Help me, I'm losing my mind

The more I read about lighting, the more confused and puzzled I become. Originally I was going to set up a nano reef and was set on using a Marineland LED Double Brite Coral fixture.

Since then, I've been brow beaten into submitting to the idea that a nano reef is a bad idea for a beginning salty, even one with more than 20 years of FW experience. Soooo......

I've decided on a 60 gallon cube (24" x 24" x 24"). Can anyone puhleassse tell me what wattage I would need if I go with:

if I choose LED?

if I choose T5?

I really want to avoid MH if there is any way possible to do so.


Thank you soooo very much. I hope and pray I can get a definitive answer to this.

Steve

 

Let's start off with what are you planning on keeping in said tank as far as do you want a reef tank, FOWLR, etc.

As far as an LED recommendation, I think your best bet would be to PM rapid LED on here. They gave me a quick response as to exactly the number of LEDs and the size heatsink I should be looking for.

 

hey Steve, I can't really help you in the realm of LED's as I'm not that versed in them. I have a 70g Marineland cube dim 30x30x18 and I run a Lumenmax 2 Pendant with single 250w bulb in it. I know you mentioned you didn't want to run MH but I love mine. It's on an adjustable wiring kit and my corals have been doing great with it. Haven't had a need for a chiller for the single bulb, it's in an AC cooled room.

Before going MH I looked at ATI PowerModule & Sunpower T5 fixtures 24" 4-bulb or 6-bulb would be more than enough. I would recommend ATI bulbs with it, Blue +, Aquablue Special, Purple Plush. You could basically grow whatever you wanted with any ATI fixture.

I would recommend reefgeek for the fixtures and bulbs, great prices & awesome customer service: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/

If budget is a concern, look into other brands, TEK, AquaticLife, Current.

As Anp mentioned, what type of corals are you trying to keep, lighting demands vary between SPS, LPS, Softies?

 

par30 and par38 leds are another option.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. I was looking at 4 bulb T5's but wasn't sure whether or not that would do the job for corals. I'm hoping to be able to do a combination of SPS and LPS, but we'll see. After looking at the T5 fixtures I somehow started thinking that, "Hey, this isn't nearly enough! I'm going to be needing 300 w. of light!" Apparently, I got confused, as I said, with all of my reading.

Tomorrow, I'm hoping to post a shopping list to see what folks think. Right now, though, it looks like I'll be going with a 4 bulb T5.

Steve

 

If you want to do SPS, or basically Clams, anemones, I would def get a 6-bulb ATI, not all fixtures are created equally, ATI is the best IMO for t5's. An ATI Powermodule or Sunpower could def grow anything you want. Just my 2 cents.

It's not all about wattage, it's about how the fixtures direct the light, if they have individual reflectors, the quality of the bulbs you are using. You can have a ton of wattage but if the fixture does not concentrate the light you will lose a ton coming out of the sides, etc.

In this hobby def splurge initially, if you don't have enough for the best equipment, save up a bit longer, you won't regret it in the long run.

 

BoostLED Mu 135 covers a 24 x 24 area shouldn't have a problem punching through 24" of water depth. I have one monted about 12" over my 40 breeder (36x18x18) and it provides more than enough light.

 

Good info, Mojo. I am of the opinion that you get what you pay for.

 

if you did go ATI, my recommend for 4-bulb over 6-bulb would be based on the 4-bulb width of 9" vs the 6-bulb width of 13", the 6 would give you a better spread over the 24" area IMO.

You could def keep whatever with an ATI 4-bulb but the light concentration would be a little less spread out.

 

You will be fine with the T-5s but i would go with the 6 bulb config with the tank you are looking at. i am afraid you would regret going with the 4 later. i have and like the t-5s mainly because of the less heat output compared to the MH. However, i do wish that i had the shimmer that you get with the halides and led.

Mojoe- nice picture as your avatar.