Lighting Upgrade Logic Attempt

I have been going back and forth on a lighting upgrade for my 130 gallon tank.

I currently have a Current Nova Pro 48" 6x54W T5, so the game plan is to augment that fixture. The 130 gallon is 48" wide. 24" front to back. 26" Deep. I have approximately 4" of sand, so the effective depth is 22".

For the lighting look I don't want my lighting to limit what I can keep as my tank evolves. I want good growth for corals and a white/blue look. Not overly blue. Want to make sure I pick the the yellow/red spectrum to show those colors well.

I traded being adding a 2x54W T5 fixture, a 4x54W fixture or a 2x175W MH. For the MH, space considerations with my hood would drive me to a flat aluminum plate reflector. MH is also the most expensive of the solutions. On the other side, 2x54W is enough light and the least expensive.

With 2x54W giving me 8 T5's total, the question became is more better. Is it "value added" to go up to the 4xT5 or the MH. I concluded the MH was overkill. A few things concerned me: Heat, the poor reflector I'd be forced into, getting even spread of lighting with the other fixture etc. Therefore, 2x54W vs 4x54W???

For no good reason, I picked 4x54W. So, first, does anyone see anything wrong with that choice??? I would go with the 4x54W Current Nova Pro to match my 6x54W same brand.

Then came the bulb selections.

I came up with the following front to back as an option:
Manufacturer Bulb/CLASS
ATI Blue Plus/BLUE
ATI Sun Pro/FULL SPECTRUM 6000-7000K
KZ Fiji Purple/PURPLE
ATI Blue Plus/BLUE
UVL Aqua sun/FULL SPECTRUM 10000-12000K
KZ Fiji Purple/PURPLE
ATI Blue Plus/BLUE
ATI Sun Pro/FULL SPECTRUM 6000-7000K
ATI Blue Plus/BLUE
ATI Blue Plus/BLUE

Thoughts????

M

 

Pro Sun is not available any more I believe. 8 bulbs total would be plenty. I have a 6 bulb unit on my 75 and I am cooking my Ricordeas and they are on the sand. Many of my LPS have ejected their zooxanthellae and don't look as pretty also. So save some money and only add a 2 bulb unit. Suggest going ATI Blue Plus, Fiji Purple, Blue Plus, UVL Aqua Sun, Blue Plus, GE 6500K, UVL Aqua Sun, Blue Plus. Adjust bulbs to match your dawn dusk positions by putting the blue pluses in there.

 

2in10 has convinced me....

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aqua Sun
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
UVL Aqua Sun
ATI Blue Plus.

M

 

Just got my new fixture and replaced the old bulbs with the new.

Wow.... looks great!! Really enhances the colors in the corals. I really felt like that was too much blue, but not at all...

THANKS 2in10 and Dingo for walking me through the learning process!!!

M

 

What is the final layout exactly? Pics?

matt

 

You are welcome, pics please

 

Welcome! Wish I coulda helped some more
Let me know if you need anything else... And pics are needed

 

Here is the before and after....

With my old light bulbs and 6x54W


With the new bulbs and 6x54W plus 2x54W


MUCH better colors from the corals.....

THANKS
Mark

 

WOW! looks much much better

 

Outstanding. Looks great. You have to be happy with that Mark.