lighting 36x36 sps tank, help :)

dmilne85 · 01/19/2009, 09:31 PM

i just bought a new tank and here is my situation. So i ask that you lend me your thoughts, thanks!

As of now i have a 120 gallon(4x2x2 ft) with the current lighting in my canopy:
-4x48 t5's in individual reflectors w/ icecap ballast
-2x 250 watt hqi metal halides in lumenarc mini reflectors w/icecap ballast

my new tank: 150 gallon marineland (36x36x27)- looking at these demensions you can already see that my lighting on the 120 wont fit over.

Secondly, i opted not to buy canopy because of how low it was(wouldnt allow much room for mh's) and it cost 550 dollars. I need to decide how to light this tank and it will be hosting sps only.
Should i buy new reflectors/t5 bulbs that are a foot shorter and shallow metal halide reflectors that would allow me to buy canopy and fit lights in them?

OR do i ditch the canopy and buy some sort of pendant/lighting system that looks pretty. i estimate that will cost just about the same. However im at a complete loss on what products are out there that can offer me the amount of light im currently packing into my 120. i like icecap t5's but they only make retrofiting systems, no other t5 manufatures have seem to catch on to the high ouput ballast yet.

dmilne85 · 01/19/2009, 09:40 PM

i will add that i like the idea of the 36'' 10 bulb ati t5 power module but cant get past the idea that its not overdriven. it doesnt seem like 10x36=360 watts over a 150 is enough light?
are there any t5 units that would be suitable enough to grow sps at all levels for a ( 36x36x27 )150 gallon tank??

The Lance · 01/19/2009, 10:42 PM

I have this same tank and am going with a 2x400w mh setup. I might add 6x39w t5 to suppliment, but we will see how the 400's look.

greenmonkey51 · 01/19/2009, 10:59 PM

It looks like you really want to go with T-5's, but what about 3 250w MH's in a triangle formation. You could probably throw in a couple T-5's for actinics.

nikon187 · 01/19/2009, 11:13 PM

The ATI 10 bulb is more than enough light at a depth of 27" for SPS

prodman · 01/19/2009, 11:20 PM

I have a 36x36 tank and light it easily with a sfiligoi xr6 250 se.

dmilne85 · 01/20/2009, 05:52 AM

im probably 50/50 on whether to go with all t5. i love the look of halides however im having a hard time finding a good looking/well working lighting unit that can sit above the tank?

dmilne85 · 01/20/2009, 05:58 AM

i did see this which looks awesome... just a "little" expensive ** *sfiligoi* Infinity XR6- 1 x 400 watt with T5

prodman · 01/20/2009, 08:32 AM

they are a little pricey but well worth it imo. I would stick with 250w but thats just me. All of my favorite sps tanks are lit that way and do just fine.

01/19/2009, 09:31 PM	#1
dmilne85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arizona, now in Pittsburgh :0( Posts: 602	lighting 36x36 sps tank, help :) i just bought a new tank and here is my situation. So i ask that you lend me your thoughts, thanks! As of now i have a 120 gallon(4x2x2 ft) with the current lighting in my canopy: -4x48 t5's in individual reflectors w/ icecap ballast -2x 250 watt hqi metal halides in lumenarc mini reflectors w/icecap ballast my new tank: 150 gallon marineland (36x36x27)- looking at these demensions you can already see that my lighting on the 120 wont fit over. Secondly, i opted not to buy canopy because of how low it was(wouldnt allow much room for mh's) and it cost 550 dollars. I need to decide how to light this tank and it will be hosting sps only. Should i buy new reflectors/t5 bulbs that are a foot shorter and shallow metal halide reflectors that would allow me to buy canopy and fit lights in them? OR do i ditch the canopy and buy some sort of pendant/lighting system that looks pretty. i estimate that will cost just about the same. However im at a complete loss on what products are out there that can offer me the amount of light im currently packing into my 120. i like icecap t5's but they only make retrofiting systems, no other t5 manufatures have seem to catch on to the high ouput ballast yet.

01/19/2009, 11:13 PM	#5
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	The ATI 10 bulb is more than enough light at a depth of 27" for SPS __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

01/19/2009, 11:20 PM	#6
prodman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: napa,ca Posts: 3,305	I have a 36x36 tank and light it easily with a sfiligoi xr6 250 se. __________________ everything that happens will happen today Current Tank Info: 120XL

01/20/2009, 05:58 AM	#8
dmilne85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arizona, now in Pittsburgh :0( Posts: 602	i did see this which looks awesome... just a "little" expensive ** sfiligoi Infinity XR6- 1 x 400 watt with T5 Last edited by dmilne85; 01/20/2009 at 06:41 AM.

01/20/2009, 08:32 AM	#9
prodman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: napa,ca Posts: 3,305	they are a little pricey but well worth it imo. I would stick with 250w but thats just me. All of my favorite sps tanks are lit that way and do just fine. __________________ everything that happens will happen today Current Tank Info: 120XL

01/19/2009, 09:40 PM	#2
dmilne85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arizona, now in Pittsburgh :0( Posts: 602	i will add that i like the idea of the 36'' 10 bulb ati t5 power module but cant get past the idea that its not overdriven. it doesnt seem like 10x36=360 watts over a 150 is enough light? are there any t5 units that would be suitable enough to grow sps at all levels for a ( 36x36x27 )150 gallon tank??

01/19/2009, 10:42 PM	#3
The Lance Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 178	I have this same tank and am going with a 2x400w mh setup. I might add 6x39w t5 to suppliment, but we will see how the 400's look.

01/19/2009, 10:59 PM	#4
greenmonkey51 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,092	It looks like you really want to go with T-5's, but what about 3 250w MH's in a triangle formation. You could probably throw in a couple T-5's for actinics.

01/20/2009, 05:52 AM	#7
dmilne85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arizona, now in Pittsburgh :0( Posts: 602	im probably 50/50 on whether to go with all t5. i love the look of halides however im having a hard time finding a good looking/well working lighting unit that can sit above the tank?