Lighting a Cube, opinons wanted!

DoctaReef · 04/29/2011, 06:21 AM

I'm in the initial stages of planning a new tank set up: researching and budgeting. I'm thinking of doing a 100 or 135 rimless cube, so I was hoping for some opinions on what fixtrues you would use to light it with MH/T5 or LED:
100: 30x30x24
135: 36x36x24

What do you guys think? Any and all opinions welcome!

autodave · 04/29/2011, 07:27 AM

I have my 30x30x24 cube lit with a single LumenMax Elite 250w,I also have 2 Ecoxotic Panorama LED's as supplement but don't really need them

Bonvivant · 04/29/2011, 07:48 AM

I have a 24 x 24 x 20 Cube lit with two AI units. I can grow anything, any where in the tank. I have acros and crocea clams on the bottom. All of them are happy and growing.

DoctaReef · 04/29/2011, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autodave

I have my 30x30x24 cube lit with a single LumenMax Elite 250w,I also have 2 Ecoxotic Panorama LED's as supplement but don't really need them

Are you growing SPS? How is the coverage with the singe MH?

DoctaReef · 04/29/2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonvivant

I have a 24 x 24 x 20 Cube lit with two AI units. I can grow anything, any where in the tank. I have acros and crocea clams on the bottom. All of them are happy and growing.

How is the coverage? do you think the 2 AI would cover the extra 6-12 inches of length/width?

gath2 · 04/29/2011, 09:08 AM

Before taking it down I had a 30x30x25 cube setup. I used a Diamond Lumen Arc Reflector and a 400W MH. It had a center overflow in the back middle. I kept it 6" off the water or so and had excellent coverage except for the two back corners. The overflow shadowed them a bit, but I liked it overall and could put anything in it.

DoctaReef · 04/29/2011, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gath2

Before taking it down I had a 30x30x25 cube setup. I used a Diamond Lumen Arc Reflector and a 400W MH. It had a center overflow in the back middle. I kept it 6" off the water or so and had excellent coverage except for the two back corners. The overflow shadowed them a bit, but I liked it overall and could put anything in it.

Thanks for the info...What did you like/dislike about the cube? Why did you take it down?

Chris27 · 04/29/2011, 09:45 AM

For a cube, a single halide pendant (14,000K) is the way I would go.....can't beat the changing one bulb a year thing. All you need to do is adjust the height for coverage, and wattage for water depth.

gath2 · 04/29/2011, 10:37 AM

I loved the tank. I had it built into a corner closet of my house so you could see it on two sides. The biggest problem with MH's is heat. Since it was in the wall, I cut a whole in the ceiling and vented air out that way. We are going to try and sell the house soon, so it had to come down so I could put the closet back together. No idea where we are going to end up, so I've been in the process of parting it out. Already wishing that I would have just held onto it all and found a way to move it.

RokleM · 04/29/2011, 12:51 PM

See below. 30x30x27 with a Lumenmax2 (good spread instead of focus), Galaxy/Lumatek select-a-watt, Radium.

autodave · 04/29/2011, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctaReef

Are you growing SPS? How is the coverage with the singe MH?

Yes I have SPS,all are growing well.The coverage is good,I have my reflector 10 inches above the water.There are people who say this reflector is a poor choice,but it is working great for me

sirreal63 · 04/30/2011, 08:12 AM

I have a 110 gallon Pentagon, 40x40x17 lit with a single 150 watt Radium in a LAIII Mini driven by a Aqua Medic HQI cube ballast. I am bleaching new SPS additions directly under the fixture. I hope to get some par readings soon.

Light is raised about 12" here, acclimating some corals.

I normally run the unit with the bottom of the fixture about 6" off the water. Spread is good, covers a 30x30 area nicely. A single halide works great in the right reflector. Another good option would be an 8x24 ATI T5 unit.

04/29/2011, 06:21 AM	#1
DoctaReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glastonbury, CT Posts: 236	Lighting a Cube, opinons wanted! I'm in the initial stages of planning a new tank set up: researching and budgeting. I'm thinking of doing a 100 or 135 rimless cube, so I was hoping for some opinions on what fixtrues you would use to light it with MH/T5 or LED: 100: 30x30x24 135: 36x36x24 What do you guys think? Any and all opinions welcome!

04/29/2011, 07:48 AM	#3
Bonvivant Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elmhurst, Illinois Posts: 153	I have a 24 x 24 x 20 Cube lit with two AI units. I can grow anything, any where in the tank. I have acros and crocea clams on the bottom. All of them are happy and growing. __________________ I'm not mad, I'm proud of you. You took your first pinch like a man, and learned the two greatest things in life. Look at me. Never rat on your friends......and always keep your mouth shut. Current Tank Info: Nothing right now.

04/29/2011, 09:45 AM	#8
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	For a cube, a single halide pendant (14,000K) is the way I would go.....can't beat the changing one bulb a year thing. All you need to do is adjust the height for coverage, and wattage for water depth. __________________ Fill your tank with $5 bills, add gasoline and light it on fire.....only then will you know the real cost of reefing. Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

04/29/2011, 12:51 PM	#10
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	See below. 30x30x27 with a Lumenmax2 (good spread instead of focus), Galaxy/Lumatek select-a-watt, Radium. __________________ -Eric-

04/30/2011, 08:12 AM	#12
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I have a 110 gallon Pentagon, 40x40x17 lit with a single 150 watt Radium in a LAIII Mini driven by a Aqua Medic HQI cube ballast. I am bleaching new SPS additions directly under the fixture. I hope to get some par readings soon. Light is raised about 12" here, acclimating some corals. I normally run the unit with the bottom of the fixture about 6" off the water. Spread is good, covers a 30x30 area nicely. A single halide works great in the right reflector. Another good option would be an 8x24 ATI T5 unit. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

04/29/2011, 07:27 AM	#2
autodave Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Menifee,Ca. Posts: 484	I have my 30x30x24 cube lit with a single LumenMax Elite 250w,I also have 2 Ecoxotic Panorama LED's as supplement but don't really need them

04/29/2011, 09:08 AM	#6
gath2 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Fairview Heights, IL Posts: 646	Before taking it down I had a 30x30x25 cube setup. I used a Diamond Lumen Arc Reflector and a 400W MH. It had a center overflow in the back middle. I kept it 6" off the water or so and had excellent coverage except for the two back corners. The overflow shadowed them a bit, but I liked it overall and could put anything in it.

04/29/2011, 10:37 AM	#9
gath2 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Fairview Heights, IL Posts: 646	I loved the tank. I had it built into a corner closet of my house so you could see it on two sides. The biggest problem with MH's is heat. Since it was in the wall, I cut a whole in the ceiling and vented air out that way. We are going to try and sell the house soon, so it had to come down so I could put the closet back together. No idea where we are going to end up, so I've been in the process of parting it out. Already wishing that I would have just held onto it all and found a way to move it.

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