lighting 4'x'2 w/ 1 bulb?

[shawns]

what is the concenus on lighting that foot print w/ the right reflector and 1 400w mh bulb? i know that best practice will suggest to do 2 bulbs, but what if i could push the limits of what is common knowledge? i could do some clever aquascaping and use the 1 bulb to my advantage. if it can be done, it would be so much easier to deal w/ 1 bulb to replace, along w/ only 1 timer. keep in mind that sanjay uses 3 lights for over 7' linear of tank.

please keep an open mind!

[Jon Lazar]

what is the concenus on lighting that foot print w/ the right reflector and 1 400w mh bulb? i know that best practice will suggest to do 2 bulbs, but what if i could push the limits of what is common knowledge? i could do some clever aquascaping and use the 1 bulb to my advantage. if it can be done, it would be so much easier to deal w/ 1 bulb to replace, along w/ only 1 timer. keep in mind that sanjay uses 3 lights for over 7' linear of tank.

please keep an open mind!

 

You certainly could do this; you'll just have less light on the ends. So put your light-loving sps in the center, your medium light corals outside of that, and low light corals or open space on the ends where the light is dimmest.

 

Jon

[Coral Hind]

It would work and it would allow you to keep a nice mixed reef as Jon mentioned. I would raise the light a few inches higher then normal to get more spread out of it.

[zygote2k]

I have a single 400 above a 36"x18" and have a mixture of sps, zoas, and softies. You just have to aquascape the right way and all will be fine.