Lighting Questions

Coldshot, certain splash shields like the ones on the Constellation and Solar Flare actually help keep the PAR up well, according to Grim who has them and has tested them.

The way Aquactinics designed them, the splash shield also facilitates heat removal so it keeps the lamps running a little cooler.

 

Dr. Frag seems to be the authority on lighting here, so I'd go with what he said. I have a tek T-5 set up over my 55 gallon, it's 40" long over the 48" long tank. The light distributes nicely, so I'm not sweating those 4 inches on either side. I like it a lot, and my corals seem to think it's adequate.

As for cost of lights, everything in the hobby seems excessively overpriced, from chillers to skimmers, and epecially lighting. I'd suggest, definitely looking around for best value, and not just jumping in with the mental process of "everything expensve is the best."

The general rule in life I've found is you pay for quality, but that definitely is sstretched thin in this hobby.

 

Thanks for the compliment rewris but I have a question for you... 40" Tek?? Do you mean 36"? As unless you made you own there is no such thing, let alone 40" lamps...