I'm finally going to pull the trigger and correct my grievous and expensive error of buying a fixture that just doesn't give me enough light. My tank has slightly odd dimensions, and I bought one to fit it without thinking of the fact that the fixtures that fit it are often for smaller tanks. Mine is a 56g (30lx18wx24t).
So, my options are these -
4x39w T5HO fixture, suspended above the tank. (Bulbs are actually longer than the tank itself)
150w Metal Halide pendant light suspended above the tank.
It is a heavily planted tank with much Anacharis, Watersprite, Wisteria, some Hornwort/Najas, various Hygro, chain swords, a few Anubias and Crypt. petchii. My initial reasoning for deviating from the T5 is that a concentrated, single source of light might be better for a tank that is a fairly 'stubby' rectangle.
Which one would you get? The cost is basically the same. I've always used florescent but have read a lot of good things about the halides, including the nice 'shimmer' effect that they can give a tank. Thanks for any suggestions or info!
So, my options are these -
4x39w T5HO fixture, suspended above the tank. (Bulbs are actually longer than the tank itself)
150w Metal Halide pendant light suspended above the tank.
It is a heavily planted tank with much Anacharis, Watersprite, Wisteria, some Hornwort/Najas, various Hygro, chain swords, a few Anubias and Crypt. petchii. My initial reasoning for deviating from the T5 is that a concentrated, single source of light might be better for a tank that is a fairly 'stubby' rectangle.
Which one would you get? The cost is basically the same. I've always used florescent but have read a lot of good things about the halides, including the nice 'shimmer' effect that they can give a tank. Thanks for any suggestions or info!