55 Gallon Reef - Lighting option

[03sonicstang]

If you put in to the left or right of the brace, you are only going to get good lighting on the one side; in this case it is going to take 2 halides to completely cover the tank.

How about if I add a 24" T5 Fixture on the Right and the MH on the Left? I can't afford another MH. Would that look funny?

[03sonicstang]

Or I can kill the idea of any PC or T5 lights and add another MH; so if I placed them at the left and right would do you think I should match the 400W with another 400W or a 250 would work?

[Reefland]

Well I would definitely match them so the tank looked equal on each side. And if your not going with any supplementation then you definitely want a light 10k+; some people wouldn't run 10k without an supplementation.

[charlie]

If you put 400 watters on there, I will almost bet that you will have some temp. problems. I had 6 on my 300, and summertime was a crapshoot. I only had 2 hands and I got out juggled!!!!
Are you sure you want to scrap the T5 idea??

[Samper]

Personally I wouldn't go with anything but T5's on that tank. Two, 2 bulb fixtures with individual reflectors. You can mix and match the bulbs, get the colors you want and the growth at the same time. Bulb changing time isn't as stressful on your wallet because you aren't going to change them all at once. You'll change out two and a month or so change out the other two. You won't have the heat problems either.

[Samper]

Two of these fixtures. The ballast is built in and they are clean looking. The only downside is you will have to get better reflectors at some point and the bulbs that come with them will need replaced with better ones after 7 months.
retrofit T5 systems Product List Page

model # LT-CV-T5RK2-4

And find you some metal clips....I think icecap makes them and they're pretty cheap.

If you glue in a 2" wide strip of acrylic all the way across each end of the aquarium you can sit them right on top.