Help me decide on my lighting - Rimless 24 x 24 x 18 tank

[Canadian]

I'm in the planning stages of setting up a new semi nano reef. The aquarium has been built (rimless 24 x 24 x 18 high) and has a false wall along the back length that will be 6" wide with a 1" tall cutout for the overflow --> the actual display area being 24 x 18 x 17 (with 1" of sand the water depth will be ~ 16" deep).

My intention is to keep primarily SPS in this tank.

Two of the most influential factors in the design are 1) contemporary and minimalisitic esthetics (I want to hide the equipment as much as possible without breaking the bank) 2) keeping the temperature as low as possible.

So with that said I'm currently considering the Coralife Aqualight Hang-on-Tank 150W HQI light. I've never liked Coralife but this fixture looks like it will tie in well with the theme of maintaining the contemporary and minimalistic look. The tank will obviously be run open top with the rimless design and I figure at 16" of water depth and the tank dimensions that a 14,000K Phoenix bulb would work fairly well for SPS on this tank.



Additionally, I'm considering T5s despite having no experience with them. I've kept a nano in the past - 20 gallon - with 300W of VHO successfully. However, I've never used T5 lamps and there seems to be mixed sentiments regarding these lights. One of the options I've found that is available to me locally is the Sunlight Supply 24" New Wave T5 Fixture - 4-Bulb, 4 x 24W. I'm skeptical that 96W of T5 lighting will even come close to comparing to 150W HQI but not having any experience with them I have no clue. Additionally, I'm not sure this light is really very attractive but I can't get a good feel for it from the picture (below).



Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[theatrus]

Perhaps a 250W MH pendant? I envision something hanging by thin steel wire to complete the modern look.

[uhuru]

yeah I'd go with a single 250w MH square pendant with lumenarc reflector for cost savings and a style to match your cube, try reefexotics

woops just realized you have a false wall so it's not a cube anymore... I'd still get a pendant of some sort, you could even do 150w 10K MH with T5 supplementation

[salty child 79]

What about this..... http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...oducts_id=1605

Not sure what your budget is but I am sure it would get the Job done. It would be at least equal to that 150w MH.....probably even more.

I am sure someone else will chime in.

[Reef Sponger]

150w or 250w MH with luminarc reflector

[Adamc1303]

Look at the Aquamedic pendant. They look really sleek.

[Canadian]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm still not sure if T5s can provide the same output as a 150W HQI.

I also took a look at more Aquamedic HQI pendants and this one looks fairly contemporary and compact (sleek):



However, I'm not sure what color it actually is. In the picture above it appears to be a soft silver (looks powder coated but every retailer specifically states that it is not). But in this picture it appears much darker (not sure if that's due to photography differences or if there actually are different colored pendants):



And in this picture the vents are different:



I have no idea what the light actually looks like based on these different photos. Anyone actually own one? And if you do, where does the power cord exit the pendant? Is it from the side or from the back of the unit? I'd prefer not to see it coming out of the side (visible from the front of the tank).

I still like the idea of not having to mount something in the ceiling (hence the preference for the Coralife hang-on-tank fixture). But I suppose I could install a floating shelf above the tank to hang a pendant from.

[theatrus]

I don't personally own one so I can't comment :-/ Maybe #2 is a 150W and #3 is 250?

If you go the clip-on route the Coralife light (or I bet aquatraders has a clone) is your only option from what I've seen.

[Adamc1303]

Aquamedic are as sleek as they come!

[Adamc1303]

Check this site they are the kings of the sleek modern look

http://www.elosusa.com/

[theatrus]

Adamc1303

Reminds me a bit of ADA products from planted aquaria. Perfect if you need a coordinated everything But they have an HQI light which may work for you (and incredible prices - $$$$$)


http://www.adgshop.com/Lighting_System_s/4.htm

[grundig5]

Canadian,
I have a rimless cube with the exact same dimensions. I light it with a 250 Pheonix bulb in a lumenmax pendant hung by a giesemann wiring system (all looks very modern). As others have said, this or the lumenarc are good options.
The Giesemann pendants are quite attractive, but costly. Elos obviously on par or better than Giesemann.
If you want T5s, there is a new 24" t5 from Aquactinics that has 5 bulbs and at 18 in depth, should be OK for anything.

[grundig5]

Here is a pic for your delectation...note that the frag tank light is a piece of garbage reflector on a temporary hanger.

[jeffgp]

grundig5
id like to see some more pix of the tank .. i like it

[uhuru]

Do you miss having actinics with just 1 250w phoenix or does the bulb provide enough fluorescence for you? Some close up shots of the corals and a closer FTS would be nice...

[grundig5]

Thanks. I'll get a thread going tonight as to not clutter this one, I've been meaning to do it. I do miss actinics, and I feel that the Pheonix bulb needs Actinic in the 420nm more than any other bulb out there. BUT, I still get good color and growth.

[invincible569]

You can do one Giesemann Spectra which has T5's built in with the 250w SE. I love mine and covers a lot of real estate.

[Canadian]

Does anyone happen to have an actual product shot of an HQI/DE Lumenarc reflector? The shots I've seen online have been pretty weak (or have been mogul models) and I can't really tell what they look like when set up to hang from the ceiling.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions - you've given me a lot more options.

[uhuru]

Originally posted by grundig5
Thanks. I'll get a thread going tonight as to not clutter this one, I've been meaning to do it. I do miss actinics, and I feel that the Pheonix bulb needs Actinic in the 420nm more than any other bulb out there. BUT, I still get good color and growth.

Thanks, this is the kind of feedback I've been wanting to hear about.

[RichConley]

Just a note, the smaller you go with a pendant, generally the worse the reflectors get.


I'd look at the lumenarc Mini/Lumenmax based pendants.

[chem-e]

Here's some info on the Lumenarc Mini in case you were still looking.

[Canadian]

grundig5

Let me know when you get your thread about fluorescence without actinic supplementation posted. I've always supplemented my MH with actinics and this is the first tank I've considered going with a higher kelvin MH and no actinics.

Back to the idea of T5s:

Again, not knowing anything about T5s and their intensity and PAR comparisons to DE HQI I'm not sure if 4 24W T5s would be sufficient for an SPS dominated tank. What are your thoughts on this fixture?

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1413

[Fishy1]

I had the Coralife Aqualight Hang-on-Tank light on my 29 gallon tank.......had the Phoenix bulb too and I can tell you it is not near enough light for an SPS dominated tank IME. The metal grate interferes with the amount of light the tank receives. The light itself came with the fan not working (which was common when I ordered mine). Unless they have made some major improvements in this light in the last year or so, I would not recommend it to anyone. I just got through ordering a T5 (TEK) system for my 29. I had it on my 55 gallon and loved it. I would go with either T5 or a MH pendant if I were you.......

Janey

[Canadian]

Janey,

Thank you so much for your reply. I've been trying to get some feedback on the intensity of the Coralife Hang-On-Tank fixture but haven't been able to find much. I really liked it for its simplicity in terms of hanging it on the tank but suspected that it would be a typical Coralife product - apparently my suspicions were warranted. I might post a thread asking owners of this light for more feedback just to get some additional perspectives. But again, thank you for the heads up!

I was trying to avoid a pendant because I don't want to have to hang a tiny pendant from the celing - I just think that in terms of scale it will look bad. The picture below was what I had envisioned the tank looking like schematically. I guess I'm going to have to DIY something to mount a pendant to. I was contemplating using an extending flat screen / LCD wallmount but couldn't logistically figure out how I would mount it and keep things aesthetically pleasing. If anyone has any suggestions fire them at me, please!

[cpreefguy]

Originally posted by grundig5
Here is a pic for your delectation...note that the frag tank light is a piece of garbage reflector on a temporary hanger.

Do you have any more pics of your setup? Id like to see how you did the sump/plumbing...