Need Lighting Advice

[SeanCallan]

Alright, I'm edging closer and closer to having my new 30x34x20 cube in my hands and I want to nail down the lights.

 

The viewable area is 30x30x20, SPS only. Minimal rock work, plenty of flow, and now I just need plenty of light.

 

My original plan:

1 Giesemann NOVA II w/ 250w Phoenix 14K

 

I've had people tell me that a 250w will be perfect if I can get the coverage and that the NOVA II is a quality pendant that will do the trick. At the same time, a number of people have told me I need a full sized reflector like the Lumenarcs or even a 400w bulb. However, since I'm not made of money I don't want to "maybe" this and have to immediately buy all new lighting.

 

Should I look at a 400w (Radium 20K?) in a full sized reflector? 2x 250w reflectors?

 

Heres the catch (if you want to call it that), the pendant is going to be in my living room and very visible, so attractiveness is worth something here.

 

Suggestions?

[zygote2k]

I'd definitely go 400w, 14k. Enough light and pleasant on the eyes. 20k is too blue and hurts.

[SeanCallan]

I'd definitely go 400w, 14k. Enough light and pleasant on the eyes. 20k is too blue and hurts.

 

My other concern is that 400w over a 79.9g tank, with a ~40g sump is going to scorch the water. I'm not really trying to run a chiller.

 

Do you think one would be necessary or a fan would be adequate?

[chucelli]

If living room aesthetics matter, I would stick with your original plan. Lumenarcs are fugly, unless you plan on retrofiting them into some kind of hood, which would defeat the clean pendant look IMO.

I wouldn't worry about coverage either since not all sps need to be baked at the highest setting all the time. It's nice to have brighter and dimmer areas in a tank as it adds a more natural look and allows you to keep a wider variety of corals happy.

Edited October 24, 2008 by chucelli

[SeanCallan]

If living room aesthetics matter, I would stick with your original plan. Lumenarcs are fugly, unless you plan on retrofiting them into some kind of hood, which would defeat the clean pendant look IMO.

I wouldn't worry about coverage either since not all sps need to be baked at the highest setting all the time. It's nice to have brighter and dimmer areas in a tank as it adds a more natural look and allows you to keep a wider variety of corals happy.

 

Yeah, Jeff (NAGA) was the one who originally recommended I look into the NOVA II and I guess the worst thing that happens is as I stock the tank, I add an additional NOVA II.

[zygote2k]

My other concern is that 400w over a 79.9g tank, with a ~40g sump is going to scorch the water. I'm not really trying to run a chiller.

 

Do you think one would be necessary or a fan would be adequate?

I run the 400 14k plus 2) 32w pc's in suspended pendant over my 40 breeder. The light is 8" above water and the tank rarely gets above 76 deg. No chiller needed! There is a fan that comes on with the pc's though.

Go with a 400w- you'll be fine. The last thing you want to do is to use a 250 and find out that you haven't got enough light penetration/saturation and now you'll have to add a 2nd fixture. 1 light over a tank in the living room will look nice- 2 over the tank will not.

Don't let the skeptics scare you. If you'd like to take a look at my system, just drop me a pm.