Lighting for new tank

[tecsavi]

I am building a new shallow cube SPS tank (36"X36"X18") and planning the lighting right now. I am wanting to use halide and some sort of blue supplimental lighting. If possible I would like to use a single 250w bulb under a Lumenarc III reflector. I realize that I might not get coverage all the way to the edge of the tank with a singe bullb configuration. I might consider going to 400w but it might be overkill on this shallow of a tank. I am also not wanting to put a chiller on this as it will be in my living room. All of this will be built inside of a custom made hanging pendant with the tank being open top so I can hide any ligts in there.

 

1) Will a single 250w halide give me plenty of light for an all SPS stank of this size or should I go to a 400w?

2) Will this reflector be able to give me adequate coverage on a 36"X36" tank?

3) What would you suggest for actinic light?

[Chad]

1) A 250W will be fine, although if you are going with a really high color temp (e.g., 20k radiums or the like) 400w will give you extra PAR (I dont think you need it for the depth you are talking. If it were me, I would go with a 10k 250W MH bulb (but I dont like the harsh blue color of some tanks).

2) Not sure, someone else will have to chime in on the specific reflector... although, many reflectors focus the emitted light, so coverage may be less... although, depending on your aquascaping, that may be best for what you have (e.g., if you want a center island that mostly open around, this setup would be great). Coverage depends a lot on aquascaping since lighting can be used as another aspect of the design if you want.

3) I like the ecoxotic stunner strips.

[tecsavi]

I am running 14K Phoenix now and I still wish it was a little more blue. I guess if the stunner strips were bright enough I could stay with a low K bulb. I really want my corals to pop and I am just not getting that right now with no actintic. The stunners look great but I wonder how many I would need for my application, maybe 4?

 

Yeah I am aiming for a minimalist aquascape with the majority of the rockwork in the middle. I might have a few LPS on the fringes where the light isn't as intense.

[Guest thefishman65]

I am heading a group buy on LEDs if you are a DIYer. Not much epxerience with MH, but royal blue LEDs are what a lot of people are using for supplement.

[tecsavi]

Thanks for the offer on the LED group buy but I already have too many DIY projects on my plate with my new tank build. In the future I want to go all dimable LED but I am waiting for the prices to come down and be a little more affordable for a larger tank. I have jumped on a lot of lighting technology early in the past but always ended back with trust halides. I believe that LED's however are a true major advancement in the hobby. Believe me I am chomping at the bit to get LED's, they are very promising.

[steveoutlaw]

I would just go with the LEDs now. I had a fixture built for me with 36 LEDS on 3 different switches. I had it over my 24x24x24 cube and just moved it over to my 36x36x27 cube. The color is great, it penetrates all the way to the bottom of the tank, and even though it was expensive, a nice MH setup and 3 years worth of bulbs would equal to the same amount. And one of the best things......NO HEAT!

[tecsavi]

Yeah I was thinking about going LED now but I am already have the halide and I just need to add actintic and reflector. For the price of LED I can get all of the other essential equipement I need to get this tank up and running. Don't get me wrong, I will be going to LED shortly down the road.

 

So is your current tank heavy in SPS? Do you have any pictures of it over your cube? I like the flexability of having 3 seperate switches and dimmable would be sweet!