lighting for a 24" (60 gal.) cube

kalosbios · 10/04/2007, 06:59 PM

Hello all,

though I have read through many forums and threads, this is my first time participating or creating one. . . I hope this works.

I'm looking for some advice on lighting for a 24" cube (60 gal.). I'm not sure now, with the overwhelming amount of opinions from seemingly very experience people on these forums. Here's what I would eventually like to achieve:

a mixed reef with a nice assortment of hardy creatures from aquacultured sources. I would like to keep some SPS and similar light-loving creatures, along with creatures associated with shady recesses. I have read a lot regarding water quality, movement, lighting quality, creature compatibility and needs, etc. Since I'm on a fairly tight budget, I'm gathering equipment one piece at a time. So. . . metal halide (double- or single-ended?, wattage?) or the T5's that seem to be all the rage? On either, what are some good discount sources? DIY or complete hood?

Thank you for your advice. This website has already been a great education for someone brand new like me (I have some salt experience, but no reef or invertebrate at all)

BangkokMatt · 10/04/2007, 07:14 PM

A friend of mine keeps a 60g cube with a 400w MH + actinics over it. It is a very healthy and successful tank. All corals doing very well. I can recommend though a 250w would suffice.

bertoni · 10/04/2007, 07:16 PM

To Reef Central

400 W MH would be fine. A good 250 W or even 175 W system would work well, too. I have a Lumen Max 2 pendant and like it. Double-ended vs single-ended is irrelevant, although there are more single-ended bulbs around.

A good T5 setup will work just as well, but the look is very different. If possible, I'd suggest looking at some systems in person. There's a lot of personal taste in lighting. I don't like T5, personally.

kalosbios · 10/04/2007, 08:10 PM

Thank you for your responses. I think I'm leaning toward halides for the appearance, anyway. I've seen the difference at my local shop; the halides seem to really give a better rendition of the reef environment.

Another question: I've noticed there's not much of a difference, if any, between the cost of a 150 (de), 175, or 250 watt (se or de) set-up, whether it be a pendant or retrofit system. Is there really a significant difference in the amount of heat output (to the water) between them? I would like to stick to fans for now with our moderate climate here near the coast. Would the 250 watt set-up make a chiller necessary in and of itself? Thanks again.

ZACK007 · 10/04/2007, 08:23 PM

It depends on a lot of things.
to start consider all the electrical equipment you will be using that can produce heat.
example

ower head,
return pump,
skimer pump, closed loop system pump.
and on top of that the ambiant temperature of your home can change the aquariums temeprature.
so if you keep your home at say...78 you can expect at least a 2 to 4 degree increase over the day.
Im actualy in the design stage for my cube.
however it will not be as high as yours .mine will only be 18 inches tall.
i was thinking of using this light:
http://www.aquadirect.com/store/prod...cat=679&page=1

BangkokMatt · 10/04/2007, 08:27 PM

I would go with 250w. Fan cooling will be ok but you will get some evaporation.
Welcome to RC

cutegecko3 · 10/04/2007, 08:28 PM

the biggest differece in heat is noticable when going from 250 watt to 400 watt.so i would stick to 250 watt run on a electronic ballast.

cartman5579 · 10/04/2007, 08:32 PM

I have the exact same tank as you and i started out with the 24" Coralife Aqualight Pro with 150MH. Extremely dissapointed with performance to say the least. I just pre-ordered the Solaris I4. Expensive, but i've been hearing great things about the older models prior to the I4. 400Watts and no heating of the water surface. No need for a chiller at all.

Matthew

10/04/2007, 06:59 PM	#1
kalosbios Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lans-en-Vercors, France (near Grenoble) Posts: 68	lighting for a 24" (60 gal.) cube Hello all, though I have read through many forums and threads, this is my first time participating or creating one. . . I hope this works. I'm looking for some advice on lighting for a 24" cube (60 gal.). I'm not sure now, with the overwhelming amount of opinions from seemingly very experience people on these forums. Here's what I would eventually like to achieve: a mixed reef with a nice assortment of hardy creatures from aquacultured sources. I would like to keep some SPS and similar light-loving creatures, along with creatures associated with shady recesses. I have read a lot regarding water quality, movement, lighting quality, creature compatibility and needs, etc. Since I'm on a fairly tight budget, I'm gathering equipment one piece at a time. So. . . metal halide (double- or single-ended?, wattage?) or the T5's that seem to be all the rage? On either, what are some good discount sources? DIY or complete hood? Thank you for your advice. This website has already been a great education for someone brand new like me (I have some salt experience, but no reef or invertebrate at all)

10/04/2007, 07:14 PM	#2
BangkokMatt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Krung Thep Posts: 3,100	A friend of mine keeps a 60g cube with a 400w MH + actinics over it. It is a very healthy and successful tank. All corals doing very well. I can recommend though a 250w would suffice. __________________ I've spent a lot of money on booze, women and fish. The rest I just squandered. Current Tank Info: 150g sps Reef (now FOWLR after a devastating crash due to chiller) , 2x400w MH (Icecap ballast, Lumenmax 2, Reeflux 12k SE), Deltec AP701, Grotech Tec III, Chiller, 2 x Tunze 6101, 1 x 6205 (+ m/c), bla bla

10/04/2007, 07:16 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* 400 W MH would be fine. A good 250 W or even 175 W system would work well, too. I have a Lumen Max 2 pendant and like it. Double-ended vs single-ended is irrelevant, although there are more single-ended bulbs around. A good T5 setup will work just as well, but the look is very different. If possible, I'd suggest looking at some systems in person. There's a lot of personal taste in lighting. I don't like T5, personally. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/04/2007, 08:23 PM	#5
ZACK007 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 32	It depends on a lot of things. to start consider all the electrical equipment you will be using that can produce heat. exampleower head, return pump, skimer pump, closed loop system pump. and on top of that the ambiant temperature of your home can change the aquariums temeprature. so if you keep your home at say...78 you can expect at least a 2 to 4 degree increase over the day. Im actualy in the design stage for my cube. however it will not be as high as yours .mine will only be 18 inches tall. i was thinking of using this light: http://www.aquadirect.com/store/prod...cat=679&page=1

10/04/2007, 08:27 PM	#6
BangkokMatt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Krung Thep Posts: 3,100	I would go with 250w. Fan cooling will be ok but you will get some evaporation. Welcome to RC __________________ I've spent a lot of money on booze, women and fish. The rest I just squandered. Current Tank Info: 150g sps Reef (now FOWLR after a devastating crash due to chiller) , 2x400w MH (Icecap ballast, Lumenmax 2, Reeflux 12k SE), Deltec AP701, Grotech Tec III, Chiller, 2 x Tunze 6101, 1 x 6205 (+ m/c), bla bla

10/04/2007, 08:10 PM	#4
kalosbios Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lans-en-Vercors, France (near Grenoble) Posts: 68	Thank you for your responses. I think I'm leaning toward halides for the appearance, anyway. I've seen the difference at my local shop; the halides seem to really give a better rendition of the reef environment. Another question: I've noticed there's not much of a difference, if any, between the cost of a 150 (de), 175, or 250 watt (se or de) set-up, whether it be a pendant or retrofit system. Is there really a significant difference in the amount of heat output (to the water) between them? I would like to stick to fans for now with our moderate climate here near the coast. Would the 250 watt set-up make a chiller necessary in and of itself? Thanks again.

10/04/2007, 08:28 PM	#7
cutegecko3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Springdale, AR Posts: 974	the biggest differece in heat is noticable when going from 250 watt to 400 watt.so i would stick to 250 watt run on a electronic ballast.

10/04/2007, 08:32 PM	#8
cartman5579 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 543	I have the exact same tank as you and i started out with the 24" Coralife Aqualight Pro with 150MH. Extremely dissapointed with performance to say the least. I just pre-ordered the Solaris I4. Expensive, but i've been hearing great things about the older models prior to the I4. 400Watts and no heating of the water surface. No need for a chiller at all. Matthew