Lighting a 6ft tank?

[landmineyouth]

Im trying to figure out the best way to light my 125gallon 6ft tank. I cant seem to find any 6ft light fixtures, and im almost certain i want to do compact flouescents unless something better comes along for close to the same cost.... I probably wont be keeping any plants (maybe some mangroves), but Id like to have enough wattage incase I change my mind down the road..

Whats the best solution? Should I just buy 3ft lights and double up? Or am I overlooking something..

 

[Big Business]

do a search on ebay for 72" Power Compact or PC

there are tons of options

 

[lil_blue]

id do the 3 fts, i always liked the idea of a half light half not so light, this way you can control it, and grow both low-light, and highlight plants

 

[Paul_MTS]

I'd use a few 5ft tubes or go for a single halide.

My 5x3 is lit by 3 5ft tubes including a blue moon tube and is nice and bright, enought o grow basic plants.

On my future tank I'll be usinga couple of 70W metal halides.

 

[Slim2634]

maybe two three footers? that way you can use two different bulbs at the same time or even four if you get the double bulb fixtures.

 

[joeytoe]

theres numerous Solutions you can do for this. Normal flouescents dont come in 6' lengths
you can get VHO flouescents in 6' lengths though there more $$$$$$$, a friend of mine uses a VHO on his 6ft tank. Compact flouescents youll pay a good deal for the fixture. Id just go with either 1 4" dual bulb flouescent fixture (can buy them at most any hardware store) an just center it on top of your tank. you can do 2 3' dual bulb flouescent fixtures (you can wire them together or seperate). or you could do 3 2" dual bulb flouescent fixtures an stagger them so theyll all fit (an wire them together or seprate them an do a sortve natural sunlight movment deal lighting one side an as the day goes by having two on then all three an as night comes turning one then two then all three off).

Personally Id go with the 2 3' fixtures, thatb be the best bang for your buck IMO.

hope this helps

 

[Bassman89]

two 3 foot bulbs would be the best way to go IMO

 

[Mechanic]

two 3 foot bulbs would be the best way to go IMO

Agreed.
E

 

[Carl D]

Just go for 2 3 footers. It depends how bright you want your tank though.?

Carl.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

I moved this into the set-up forum for you

I use two 3 ft Coralife Aqualight Freshwater fixtures on my 6ft tank. That works great. And if one bulb fails, I still have 3 in operation

HarleyK