36x36x16 best lighting

ssminnow81 · 11/04/2011, 12:07 PM

whats my best bet for a tank of these dem.? two 3 foot t5 fixtures or metal halides? never had a tank this deep ,dont really know what to do.

ssminnow81 · 11/10/2011, 01:43 PM

any help would be appreciated

A.T.T.R · 11/10/2011, 01:45 PM

16 deep A few t5s or a 250-400 watt suspended well above tank in lumenarc reflector

Amoore311 · 11/10/2011, 01:51 PM

You could get away with (1) Metal Halide for that size tank.

My tank is a 37 x 37 x 18. I have it lit with (1) 250 Watt Halide, Icecap Ballast, Phoenix 14K Bulb, Lumenbrite Pendant.

You just need to hang the pendant around 12" from the surface of the water. This will still give you enough PAR to grow sps on the sandbed if you wanted.

If you like a more actinic look substitute the Phoenix Bulb for a Radium.

BuckeyeTodd · 11/10/2011, 02:10 PM

I did two t5 fixtures...works great

Amoore311 · 11/10/2011, 02:17 PM

BuckeyeTodd do you have a tank thread or any photos of the tank with the lights on?

I'd love to check out a similar sized tank to my own. 3' x 3' tanks aren't all that common around here.

sirreal63 · 11/10/2011, 02:52 PM

You could get away with the single halide in a LumenArc fixture...I know, it is what I am using on a 40x40x17 Pentagon. I have run both 150 watt HQI and 250 watt HQI, currently running 250 watt Phoenix but will put a double 150 watt over it shortly with Radiums.

JDMhoes · 11/10/2011, 03:13 PM

I currently have the current usa outter orbit with 150w HQI and 2x96 watt atinics. I just bought a Marineland led 36-48inch. It sorta blew my old setup out away. It was way brighter. I know I will end up getting another one for sure. Just trying to save energy and electricity.

sirreal63 · 11/10/2011, 03:26 PM

Bright does not equal PAR...I suspect you cut your PAR way down.

ssminnow81 · 11/10/2011, 04:16 PM

i didnt think one mh fixture would cut it for the width of the tank. thats why i was thinking two 4 bulb t5 fixtures 156 watts each. im not trying to keep sps.

sirreal63 · 11/10/2011, 04:20 PM

Then you should be good. 8-39 watt T5's will be more than enough for anything you want to keep in the future.

gcarroll · 11/10/2011, 04:45 PM

If you are going metal Halide the best reflector for the job is the Full sized Lumenmax (not the Lumenmax Elite, not the Lumenmax 3) reflector from Sunlight Supply. There is no reflector out there that will light a 36" x 36" area as evenly as this reflector. If the tank was 30" x 30" I would suggest the Lumenbright but at 36" there is no doubt in my mind that the Lumenmax is the best reflector for the job. Unfortunately it may be hard to find but it can be ordered by any Sunlight Supply dealer.

BuckeyeTodd · 11/10/2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amoore311

BuckeyeTodd do you have a tank thread or any photos of the tank with the lights on?

I'd love to check out a similar sized tank to my own. 3' x 3' tanks aren't all that common around here.

sorry I don't have anything handy. All I did was build a shelf in my canopy and set the two fixtures on it. It was easy as heck, I have 10 bulbs for full coverage.

ssminnow81 · 11/11/2011, 06:55 AM

how much are the lumenmax reflectors?

Amoore311 · 11/11/2011, 07:41 AM

Quote:

There is no reflector out there that will light a 36" x 36" area as evenly as this reflector.

Lumenbrite will work just fine. I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't have one hanging over my tank as I type this. Par Meter measurements backed that up as well w/ 240-250ish on the bottom glass.

username in use · 11/11/2011, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssminnow81

i didnt think one mh fixture would cut it for the width of the tank. thats why i was thinking two 4 bulb t5 fixtures 156 watts each. im not trying to keep sps.

If you don't want to keep sps and don't need strong light to the edges, why not go with a single 250w halide over the tank and save yourself 62 watts of power at 12hrs a day. You can still keep sps most places in the tank if you end up wanting them, but a single 250 should light a shallow tank like that fine.

Amoore311 · 11/11/2011, 08:45 AM

It's only a 16" tall tank. A lumenbrite or full sized lumenmax with a 250 watt would light the tank with no shadowing at the edges at all, and still be able to grow anything he/she wanted anywhere in the tank.

You get more options in regards to tweaking the color with the T5 set up. However, you are going to be paying more in bulb replacement cost and power by running it that way.

There really isn't a wrong choice here.

Riblet · 11/11/2011, 02:27 PM

I just setup a 36x36x18 and i used an 8-bulb ATI sunpower.

ssminnow81 · 11/11/2011, 03:22 PM

now im confused, i didnt think 1 mh would cut it. it would save me money but i like the fact that i can mess with the color a bit with t5s.

11/04/2011, 12:07 PM	#1
ssminnow81 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 112	36x36x16 best lighting whats my best bet for a tank of these dem.? two 3 foot t5 fixtures or metal halides? never had a tank this deep ,dont really know what to do.

11/10/2011, 01:45 PM	#3
A.T.T.R Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ft lauderdale Posts: 2,729	16 deep A few t5s or a 250-400 watt suspended well above tank in lumenarc reflector __________________ Chris Addicted to the Reef- Current Tank Info: Starting a 20g

11/10/2011, 01:51 PM	#4
Amoore311 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ulster County, NY Posts: 2,521	You could get away with (1) Metal Halide for that size tank. My tank is a 37 x 37 x 18. I have it lit with (1) 250 Watt Halide, Icecap Ballast, Phoenix 14K Bulb, Lumenbrite Pendant. You just need to hang the pendant around 12" from the surface of the water. This will still give you enough PAR to grow sps on the sandbed if you wanted. If you like a more actinic look substitute the Phoenix Bulb for a Radium. __________________ 30 Gallon FOWLR 2004-2006 90 Gallon LPS Reef 2006-2008 180 Gallon SPS Reef 2008-20012 100 Gallon Custom Rimless Mixed Reef 2012-2014 29 Gallon Biocube Reef! Current Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Biocube, StevesLED Upgrade, Neptune Apex

11/10/2011, 02:10 PM	#5
BuckeyeTodd Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,054	I did two t5 fixtures...works great __________________ Current Tank 150 Cube 36x36x27 2mp40w es, four bulb Tek and six bulb Tek, SRO 3000

11/10/2011, 02:17 PM	#6
Amoore311 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ulster County, NY Posts: 2,521	BuckeyeTodd do you have a tank thread or any photos of the tank with the lights on? I'd love to check out a similar sized tank to my own. 3' x 3' tanks aren't all that common around here. __________________ 30 Gallon FOWLR 2004-2006 90 Gallon LPS Reef 2006-2008 180 Gallon SPS Reef 2008-20012 100 Gallon Custom Rimless Mixed Reef 2012-2014 29 Gallon Biocube Reef! Current Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Biocube, StevesLED Upgrade, Neptune Apex

11/10/2011, 01:43 PM	#2
ssminnow81 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 112	any help would be appreciated

11/10/2011, 02:52 PM	#7
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	You could get away with the single halide in a LumenArc fixture...I know, it is what I am using on a 40x40x17 Pentagon. I have run both 150 watt HQI and 250 watt HQI, currently running 250 watt Phoenix but will put a double 150 watt over it shortly with Radiums. __________________ 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.

11/10/2011, 03:13 PM	#8
JDMhoes Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 200	I currently have the current usa outter orbit with 150w HQI and 2x96 watt atinics. I just bought a Marineland led 36-48inch. It sorta blew my old setup out away. It was way brighter. I know I will end up getting another one for sure. Just trying to save energy and electricity.

11/10/2011, 03:26 PM	#9
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Bright does not equal PAR...I suspect you cut your PAR way down. __________________ 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.

11/10/2011, 04:16 PM	#10
ssminnow81 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 112	i didnt think one mh fixture would cut it for the width of the tank. thats why i was thinking two 4 bulb t5 fixtures 156 watts each. im not trying to keep sps.

11/10/2011, 04:20 PM	#11
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Then you should be good. 8-39 watt T5's will be more than enough for anything you want to keep in the future. __________________ 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.

11/10/2011, 04:45 PM	#12
gcarroll Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 9,666	If you are going metal Halide the best reflector for the job is the Full sized Lumenmax (not the Lumenmax Elite, not the Lumenmax 3) reflector from Sunlight Supply. There is no reflector out there that will light a 36" x 36" area as evenly as this reflector. If the tank was 30" x 30" I would suggest the Lumenbright but at 36" there is no doubt in my mind that the Lumenmax is the best reflector for the job. Unfortunately it may be hard to find but it can be ordered by any Sunlight Supply dealer. __________________ Greg Carroll I will be at REEF-A-PALOOZA! SPS = Stability Promotes Success Be wary of advice coming from those who will not show you the fruits of their success! Current Tank Info: building: 250g AGE Euro tank, Abyzz A200, Vertex Supra-G filtration, Ecotech Radion Pro LEDs, ...

11/11/2011, 06:55 AM	#14
ssminnow81 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 112	how much are the lumenmax reflectors?

11/11/2011, 08:45 AM	#17
Amoore311 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ulster County, NY Posts: 2,521	It's only a 16" tall tank. A lumenbrite or full sized lumenmax with a 250 watt would light the tank with no shadowing at the edges at all, and still be able to grow anything he/she wanted anywhere in the tank. You get more options in regards to tweaking the color with the T5 set up. However, you are going to be paying more in bulb replacement cost and power by running it that way. There really isn't a wrong choice here. __________________ 30 Gallon FOWLR 2004-2006 90 Gallon LPS Reef 2006-2008 180 Gallon SPS Reef 2008-20012 100 Gallon Custom Rimless Mixed Reef 2012-2014 29 Gallon Biocube Reef! Current Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Biocube, StevesLED Upgrade, Neptune Apex

11/11/2011, 02:27 PM	#18
Riblet Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 180	I just setup a 36x36x18 and i used an 8-bulb ATI sunpower. __________________ 36"x36"x24" Leemar External overflow Starphire tank/ATI Powermodule 10-bulb with 32leds built-in,XP2000 Skimmer/WB7000/2-MP40es

11/11/2011, 03:22 PM	#19
ssminnow81 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 112	now im confused, i didnt think 1 mh would cut it. it would save me money but i like the fact that i can mess with the color a bit with t5s.

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