FishFolk

On a 55 with a center support brace, is it better to go with two 24" fixtures than one 48" fixture? The 48 costs less and has same wattage but I am concerned that where it crosses the bar might get too warm.

The light is Coralife F/W T-5 aqualight Double Strip Light (one colormax and one 6700k).

Thanks!
P

Chief_waterchanger

Do the light fixtures have built in fans? A lot of the Coralife lights do, but you can also order plastic legs for the fixture so it sits off the tank with some airflow in there, keeping it from getting as warm. (But then is it still cheaper to get the legs and one unit or two units or legs for 2 units.. )

FishFolk

No fans that I read about. This is a FW light so the heat isn't going to be too high. here's the description:
The Coralife F/W Aqualight T-5 is a double lamp fixture ideal for freshwater and planted aquariums. Includes one Colormax Full Spectrum and one 6700K T-5 (5/8 diameter) fluorescent lamp. Features an on/off switch, a built in electronic ballast, sleek black aluminum housing, a highly polished reflector, acrylic lens cover and adjustable width tank mounts. T-5 lamps are 14 watts each.
The directions say to sit it on a glass canopy...

Chief_waterchanger

I think that I remember Carol (Butterfly) as having legs on her lights, and we may luck out and she may have Coralife brand lights. (I know next to nothing about lighting because.. well.. ours is free and 93,000,000 miles away..

Slug

The heat should be fine. Especially being T5s, they run cooler then a lot of lights out there (Compact flor, MH). To me its the same fixture because the center brace is going to block out the same amount of light as the amount of space inbetween 2 24" fixtures. I can't tell that much difference between a full 48" strip or 2 24" strips over my 55gal.

Not to help your decision at all but i think you'd be fine going either way haha.

FishFolk

I guess I wasn't clear about what worried me. I was concerned that the brace area might get too warm from the light. I feel sure the water will be fine. I went to look at Cory's and he has a 48" single across the brace and all is well.

Extra question: Do I need to get a glass canopy designed for twin fixtures? They are 6.5 in the back and 3 in the front (not counting flaps). I have a standard hood. No idea how wide the fixture is!