Lighting my 92g corner? Suggestions?

bboersma79 · 01/11/2008, 03:22 PM

I am looking to replace my 400W SE MH pendant with a new lighting fixture. I have a mixed reef with everything from SPS, to leathers, frogspawn, chalice, lord, etc.

I haven't been too active on the forums the past 6-9 months so I was checking around to see what is new. It seems the LEDs are of interest and also the nova extreme pro.

concerns in addition to proper coverage of the 92g tank, etc.

- noise (fans need to be silent)
- light pollution (want as little light going into the room as it is the primary TV viewing room and the tank doesn't have a full canopy.
- must be pendant or be hangable (92g corner doesn't work for the typical "feet")

I was thinking either a 36" LED or T5 or fixture (MH/T5 combo)..if I move I would likely get a 120g tank so flexibility of a future upgrade would be nice.

chem-e · 01/11/2008, 04:59 PM

With the idea of upgrading to a 120gal tank, I think you have a couple of options. First, you could use a smaller fixture and then add a second when you upgrade tanks. The other option would be to get a 3 foot tank and then reuse it for a 120gal tank, but depending on the length of the next tank, you may leave the ends of the tank with less light.

If you went with smaller fixtures, you could use a 24"-ish fixture. I lit my 92 gal with a 24" teklight for a couple of years. I had a mixed reef with SPS on top and LPS on the bottom, so I think a 24" fixture, although it wouldn't be optimal, it would work. Then when you decide to upgrade tanks, you could add a second 24" fixture.

bboersma79 · 01/12/2008, 09:36 AM

that is solid advice, maybe I can scrounge up enough dough for the Aqua Illuminations 24" unit. My future tank would be the tech 120 which is 48" long.

Do the T5 lights bleed into rooms badly or would I still be better off using the cheap oceanic canopy that comes with the corner tank.

chem-e · 01/12/2008, 10:30 AM

Are you currently using the 400w MH in your signature? If you are, is there any particular reason why you want to change?

As for light bleeding, I think that you'll have some bleeding for any fixture and the higher it stands, the more bleeding you'll get.

bboersma79 · 01/12/2008, 09:46 PM

yep that is what my current light is 400w SE MH. It is an old school lighting unit (I know the company that made it is no longer in business)

01/11/2008, 03:22 PM	#1
bboersma79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Westmont, IL Posts: 732	Lighting my 92g corner? Suggestions? I am looking to replace my 400W SE MH pendant with a new lighting fixture. I have a mixed reef with everything from SPS, to leathers, frogspawn, chalice, lord, etc. I haven't been too active on the forums the past 6-9 months so I was checking around to see what is new. It seems the LEDs are of interest and also the nova extreme pro. concerns in addition to proper coverage of the 92g tank, etc. - noise (fans need to be silent) - light pollution (want as little light going into the room as it is the primary TV viewing room and the tank doesn't have a full canopy. - must be pendant or be hangable (92g corner doesn't work for the typical "feet") I was thinking either a 36" LED or T5 or fixture (MH/T5 combo)..if I move I would likely get a 120g tank so flexibility of a future upgrade would be nice. __________________ Elos 120XL, Radion G4 Pros, Barebottom

01/11/2008, 04:59 PM	#2
chem-e Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,350	With the idea of upgrading to a 120gal tank, I think you have a couple of options. First, you could use a smaller fixture and then add a second when you upgrade tanks. The other option would be to get a 3 foot tank and then reuse it for a 120gal tank, but depending on the length of the next tank, you may leave the ends of the tank with less light. If you went with smaller fixtures, you could use a 24"-ish fixture. I lit my 92 gal with a 24" teklight for a couple of years. I had a mixed reef with SPS on top and LPS on the bottom, so I think a 24" fixture, although it wouldn't be optimal, it would work. Then when you decide to upgrade tanks, you could add a second 24" fixture. __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: Elos [~] 70 powered by Profilux

01/12/2008, 09:36 AM	#3
bboersma79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Westmont, IL Posts: 732	that is solid advice, maybe I can scrounge up enough dough for the Aqua Illuminations 24" unit. My future tank would be the tech 120 which is 48" long. Do the T5 lights bleed into rooms badly or would I still be better off using the cheap oceanic canopy that comes with the corner tank. __________________ Elos 120XL, Radion G4 Pros, Barebottom

01/12/2008, 10:30 AM	#4
chem-e Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,350	Are you currently using the 400w MH in your signature? If you are, is there any particular reason why you want to change? As for light bleeding, I think that you'll have some bleeding for any fixture and the higher it stands, the more bleeding you'll get. __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: Elos [~] 70 powered by Profilux

01/12/2008, 09:46 PM	#5
bboersma79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Westmont, IL Posts: 732	yep that is what my current light is 400w SE MH. It is an old school lighting unit (I know the company that made it is no longer in business) __________________ Elos 120XL, Radion G4 Pros, Barebottom