Lighting for 3ft cube shallow reef

Dlealrious · 01/20/2017, 02:51 AM

Hi Guys

I am building a 32"x32x18" shallow reed and need some advice for lighting that will give enough coverage. Im looking at keeping mixed reef of a few sps- acros and monti's, and lps- Acans and zoas
Tank is viewed on 3 sides(front is entry hall, back is sitting room) so i am having a cental coral placement.(hole in wall of entry looking into tank) All coral will be at least 3 inch off the glass all the way round.
Im torn between T5H0 and LED. I cant find anything on spread t5's will give me though. Cost wise i think t5's upfront cost are better depending on how many i need

Any advice is appreciated

Dlealrious · 01/20/2017, 04:32 AM

I have done a quick drawing for layout of rocks. Pretty much centre will be raised slightly and then have flat rocks around the edge

Ron Reefman · 01/20/2017, 06:02 AM

Either one will work. But the 3'x3' tank can be either difficult or expensive... or both, to cover.

Dlealrious · 01/20/2017, 06:34 PM

Thanks for reply, any advice on how man t5 tubes i would need for best coverage?

Jayreefer · 01/20/2017, 08:12 PM

I would do it with a 400w Radium and one of the big hydroponics reflectors. But I still like MH so thats just my choice.

minus9 · 01/21/2017, 09:43 AM

I'm building a custom 36x36x16 tank and I will be lighting it with an AP700 and T5's, but this will be a sps dominant tank. I'll either add a second AP700 or two 360's to cover and reduce shadowing if I'm not satisfied with the coverage.
LED/T5 combo is really nice.

Dlealrious · 01/21/2017, 06:53 PM

Thanks guys. Kessil is a little out of my price range for the ammount of a360 fixtures I will need but will keep an eye out for secomd hand ones. I started cutting rock and assembling on the ground to work out coverage.
I down to reefbreeders photon 24" v2 x2 or AI hydra 52x1.
Then supplement with t5 down the track once growth of corals on outter edges need it.
Kessil a360 a really expensive in oz plus i need to buy controllers etc

gus6464 · 01/21/2017, 07:30 PM

Buy an MH and a big huge reflector

Dlealrious · 01/21/2017, 07:58 PM

Only thing i can see with mh is i will still need to supplement with t5 for blue light to start the day and end the day. Not concerned about ramping up and down lights but i do like having blues on at night for a coral light show. Is this what you do with your hd?

Breadman03 · 01/21/2017, 08:06 PM

I've got a 400 watt halide and pair of Radions over my 36x36. The halide does fine on its own, but the Radions were already mine. I'd really consider a Reefbrite pendant with their LED strips for moonlight.

Sandy Cheeks · 01/21/2017, 08:20 PM

I like the idea of a single Radium with one of those Lumenarc, Lumenbrite or Lumenmax; basically anything "lumen" reflectors, the large one should cover the whole tank and since you want to concentrate light in the center I'd say a 250W will be more than good since your tank is shallow.
I'm in the market for a 36x36 cube and already got a Lumenarc for it.

Dlealrious · 01/21/2017, 09:13 PM

Thanks guys awesome info and suggestions. Hard to find alot of people with the same tank size
Will look into these options for sure

Dlealrious · 01/27/2017, 09:22 PM

Hi guys still pondering on my lights. After more research i think i am going to go with LED due to ongoing cost of T5 and heat from MH/cost of bulbs.
My question now is would the XR30G4 Pro or 2x AI Hydra HD or 1x AI hydra 52 HD

01/20/2017, 02:51 AM	#1
Dlealrious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 26	Lighting for 3ft cube shallow reef Hi Guys I am building a 32"x32x18" shallow reed and need some advice for lighting that will give enough coverage. Im looking at keeping mixed reef of a few sps- acros and monti's, and lps- Acans and zoas Tank is viewed on 3 sides(front is entry hall, back is sitting room) so i am having a cental coral placement.(hole in wall of entry looking into tank) All coral will be at least 3 inch off the glass all the way round. Im torn between T5H0 and LED. I cant find anything on spread t5's will give me though. Cost wise i think t5's upfront cost are better depending on how many i need Any advice is appreciated

01/20/2017, 06:02 AM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Either one will work. But the 3'x3' tank can be either difficult or expensive... or both, to cover. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

01/20/2017, 06:34 PM	#4
Dlealrious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 26	Thanks for reply, any advice on how man t5 tubes i would need for best coverage?

01/20/2017, 08:12 PM	#5
Jayreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Peoria Az Posts: 2,022	I would do it with a 400w Radium and one of the big hydroponics reflectors. But I still like MH so thats just my choice.

01/21/2017, 09:43 AM	#6
minus9 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: I'm in the Valley, Dude! Posts: 1,349	I'm building a custom 36x36x16 tank and I will be lighting it with an AP700 and T5's, but this will be a sps dominant tank. I'll either add a second AP700 or two 360's to cover and reduce shadowing if I'm not satisfied with the coverage. LED/T5 combo is really nice.

01/21/2017, 06:53 PM	#7
Dlealrious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 26	Thanks guys. Kessil is a little out of my price range for the ammount of a360 fixtures I will need but will keep an eye out for secomd hand ones. I started cutting rock and assembling on the ground to work out coverage. I down to reefbreeders photon 24" v2 x2 or AI hydra 52x1. Then supplement with t5 down the track once growth of corals on outter edges need it. Kessil a360 a really expensive in oz plus i need to buy controllers etc

01/21/2017, 07:30 PM	#8
gus6464 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,079	Buy an MH and a big huge reflector

01/21/2017, 07:58 PM	#9
Dlealrious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 26	Only thing i can see with mh is i will still need to supplement with t5 for blue light to start the day and end the day. Not concerned about ramping up and down lights but i do like having blues on at night for a coral light show. Is this what you do with your hd?

01/21/2017, 08:06 PM	#10
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	I've got a 400 watt halide and pair of Radions over my 36x36. The halide does fine on its own, but the Radions were already mine. I'd really consider a Reefbrite pendant with their LED strips for moonlight.

01/21/2017, 08:20 PM	#11
Sandy Cheeks Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 80	I like the idea of a single Radium with one of those Lumenarc, Lumenbrite or Lumenmax; basically anything "lumen" reflectors, the large one should cover the whole tank and since you want to concentrate light in the center I'd say a 250W will be more than good since your tank is shallow. I'm in the market for a 36x36 cube and already got a Lumenarc for it.

01/21/2017, 09:13 PM	#12
Dlealrious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 26	Thanks guys awesome info and suggestions. Hard to find alot of people with the same tank size Will look into these options for sure

01/27/2017, 09:22 PM	#13
Dlealrious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 26	Hi guys still pondering on my lights. After more research i think i am going to go with LED due to ongoing cost of T5 and heat from MH/cost of bulbs. My question now is would the XR30G4 Pro or 2x AI Hydra HD or 1x AI hydra 52 HD