Cube Aquarium Lighting Options (36"x36"x24")

Hello All,

Quick question. I am in the planning stages of my cube aquarium (3 sided viewable) and will be going with an MH/T5 combo bulbs.

I am thinking about a Giesemann system (DE not pendant) but am wondering if one of these systems will be able to cover the area of the tank.

Anybody have any knowledge about MH and T5 bulb coverage areas?
I am also thinking about 250W MH's.

Thanks in Adavance!

 

Hi Jonesy

I dont know exactly but I believe I have read on this site that MH lamps are good for 2 square feet of surface area
and depth I know people on here who have indicated 30 inches deep is no problem for MH

Hopefully someone can chip in with a recomendation

Steve

 

You said no pendant?? I would think a 250 watt pendant would work really well on that tank depending on aquascaping.

 

I thought about pendant but I am not sure if you can get pendants with supplemental T5 lighting as well.

I am going for a stealth look and an open top design..A pendant is great but as far as I know I can only house one bulb in each...That means, my lighting would either be "on" or "off. No gradual increase or decrease from additional t5 lighting.

A complete unit would look nice and clean and also have the capability for t5's...

Unless anybody else has some clever options for me where I can have gradual light increase and decrease while keeping an open top tank with overhead lighting....

Thanks to all participating!

 

Metal Halide Aquarium Fixtures & Pendants

check out this link - MH pendants/ canopies - with supplemental T5 lighting

Steve

 

Steve,

Great thanks for the info.

I am thinking of going with a 24" combo unit. This will give me a clean look and I think the dual 250W MH's in this unit will give me good coverage since they cover 24" x 24" square. Only drawback is that the actinics will not cover the outer 6" but I think I can live with that!

Opinions?

 

Hey just a thought.

Let's say I went with a 400W MH pendant with a lumenmax or lumenarc III reflector (very large).

I am looking for a somewhat blue look (not too blue). If used this with a Pheonix 14K 400W MH bulb (which I hear have a nice blue to them), do you guys think I would need to supplement with actinics?

The only think I think I am losing is the possibility of increasing and decreasign my light gradually. Is this a big deal for the health of the corals?

 

The dawn and dusk factor would be hindered with only the MH bulb..... You could either get a pendant with supplemental 24" T5s built in or heck there are some fixtures out there still that have PC supplementals out there. There is alot more lighting options out there than many people are aware of. Look around for a while before you pull the trigger.
There is a new pendant on the market that is MH coupled with LED supplementals, I hear it is very nice. A friend of mine tested/displayed them recently in a frag swap in Cali.

Two MH might be overkill, you could easily get away with a sole 400w or even a 250w depending on what you are planning to do.

What are you planning on doing with the tank?

Oh to answer the dawn/dusk question, gradually building to max light is great but your corals will be fine without it. Its the skittish fish jumping out that you have to worry about!

Good luck!

 

hey Jonsey your welcome

Dr Fragenstein is very clued up on lighting (and other things obviously) so any advice he gives you is worth considering IMPE

my opinion is that a sudden plung into darkness or a sudden plunge into 250 or 400 watts of light, will spook your fish as stated above
and aside from that, a reef aquarium viewed for the 1st and last hour under just actinic lighting is a sight that should not be missed - the corals that flouresce under actinics like GSP, LPS, some of the shrooms to name but 3, look fantastic under such lighting conditions

Steve

 

Thanks for the advice guys...questions yield answers, then more questions.

More research to be done. My cube tank is turning out to be a challenge in many respects given the non-standard size!!!

But I am hell bent on making this thing work. I think it will be beautiful and unique which is what I am going for.

I will definitely be doing more research..I have all the time in the world on this one.

Will get back to you guys with some more options I find and ask for some more advice.

Thanks from sunny Canada!! (hehe)