Setting up new 150 deep dimension cube & have lighting questions

neverwouldof · 09/09/2012, 09:14 PM

I'm setting up new 36" x 36" x27" tall Cube Tank. My plan was to use a Lumenmax Elite 250watt Halide with (3) 24" Aruba Sun V High Output T5 & LED Retrofit Kits giving me 2 T5 in front and the 2 T5's on each side of the Halide Fixture. Canopy will be 18" Tall.

Do you think i'll have a good light spread and a good par for many levels of SPS? Would you suggest any changes or recommend 400watt halide?

Thanks for any input...

Keith

JRoweNole · 09/10/2012, 01:06 PM

After having a 92 gallon corner reef tank for 11 years, I upgraded to a 150 cube 3 months.

I found that I could not mount my MH because it would be too close to the water. Instead, I went with 2 Reefbrite LEDs (one on each side), a 6 bulb T5 retro, and a Ecoxotic blue/white panorama pro led strip in the middle.

I think you may want to add a couple of more T5's or led strips for spread and intensity. You may want to go with 36" versus 24 ". I personally would not want a 400W MH due to heat.

JRoweNole · 09/10/2012, 01:07 PM

After having a 92 gallon corner reef tank for 11 years, I upgraded to a 150 cube 3 months ago.

I found that I could not mount my MH because it would be too close to the water. Instead, I went with 2 Reefbrite LEDs (one on each side), a 6 bulb T5 retro, and a Ecoxotic blue/white panorama pro led strip in the middle.

I think you may want to add a couple of more T5's or led strips for spread and intensity. You may want to go with 36" versus 24 ". I personally would not want a 400W MH due to heat.

zachfishman · 09/10/2012, 03:50 PM

Four 50 watt Ecoxotic LED cannons!

michaellee64 · 09/10/2012, 04:25 PM

I would ditch the idea of Metal Halides and take a strong look at LED's! I sold all of my MH fixtures and have switched to LED's and am having better growth on all of my corals.... SPS/LPS! Also I have been able to completely disconnect my chiller as it is not needed anymore. All of this at about 40% of the electricity usage of my previous setup, not counting the chiller! Plus I don't have to buy bulbs every year now.

Mirror Pond · 09/10/2012, 04:50 PM

I'm going to be lighting my 36"x36"x22" cube with a single 250w Radium mounted in a large LumenArc reflector. Heat should not be an issue with just a single bulb mounted that high, just add a couple of fans in your canopy. I had 3 halides mounted in a canopy on my 180 and heat was not an issue.

neverwouldof · 09/10/2012, 05:00 PM

I've had AI Sol Blues and I had good growth on most however the colors on some were not great. I guess I could try some Vegas and if they don't look like I want them too I could resell and not take a bath on them.

Jaysreefworld · 09/10/2012, 06:12 PM

LB Large 400w and 6 t5s, thats how im lighting my 36"x36"x24"

neverwouldof · 09/10/2012, 06:44 PM

I'm thinking of three Vegas in the middle surrounded by the three 24" T5 2 bulb retros.

Maybe surround the Vegas with three actinics and two New Generation on either side and 1 pink fiji in the front. That should give nice amount of balance and I can tone down the LED's reds and greens if needed. I already have a Lumenmax Elite reflector and new Galaxy 250w Ballast I bought months ago for this build. Should have the tank in a couple weeks with stand being built now.

[]V[]addog · 08/30/2013, 01:58 PM

get some kessil a350wide versions. 2 or 3 would do nicely.

sirreal63 · 08/30/2013, 02:27 PM

He went with the wise choice, halides and T5's. Note that you replied to a thread that is almost a year old.

09/09/2012, 09:14 PM	#1
neverwouldof Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Jacksonville Florida Posts: 202	Setting up new 150 deep dimension cube & have lighting questions I'm setting up new 36" x 36" x27" tall Cube Tank. My plan was to use a Lumenmax Elite 250watt Halide with (3) 24" Aruba Sun V High Output T5 & LED Retrofit Kits giving me 2 T5 in front and the 2 T5's on each side of the Halide Fixture. Canopy will be 18" Tall. Do you think i'll have a good light spread and a good par for many levels of SPS? Would you suggest any changes or recommend 400watt halide? Thanks for any input... Keith __________________ Keith in Jacksonville Florida (Realtor to the Hillbillies!) Current Tank Info: Elos 160 Aquarium - ATI Powermodule 60" 10 bulb - GHL Profilux Controller -Elos NS2000 Skimmer - Vortech MP40's - Avast Media Reactor

09/10/2012, 03:50 PM	#4
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	Four 50 watt Ecoxotic LED cannons! __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

09/10/2012, 05:00 PM	#7
neverwouldof Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Jacksonville Florida Posts: 202	I've had AI Sol Blues and I had good growth on most however the colors on some were not great. I guess I could try some Vegas and if they don't look like I want them too I could resell and not take a bath on them. __________________ Keith in Jacksonville Florida (Realtor to the Hillbillies!) Current Tank Info: Elos 160 Aquarium - ATI Powermodule 60" 10 bulb - GHL Profilux Controller -Elos NS2000 Skimmer - Vortech MP40's - Avast Media Reactor

09/10/2012, 06:12 PM	#8
Jaysreefworld Registered Member. Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 200	LB Large 400w and 6 t5s, thats how im lighting my 36"x36"x24" __________________ “Everything you can imagine is real.” ― Pablo Picasso 135g sps cube/ ATB 200 elegance/ 2 ATB media reactors/ ATB flowstar 3200/ ATB KD150/ 2 MP40wes/ MRC custom sump/ 2 LB mini wide, 2 reeflex cube ballast, running 2 250w radiums/ Apex/ tunze osmolator

09/10/2012, 06:44 PM	#9
neverwouldof Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Jacksonville Florida Posts: 202	I'm thinking of three Vegas in the middle surrounded by the three 24" T5 2 bulb retros. Maybe surround the Vegas with three actinics and two New Generation on either side and 1 pink fiji in the front. That should give nice amount of balance and I can tone down the LED's reds and greens if needed. I already have a Lumenmax Elite reflector and new Galaxy 250w Ballast I bought months ago for this build. Should have the tank in a couple weeks with stand being built now. __________________ Keith in Jacksonville Florida (Realtor to the Hillbillies!) Current Tank Info: Elos 160 Aquarium - ATI Powermodule 60" 10 bulb - GHL Profilux Controller -Elos NS2000 Skimmer - Vortech MP40's - Avast Media Reactor

09/10/2012, 01:06 PM	#2
JRoweNole Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kennesaw, Georgia Posts: 324	After having a 92 gallon corner reef tank for 11 years, I upgraded to a 150 cube 3 months. I found that I could not mount my MH because it would be too close to the water. Instead, I went with 2 Reefbrite LEDs (one on each side), a 6 bulb T5 retro, and a Ecoxotic blue/white panorama pro led strip in the middle. I think you may want to add a couple of more T5's or led strips for spread and intensity. You may want to go with 36" versus 24 ". I personally would not want a 400W MH due to heat.

09/10/2012, 01:07 PM	#3
JRoweNole Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kennesaw, Georgia Posts: 324	After having a 92 gallon corner reef tank for 11 years, I upgraded to a 150 cube 3 months ago. I found that I could not mount my MH because it would be too close to the water. Instead, I went with 2 Reefbrite LEDs (one on each side), a 6 bulb T5 retro, and a Ecoxotic blue/white panorama pro led strip in the middle. I think you may want to add a couple of more T5's or led strips for spread and intensity. You may want to go with 36" versus 24 ". I personally would not want a 400W MH due to heat.

09/10/2012, 04:25 PM	#5
michaellee64 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 323	I would ditch the idea of Metal Halides and take a strong look at LED's! I sold all of my MH fixtures and have switched to LED's and am having better growth on all of my corals.... SPS/LPS! Also I have been able to completely disconnect my chiller as it is not needed anymore. All of this at about 40% of the electricity usage of my previous setup, not counting the chiller! Plus I don't have to buy bulbs every year now.

09/10/2012, 04:50 PM	#6
Mirror Pond Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 354	I'm going to be lighting my 36"x36"x22" cube with a single 250w Radium mounted in a large LumenArc reflector. Heat should not be an issue with just a single bulb mounted that high, just add a couple of fans in your canopy. I had 3 halides mounted in a canopy on my 180 and heat was not an issue.

08/30/2013, 01:58 PM	#10
[]V[]addog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: east coast canada Posts: 167	get some kessil a350wide versions. 2 or 3 would do nicely.

08/30/2013, 02:27 PM	#11
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	He went with the wise choice, halides and T5's. Note that you replied to a thread that is almost a year old. __________________ 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.