Still looking

there is no benefit to a 12 bulb over the 8 bulb in my case correct?

 

i was able to keep sps in the lower 3rd of my 18" tank with 4bulb t5s and ATI bulbs, but I sure didnt get much growth. With a 6 or 8 bulb system you would be fine though. One thing i would consider is that you tank is going to cost you about $200 a year on replacement bulbs. I would look into LED first and see if that might be an agreeable alternative to t5. Also you can buy my 4 bulbs lights pretty cheap if you want ;-)

 

they use 36" bulbs in the 72" light strip

 

I can't afford the 3k up front for led. I wish, I've been watching led diy all evening debating it. Still very expensive. I hear people are still having problems with the color ratio in leds.

 

No I don't think so.

 

Good they are expensive lol!

 

2 36" fixtures might be nice that way if I'm in the tank on one side can still have one fixture on

 

Anybody have an opinion about: wave point
WavePoint T5 36" High Output T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 4X39W WavePoint Lighting Wave Point

 

I think it is a good mid range fixture. Not sold on the quality of the bulbs but feel the same with Aquaticlife bulbs also.

 

$3k????? What are you looking at for that? You should be able to get enough led light for around $1000 I would guess! Plus the T5 fixture for $600+$200 for new bulbs is close to that, and then you don't have to buy $200 worth of bulbs every 6-12 months, plus the cost of electric! Just saying, ya may wanna give led's another look! Either a custom build or a DIY from OCreef or rapidled should work!

Rapidled, plug and play 24 led kit $189X4= $720 plus heatsinks 4"x23" drilled and tapped, 4x$50=200, you're right at $1000, and thats for a top of the linish system! You can get alot cheaper than that!
Or shoot an email to reefwerks.com and get a quote for a custom build of what you want! Just my $.02, may be worth another look!