tank will poke the tubes!!