Amount of lighting for a 5 x 2 x2

[brendokae]

Hello Helpful People in Aquarium Land,

I am Looking at upgrading my current 4 x 1' 6" x 1' 6" to a 5 x 2 x 2. I currently use a 4 x T5 4 foot 55 Watt fixture and want to use it in my 5x 2 x 2. I have heard that T 5 lighting does not have enough penetration for a two foot deep tank for grow plants like HC, Is this correct. I am a Electrical engineer and was thinking about adding two more T5 Lights so it would be 6 x 55 Watt T5 Fixture wiil this be enough for a high light Aquarium, if not I an considering a Metal Halide fixture.

Any Recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[shoggoth43]

Depth of the tank won't likely be an issue. T5 is probably enough. T5HO will definitely not be a problem. SPREAD over the tank might be more of a problem. I think Tom uses the 8 bulb unit over his 180 to get a more even spread of lighting. I don't know recall if he uses all of the bulbs at the same time though.

-
S

 

[dutchy]

I'm using 4 rows of T5's with reflectors on my 180 gallon which is 72 x 24 x 26 and I grow HC without any problems.

regards,
dutchy

 

[brendokae]

Thanks Guy's I will probally install 8 55 Watt T5's Then. I see Tom Barr does not seem to like Metal Halide lights