Set up help

[martyn242]

I have a tropical tank which i am looking at changing over to marine. I will be buying all the required equipment over the next few months. The tank is a 58g 48"long 24"deep 18" width bow front. The first thing i am going to buy is the lighting stuff. I don't want to use metal halide, mainly down to cost. I think i am looking at getting a T5 set up. I want to go for a full reef tank. What would be the perfect set up?

The tank is an off the shelf fluval vicenza 260 at the moment it has flourescent tubes built into the cover, i presume i will have to get rid of the cover for the new stuff. How do i take into account the bow front when it comes to lighting?

[crvz]

Well, is the 18" width at the largest dimension (middle of the tank)? If so, what are the sides? You could get a couple different size bulbs in a retrofit configuration to accommodate the bow, say four 48" bulbs and then two 36" bulbs, but you'll have to get crafty to install them.

[martyn242]

The bow is 18" at widest and 15" at the narrowest (either end!)

[martyn242]

sorry got that wrong its 13" ant the narrow point, would not having a light over the 5" bow make much difference in the tank?

[Loverotties]

Depends on what you want to keep.but 6 0r 8 row of T-5 is the way to go if you don't want Mh.

[jenglish]

some people with a bow front will leave the bow part sand bed or low rock formations for swimming room for fish and not place any corals, clams, nems or other photosynthetic organisms in the bow to avoid the complications of trying to get this area lit.

[martyn242]

I'm thinking that a 6 bulb t5 unit should do the trick then, i will probably leave the bow as sand bed then and build up nearer the back of the tank.

Any brand recomendations for the lights or shall i make one, if i went for a 6 bulb t5 could i fit a actinic into one of the positions or is it not worth it?

[Loverotties]

Dr.Foster & Smith had some at a sale price last week or two.