Lighting for a 48 inch long tank

Is it better to get a lighting system that goes acrossed the whole tank or is it better to leave some dark spots

 

if you're hanging, you can get 2 MH pendants, or go with a 48" T5 fixture with either 4 or 6 bulbs, there will be shaded areas if you have LR.

 

Do you think I'll need a chiller for the mh

 

It depends on what you plan on keeping coral wise. I would go with something that would light the entire tank.

 

where at do you live. You can use fans to help keep the tank cool.

 

MH will def up your chances of needing a chiller. IMO you'd be fine with a TEK standard or Elite T5 4 or 6-bulb, or check out AquaticLife fixtures, hear good things about them also. If you have the $ & can hang the fixture, go for an ATI fixture

 

I live in Bakersfield CA and if you've ever been here our summers are triple digits daily it's like a gift if were in the high 90s

 

lol I would go with a chiller for sure.

 

So chiller if I get some MHs it's so expensive for a chiller I could get t5s cheaper than the chiller and mhs

 

I would definitely go 48" T5HO for where you live.