T5 Lighting for 46 Bowfront

[mr86mister]

Hey Everyone! It's been a while since I posted up some new questions. I have since gotten a 46 Bowfront off of Craigslist about 5 months ago. I moved everything from my Biocube to this and have been working slowly to get everything perfect. Right now my lighting is a Coralife 2x96W(10K, Actinic) and a separate 2x39w(10K, Actinic) fixture over my tank. I am looking at getting a new fixture of t5's to replace this lighting but am not sure if the 4x39w t5 fixtures would be ok or if I should go with the 6x39w fixtures. I do not plan on having high light corals. But I do want my low and medium light corals to do well. I know the more the light the better, but would 6 t5's be too much for my tank?

The corals I have in my tank now are a 6" Toadstool, Pulsing Xenia, Green Ricordia, Green Star Polyps, Dragons Eye Zoas, Red and Purple Mushrooms and Leather Tree Corals.

Thanks ahead of time

 

[melosu58]

I personally dont think it would be too much. I`m not a T5 person but IMO you should be good to go.

 

[mr86mister]

Mel- Do you have any good articles on VHO's? I don't see them anywhere around here and know nothing of them. I guess, after looking at your pictures VHO's seem to work as well.

 

[melosu58]

Not alot but I`m at work now. I`ll look for more when I get home

Aquarium Lighting Selection Guide: Which Aquarium Lighting System is Right for You?

Aquarium Lighting: Standard Fluorescent & VHO Fluorescent Lighting: General FAQs

 

[Innovator]

Depends on the fixture you choose. If I can fit it, I'd rather purchase a 6x39w ATI fixture over a Tek or a TX5 (5x39w).