more lighting ideas for 125g without breaking the bank.

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mos90

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 20, 2009
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ive been debating on new lighting on my 125g tank 72x18x20. i was considering leds but they are too costly for a 6ft tank. so ive decided on either a 6ft aqualife t5 fixture or 2-36" mh/t5 fixtures(each has 4-39w t5's and 1-250w mh). the reason i dont think its a good idea to go with a 3 light 72" mh fixture is my tank has about a 4" black plastic brace in the center, the center mh fixture would right over it.

if i go with the 2-mh fixture i can position the rock work right under the mh's and leave the center open.

opinions
 
This pic gives a pretty good idea of light coverage on a 72x24x24. The right light is a 10k MH, and the left is a 14k 50 watt LED with no optics or reflectors.

I had just added sand to the tank for my MH VS LED test, and it really shows the light pattern well.

i-VRPKFsq-XL.jpg
 
it looks like 2-36" fixtures might do the job. how high is that mh over the water?

i like the 14k color much better then the 10k
 
I think you are on the right track with the 2-MH set up. Especially where you aren't planning on putting coral in that area under the brace, although you might be able to get away with some rockwork and low light corals in the "Shaded" area under the center brace.

I am some what surprised that a 72" tank only has one brace on it...don't they usually have 2?
 
mos90;5119724; said:
it looks like 2-36" fixtures might do the job. how high is that mh over the water?

i like the 14k color much better then the 10k
Click to expand...

The MH is 5 inches above the waterline. It is a 250W.
 
ive seen them both ways. i wish i had 2 then i could just get a 3 light fixture and not worry about hanging them.

i might be able to get away with 2 a/i leds but i think 4 would be better. lots of coin for 4 of them at $550.00 each. but 2-36 mh fixtures with the t5's will have much better coverage then 2 leds.

i would most likely hang mine around 8" awl
 
im still debating the aqualife t5 fixture. its a nice unit. 1 power cord, built in timer. no need to hang.
 
It really depends on what your lighting needs are. If you do not have a need for MH, then I would stick with the T5's. They will look great, you can do different color combinations, and are dealing with far less heat.
 
its not that i dont have a need for mh. i do prefer them over t5's though. with mh hanging at 8" over the water i doubt i will have any heat issues. nothing a few fans cant cure. im sure i can get away with the cf fixture i have now for a while but its not going to be enought light for sps's
 
decided to go with the 2-36" mh fixtures. just ordered them.

all i have left to order is a vortech mp40.
 
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