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#1
12-24-2011, 04:35 PM
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Lighting Upgrade/Downgrade Suggestions!
Over my standard 125 gallon 6 foot tank I am currently running four 250w metal halides with spider reflectors and four 39w T5's with Tekk reflectors. Now that they have been running for about 6 months over the tank I am starting to think I could get by with upgrading the metal halide reflectors and only running two of them. Three really is not an option as I have the center brace in the middle of the tank. Here is what I currently have under the hood:
 This is to be an sps dominated tank. I think having only two metal halides will work out due to my aquascaping.  The sps will all be on these two rock "mounds". None will be in the middle unless they eventually grow out that far. As for having shady spots I think the T5's should eliminate them. I forsure will be able to keep two of the T5's in the hood. It all depends if they will fit with the bigger reflectors. It will be very close. So far I am thinking of going with the LumenMax Elite reflectors. They are only 14.5" wide so I think I could fit all of the T5's in the hood. Do these sound like a good option? Any opinions on this? The lights will be about 10" from the water. It will be nice to save some money on electricity as well as get rid of some excess heat!  
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#2
12-24-2011, 08:03 PM
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you could get rid of 1 and space them a bit but two on a six foot take is not going to work unless you raise it quite a bit and then you will get a ton of light outside the tank. but heck, you could always try two, and if you are getting shadows add one more back. T5's will not get rid of MH shadow. they will reduce it but thats about it.
Steve
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 *everything said above is just my opinion, and may or may not reflect the views of this BBS, its Operators, and its Members. If cornered on any “opinion” I post I will totally deny having ever said this in a Court of Law…Unless I am the right one*Some strive to be perfect.... I just strive.
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#3
12-25-2011, 05:25 AM
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If you use 2 large Lumen Bright SE Pendants, they will work for your 6 foot tank. The medium or small size pendant will only cover 2 feet of your tank, so you need to get the largest ones. Each of them can cover a 3 foot length, you won't even notice that you have a center brace. For the corals that are placed in the middle of the tank, you need to lower them half way down to the bottom, do not place them too close to the surface then there will be no shadows at all.
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