Best lighting for a large SPS tank

Goodwin9 · 12/19/2006, 10:29 AM

I need some help in designing a lighting system for my new tank. The tank is 120L X 48W X 25H. It's an acrylic tank with euro bracing. There will not be a canopy over the tank. I would like to be able to create a "dusk to dawn" effect with the lighting. I plan on keeping fish and SPS corals in this tank. The plan for the top of the tank is displayed below.

pjf · 12/19/2006, 10:52 PM

The Sfiligoi ACLS (Advanced Control Lighting System) is available at www.aquariumobsessed.com. It can gradually vary the output of a 400-watt HQI lamp to produce the â€œdawn to duskâ€ effect. The ACLS can be mated with a Sfiligoi Solesingle 400-watt HQI pendant with a large reflector. Alternatively, you can mate the ACLS unit with a 400-watt HQI pendant that also includes T5 lamps and moonlights. I believe that you will require 3 of these ACLS units with 3 of the pendants.

hahnmeister · 12/20/2006, 02:25 AM

Well, if you want that much control, as in dimming bulbs and such... they yes, the Sfiligoi is an option. If you just mean that you want to turn on and off haldies/supplimental lights... you can do other things as well.

I would say it depends mostly on if you want an all-in-one fixture, or individual components hung from a frame. Either way, with a tank that size, its going to look very much the same. Myself, I would use 5x250wattDE (one every 2 feet, or 6... one every 3 feet, two rows... or staggered) halide pendants with 8 rows of 54wattT5s (on each side for a total of 16 bulbs). That way you can have 10,000Ks in for the halides, and blue+ bulbs in for the T5s... perhaps the most efficient combo available. I would use seperates myself though... they will allow you to spread out the light more, and arrange it to suit the reef as its grows...

nyvp · 12/20/2006, 07:29 AM

i have a 120x36x30 and use 4 lumenarc 250's under a mixed tank.

For you use the lumenmax they are larger and handle a 3x3 area and get a 8x54 t5 x 48" retro kits for the sides looks like this

__________________________ _____________________
__________________________ t5's _____________________

---------------- MH ------------------ -------------MH ---------------
__________________________ ____________________
__________________________ T5 ____________________

so they Mh's 10k's go down the center and handle the center 3x3 and the t5's are 2 on each side

Big Boy69 · 12/20/2006, 08:00 AM

8 T-5's

12/19/2006, 10:29 AM	#1
Goodwin9 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 2,374	Best lighting for a large SPS tank I need some help in designing a lighting system for my new tank. The tank is 120L X 48W X 25H. It's an acrylic tank with euro bracing. There will not be a canopy over the tank. I would like to be able to create a "dusk to dawn" effect with the lighting. I plan on keeping fish and SPS corals in this tank. The plan for the top of the tank is displayed below.

12/19/2006, 10:52 PM	#2
pjf Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,954	Sfiligoi ACLS The Sfiligoi ACLS (Advanced Control Lighting System) is available at www.aquariumobsessed.com. It can gradually vary the output of a 400-watt HQI lamp to produce the â€œdawn to duskâ€ effect. The ACLS can be mated with a Sfiligoi Solesingle 400-watt HQI pendant with a large reflector. Alternatively, you can mate the ACLS unit with a 400-watt HQI pendant that also includes T5 lamps and moonlights. I believe that you will require 3 of these ACLS units with 3 of the pendants. Last edited by pjf; 12/19/2006 at 11:06 PM.

12/20/2006, 02:25 AM	#3
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Well, if you want that much control, as in dimming bulbs and such... they yes, the Sfiligoi is an option. If you just mean that you want to turn on and off haldies/supplimental lights... you can do other things as well. I would say it depends mostly on if you want an all-in-one fixture, or individual components hung from a frame. Either way, with a tank that size, its going to look very much the same. Myself, I would use 5x250wattDE (one every 2 feet, or 6... one every 3 feet, two rows... or staggered) halide pendants with 8 rows of 54wattT5s (on each side for a total of 16 bulbs). That way you can have 10,000Ks in for the halides, and blue+ bulbs in for the T5s... perhaps the most efficient combo available. I would use seperates myself though... they will allow you to spread out the light more, and arrange it to suit the reef as its grows...

12/20/2006, 07:29 AM	#4
nyvp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hollywood Florida Posts: 3,633	i have a 120x36x30 and use 4 lumenarc 250's under a mixed tank. For you use the lumenmax they are larger and handle a 3x3 area and get a 8x54 t5 x 48" retro kits for the sides looks like this __________________________ _____________________ __________________________ t5's _____________________ ---------------- MH ------------------ -------------MH --------------- __________________________ ____________________ __________________________ T5 ____________________ so they Mh's 10k's go down the center and handle the center 3x3 and the t5's are 2 on each side

12/20/2006, 08:00 AM	#5
Big Boy69 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 1,213	8 T-5's