viscult

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Location
brooklyn
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My mom is considering accepting a used T5 Current Nova from a friend, but is wondering whether she can use it over her 29G which is 30" wide; she was planning to buy a used Current Outer Orbit CF that is 30", and is wondering what to do. We keep reading that T5 is better, but are unsure about the size issue. She has a glass cover on the tank.

She has LR, zoas, mushrooms and a CUC in her tank and while her percula died in July, she plans on restocking in the new year. Tank has been going for 3.5 years (but just a year in her house, someone freeccycled this set-up tank to her) on regular old fluorescents, so this is a great move--some of you met her at the swap this spring, she's been breeding cichlids and at 72 turned her eye to saltwater (but still has 7 brackish tanks).

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your help!
 

viscult

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Location
brooklyn
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Thanks for the responses--in part, we're wondering if it worth the effort to go with the T5 (hanging would be more work than Ma could do--and which I couldn't get to for a while) because the light is that much better, and whether the 6" short matters.
 

Hungriee

Advanced Reefer
Location
NYC
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I run a 30" fixture over a 30" Long tank but the T5 bulbs are only made to be 24" long. I keep mostly softies/zoas in the less lit up areas and they are doing exceptionally well.

It really depends on what you plan to keep but it'll work.
 

cowfish

Psycho-ologist
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Most 30" fixtures use 24" bulbs (t5ho or CF) and have the bulbs staggered so every other bulb begins at the opposite side. A 24" fixture will only leave a 3" dim section on either side of the tank so unless you're planning on having wall to wall corals it should be fine.
 

Slamajamajama

Because Thats How I Roll.
Location
Brooklyn, 11223
Rating - 98.2%
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Most 30" fixtures use 24" bulbs (t5ho or CF) and have the bulbs staggered so every other bulb begins at the opposite side. A 24" fixture will only leave a 3" dim section on either side of the tank so unless you're planning on having wall to wall corals it should be fine.
agreed....if u can build a wooden box almost any config can be accomplished
 

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