I've been given lighting some thought on an 18" wide tank (front to back). One
strip of lighting just isn't up to task to light such a wide area. The one thing
I like about the Coralifes I've seen on the net is those clear plastic legs, set
of 4 for little over $7. Using 2 rows of cf lighting with 2 separate strips on legs that you can move back and forth to tweak light spread, would be ideal. Raising the light a couple inches like that, helps spread the light a bit more in those focused reflectors.The JBJ lighting clamps on the back of the tank and doesn't have this versatility-- at least the ones I've seen on the net. Any thoughts, folks?

Bill

my tank is 18" wide too and I am currently using a Coralife on legs.

It is very flexible as you said since you can move it back and forth...which makes it even easier to work in your tank...and the beauty of the plastic legs allows u to have an open top tank...

I'm using only 2x96W and find it kinda hard for the light to reach all the way.

So having 2 seperate strips would really help.

I think so, too. Maybe going with 2x55w in each strip. You could go with
6700K in one strip and 10000K in the other.

Bill

I am trying to find out if 10000k will give me any benefits...
if so, i will get it and run it with my 6700k.

its just 96W CF are quite costly....

bill, if you would like to save some $$,give a thought to ah lighting. they come with 2 ballast's and can time your lights. the reflectors in their kits are the key to good lighting. coralife lamps are very pricey. i have 24" that i bought used and does not seem like it puts out very much light for being a compact. it may be that light going thru their plastic lens and mine setting on glass may be why. regards, cornhusker

Cornhusker, I've dealt with Kim since 2000 and gets an A+ in customer
service. Kim doesn't have these nifty legs, however. I guess I could get the
kits I need from him, and the legs from Helolites Making a simple box to
house the lights would be no problem. Or I could suspend them in a pendant
application. I use his 13w kits on my small tanks

Bill

My 180 is 24 inches front to back ... I have four strips, two rows deep ...

The really nice thing about this is that you can put each row on their own timer which gives you a little bit more control over the photo period ...

Greg

I had three 96W AHSupply PC lamps/reflectors over my 90 gallon, which is 18" wide. Too hot, so now I'm down to two. Next lamp change I'm going to try the 8800K, which Kim doesn't (yet) offer, but are available at Champion Lighting:

http://www.championlighting.com/e/en...g/pclamps.html

TW