Lighting Help

[Cliff]

OK so here's the situation I have a 6 foot long tank that is currently lit with 4 AI Hydra's I love the lights and fially have them in an excellent position for growth and full tank coverage; but my problem is with the very and corners of my tank. I have a corner overflow tank and when I built my foam rock wall I made covers for the overflows. They have shelves all the way up for corals to grow on. My problem is that the corners of the shelves closest to each and are not getting enough light. I would really like to use these shelves better. The corals I have on them now are really reaching for light so what I was wondering is what would you recommend to light up these corners? I was possibly thinking of one T5 Strip mounted to the flip up opening on top of the tank? Or possibly a couple of par type bulbs? Ideally would be to AI prime lights mounted in that corner but I think that is a wee bit expensive LOL I also don't want a weird spectrum just in those corners. What do you think? Please give me some options LOL here are some pictures please excuse the dirty glass

 

[Kman]

What is the height that you run your lights at? I use three Hydra 52 on my 6 foot tank and raised them to 11 inches off the water. So you could raise them if you are able to or add supplemental T5. You just need to raise it up enough that it covers a little more and turn up your intensity by 5% or run supplemental T5 for a few hrs. I run my T5 for 2 hrs peak.

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

I am certainly no expert on lighting but after looking at your pics I was wondering about the raising thing as well. Or couldn't you just slide the ones at each end out closer to the left and right edge of the tank a bit more? Or would that not alleviate the problem?

 

[TORX]

You should have more then enough lights. IIRC, they are rated at 24"x24" coverage, so technically you should only need 3. I have also seen a lot of well lit tanks with only 3. I would start by spacing them evenly across your tank at 18" over the water.

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Cliff]

yeah maybe I should rearrange the lights I know I am only at like 40% right now so I should have lots of room to raise and spread them. Maybe next week I'll try that

 

[Strobe]

I would recommend possibly turning your lights 90 degrees and spacing them out evenly. What is the width of your tank?

 

[reef keeper]

Hey cliff - move the 2 end lights over towards the end of the tank a bit and raise them up a couple inches.

Or..... T5 lol

His tank is 18" wide

 

[bluewater]

looks like those ai are mounted on rails. Is there any way you can temporarily unmount them and have them tilt shining into the corners a bit ?

 

[Cliff]

Yeah it's just a simple T hanger that I welded up maybe I should wild weld one up with a little different position's on it

 

[Eddie McVay]

OK so here's the situation I have a 6 foot long tank that is currently lit with 4 AI Hydra's I love the lights and fially have them in an excellent position for growth and full tank coverage; but my problem is with the very and corners of my tank. I have a corner overflow tank and when I built my foam rock wall I made covers for the overflows. They have shelves all the way up for corals to grow on. My problem is that the corners of the shelves closest to each and are not getting enough light. I would really like to use these shelves better. The corals I have on them now are really reaching for light so what I was wondering is what would you recommend to light up these corners? I was possibly thinking of one T5 Strip mounted to the flip up opening on top of the tank? Or possibly a couple of par type bulbs? Ideally would be to AI prime lights mounted in that corner but I think that is a wee bit expensive LOL I also don't want a weird spectrum just in those corners. What do you think? Please give me some options LOL here are some pictures please excuse the dirty glass

Have you tried starphire glass for front panel. Not sure if normal glass would meet your tank requirements. There are different types of glass like the solar heat gain efficient, ones which allow visible light, ones which allow ultraviolet energy. Check which one meets your requirements. I happened to see with one window installation service, landmark home solution (http://www.landmarkquality.com/windows/features-and-benefits/glass) about the different types of glasses and their features, the amount of natural lighting they let in. Would you mind trying with them. For aesthetics check for different designs available with glasses.