Too much light possible?

[boostat4500]

I have a 75G with a 4x54 T5 light over it currently. I want to add another fixture to get better coverage. I can easily fit a 2 bulb fixture or could squeeze another 4 bulb fixture in. I don't want any limits on what I can keep. Will the 2 bulb be enough or should I go for the 4 bulb? Would another 4 bulb be too much light? Thanks.

 

[geoj]

You can do the 4 bulb fixture,and if it seems to much you can cut the hours back. Yet I like a combo 250w MH with 4 T5HOs.

 

[eric b 125]

+1 you'll be fine with 8 bulbs

 

[eric b 125]

also, to answer your question: too much light is for sure possible. i think a lot of people go overboard with lighting. a 250w halide over a 10 gal would fry everything in it.

 

[boostat4500]

Thanks. So would it be worth it to save up a little more and add a MH instead of more T5. It would be a 2x250 watt fixture if I went that route. The MH is double the cost of the 4 bulb T5, which is double the 2 bulb T5. I'll spend the money if it will make a difference, but I can't afford to waste it if it's not necessary.

 

[dragonzim]

Originally Posted by boostat4500
http:///forum/post/3172815
Thanks. So would it be worth it to save up a little more and add a MH instead of more T5. It would be a 2x250 watt fixture if I went that route. The MH is double the cost of the 4 bulb T5, which is double the 2 bulb T5. I'll spend the money if it will make a difference, but I can't afford to waste it if it's not necessary.
Adding another T5 fixture with either 2 or 4 bulbs would be the way to go IMO. Does the fixture you have have individual reflectors for each bulb or just one reflector? Have individual ones makes a huge difference.

 

[stanlalee]

if you have a good fixture what you have now is sufficient to keep anything. You definately dont need more than 2 more unless you are trying to scortch stuff or have mediocre fixtures. for example an 8 bulb ATI would likely be way over kill for a 20" tall, 18" deep 75g. an 8 bulb nova extreme on the other hand wouldn't be extreme at all.