How to light a 18"x18"x18" cube?

Stumped · 07/10/2010, 05:12 PM

I'm really stuck right now trying to figure out the best way to light a 25g Marineland cube. I need a suggestion on a lighting fixture that can meet these requirements:

1. Cost <$300 (slightly over would be okay, but really looking to keep around that price)
2. Prefer it not to be hung. I'm hoping something is available that I can mount on the tank with legs or whatever. I can't hang it from the ceiling and I'd have to build/buy a light hanger.
3. Want it to be one fixture (ie. I don't want to light it using a bunch of LED spotlights).
4. Want something that can at least keep LPS and possibly lower light SPS.

Anyone have any suggestions?

uhuru · 07/10/2010, 05:24 PM

You can get a 20" nova extreme pro T5HO, it will be a little bigger than the tank though.

You could do a clip on MH fixture, but the quality of those is questionable.

Fish need it MH fixtures are well within your price range, and I think they have legs. I heard their customer service is top notch.

Stumped · 07/10/2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uhuru

You can get a 20" nova extreme pro T5HO, it will be a little bigger than the tank though.

You could do a clip on MH fixture, but the quality of those is questionable.

Fish need it MH fixtures are well within your price range, and I think they have legs. I heard their customer service is top notch.

Thanks for the quick reply and suggestions. Evidently I'm living under a rock as I've never even heard of FNI. I checked out their site and they look like they'd be great for what I want. I'm having a hard time searching RC for the brand, so hopefully someone has these answers.

1. How are their MH fixtures in terms of reliability? Obviously the price looks great, but I'd rather spend more money and get something that won't burn my place down. I know some cheap fixtures are notoriously unreliable and I literally know nothing about this brand so I have to ask.

2. If I'm going to be using the legs for the light would I be better off with the 70w or the 150w for what I want to keep in the tank. Obviously bigger is better, but I don't want to fry everything since I won't be able to raise the fixture higher if I'm using legs. Thoughts?

pardalis · 07/10/2010, 10:33 PM

Single lumenarc mini with a 150w or 250w bulb and ballast would come in right around $300 and be more than enough light to keep anything you want.

uhuru · 07/10/2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumped

Prefer it not to be hung. I'm hoping something is available that I can mount on the tank with legs or whatever. I can't hang it from the ceiling and I'd have to build/buy a light hanger.

d0ughb0y · 07/10/2010, 10:55 PM

what exactly do you mean by you can't hang it. if you have a ceiling, then you can hang it. hanging has the advantage of easier maintenance and no accidental dropping of light into the tank.

Stumped · 07/10/2010, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d0ughb0y

what exactly do you mean by you can't hang it. if you have a ceiling, then you can hang it. hanging has the advantage of easier maintenance and no accidental dropping of light into the tank.

There's track lighting over the area I want to put this tank. I'm also a renter and don't want to have to deal with any issues associated with hanging a light fixture in a place I don't own.

jzdad · 07/11/2010, 12:43 AM

You could get some thin metal or aluminum been it 90 degrees and attach it to the back of the stand or side and suspend the light from the bar

Stumped · 07/11/2010, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzdad

You could get some thin metal or aluminum been it 90 degrees and attach it to the back of the stand or side and suspend the light from the bar

That's an option obviously, I'd just prefer not to because it'd just be an added cost since it'd be unlikely I'd be able to make something adequate without purchasing materials + tools.

Johnny C · 07/12/2010, 12:11 AM

If you are looking for something relatively cheap that can house Softys, LPS and some lower-light SPS, I would look into buying a 150W Sunpod. Unfortunatly the company discontinued the fixture a few months back but you can still find them used for very cheap (one example here). The fixture is 20'' but the legs slide back and fourth. My friend has this exact fixture on his Solana and it works very well. Just my opinion, hope this helps!

cody6766 · 07/12/2010, 11:57 AM

can you build a custom canopy to hold a 150 or 175 watt MH light? You'd be able to keep anything with a 150w Phoenix or Radium (if they make them in 150w) and a lumenarc reflector.

As far as aesthetics are concerned, I think a pendent would look better on a tank like yours. I'm willing to bet you could build some inexpensive hangers that look sleek for a few bucks.

icechimpee · 07/12/2010, 02:44 PM

Running my 20x20x20 cube with a single lumenarc mini and a 175w bulb/ballast

07/10/2010, 05:12 PM	#1
Stumped Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 439	How to light a 18"x18"x18" cube? I'm really stuck right now trying to figure out the best way to light a 25g Marineland cube. I need a suggestion on a lighting fixture that can meet these requirements: 1. Cost <$300 (slightly over would be okay, but really looking to keep around that price) 2. Prefer it not to be hung. I'm hoping something is available that I can mount on the tank with legs or whatever. I can't hang it from the ceiling and I'd have to build/buy a light hanger. 3. Want it to be one fixture (ie. I don't want to light it using a bunch of LED spotlights). 4. Want something that can at least keep LPS and possibly lower light SPS. Anyone have any suggestions?

07/10/2010, 10:33 PM	#4
pardalis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pacing the cage Posts: 123	Single lumenarc mini with a 150w or 250w bulb and ballast would come in right around $300 and be more than enough light to keep anything you want. __________________ Custom Deep Sea 56g "neo nano", "attached" 18g rimless tube anemone / mantis tank, Custom modern stand, AI SOL blue x 2, Apex controller, 2 x Vortech mp10es, Trigger Systems ruby 36s, Eheim 1262 and 1260 pumps, SWC 160 Cone skimmer w/ modded impellar and XL cup, 3 x Drews dosing pumps, phosban reactor, bio pellet reactor..... Various tarantulas, 3 pairs of panther chameleons, 2 pair of veiled chameleons, 1 pair of carpet chameleons..... -Greg Power-

07/11/2010, 12:43 AM	#8
jzdad Love2Reef Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rosedale, NY Posts: 414	You could get some thin metal or aluminum been it 90 degrees and attach it to the back of the stand or side and suspend the light from the bar __________________ Things ain't always what they appear to be........Trust me! Current Tank Info: 80g , ATI 6 bulb fixture, Omega 150 skimmer

07/12/2010, 12:11 AM	#10
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	If you are looking for something relatively cheap that can house Softys, LPS and some lower-light SPS, I would look into buying a 150W Sunpod. Unfortunatly the company discontinued the fixture a few months back but you can still find them used for very cheap (one example here). The fixture is 20'' but the legs slide back and fourth. My friend has this exact fixture on his Solana and it works very well. Just my opinion, hope this helps! __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

07/12/2010, 11:57 AM	#11
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	can you build a custom canopy to hold a 150 or 175 watt MH light? You'd be able to keep anything with a 150w Phoenix or Radium (if they make them in 150w) and a lumenarc reflector. As far as aesthetics are concerned, I think a pendent would look better on a tank like yours. I'm willing to bet you could build some inexpensive hangers that look sleek for a few bucks. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

07/10/2010, 05:24 PM	#2
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	You can get a 20" nova extreme pro T5HO, it will be a little bigger than the tank though. You could do a clip on MH fixture, but the quality of those is questionable. Fish need it MH fixtures are well within your price range, and I think they have legs. I heard their customer service is top notch.

07/10/2010, 10:55 PM	#6
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	what exactly do you mean by you can't hang it. if you have a ceiling, then you can hang it. hanging has the advantage of easier maintenance and no accidental dropping of light into the tank.

07/12/2010, 02:44 PM	#12
icechimpee Time is Money Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 246	Running my 20x20x20 cube with a single lumenarc mini and a 175w bulb/ballast __________________ 93 Gallon "Cube" 30x30x24...in the works

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