120 Gallon Long lighting requirements

[tgattens]

I have a 120 Gallon Long Tank (60"x18"26"). I currently have a FOWLR and I want to move to a reef tank. I was thinking of either t5's or some kind of MH retro kit. If i go with the MH setup, what intensity would I need?

Thanks

Tgattens

[zhenya]

I have a 120 Gallon Long Tank (60"x18"26"). I currently have a FOWLR and I want to move to a reef tank. I was thinking of either t5's or some kind of MH retro kit. If i go with the MH setup, what intensity would I need?

Thanks

Tgattens

It will most likely depend on what exactly you want to keep in it as far as corals go. I would think that if you want to keep soft corals and some "LPS" type corals then 250w MH full spectrum will be enough. I'd go with the DE type bulbs as some 250w DE bulbs provide almost as much intensity as some 400w bulbs, depending on the reflectors and bulb itself, of course.

[tgattens]

It will most likely depend on what exactly you want to keep in it as far as corals go. I would think that if you want to keep soft corals and some "LPS" type corals then 250w MH full spectrum will be enough. I'd go with the DE type bulbs as some 250w DE bulbs provide almost as much intensity as some 400w bulbs, depending on the reflectors and bulb itself, of course.

How many bulbs would I need? Also, would T5 lighting work for soft corals and some "LPS" as well?

Thanks,

Tgattens

[charlie]

It will most likely depend on what exactly you want to keep in it as far as corals go. I would think that if you want to keep soft corals and some "LPS" type corals then 250w MH full spectrum will be enough. I'd go with the DE type bulbs as some 250w DE bulbs provide almost as much intensity as some 400w bulbs, depending on the reflectors and bulb itself, of course.

I am gonna have to agree with Gene here. With your tank being 26" deep, you are probably going to stretch any kind of 250w bulb to its limit, but that leaves you the option of placing some low light corals down on the bottom, and they should do great.
If you want to go to a reef, I would stick with MH. You would need 2 MH over a 5' tank.
T5 will work, but MH will give you more options to work with thruout the life of your tank.