USCG CWO Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Okay I am seriously close to upgrading tanks again (nutty). I am looking at a 36 x 36 x 27 150gal Marineland Deep Dimension Tank. I need suggestions on lighting it. I have no experience with 400w so could I get away with one or do I need two. I love my 250w 14k Phoenix bulbs but not sure I could use just two. How would you light it if money wasn't a concern? More concern with ballast, wattage, reflectors and T-5's/VHO vice any particular bulb brand or kelvin rating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Are you going to use the 250's also or changing to 400's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCG CWO Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share Posted July 30, 2010 Not sure Michael. I guess that's kind of what I am asking. Can I get away with 250w or should I look at 400w for a 3ft cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Shane, what are you wanting to keep in the tank coral wise? And, if money is no object, look at this company :P http://www.sfiligoi.it/index.php?action=main&locale=en_US Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 My last tank was 24" deep and I was running the 2 250 watts on it. It seemed to do fine but I'm guessing the 400w would be a lot nicer for a cube. I couldn't imagine not being able to use just 2 400w and maybe a couple T5's and make it look great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Well the 'rule of thumb' is that if the tank is over 22" deep then 400's will be the only light to reach the bottom. But maybe you can run the 2-250's as your main light and have 1-400 come on during the middle of the day to represent the sun at full strength. But in doing that finding reflectors might be a pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 PS- I guess if I was starting over I would go with 400's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCG CWO Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share Posted July 30, 2010 Thanks guys, Yeah I was thinking I was going to have to upgrade to 400's but I don't think Phoenix makes a 400 which sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Shane, check out that link I threw up, they've got PREMO!!! lighting, grassi swears by em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Re: Lighting Suggestions Should look at the LED arrangement I am getting....its $225 brand new and PAR readings are 260 at 20" deep.... Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 i would think you can get away with two 250's and suppliment with t-5s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Well the 'rule of thumb' is that if the tank is over 22" deep then 400's will be the only light to reach the bottom. But maybe you can run the 2-250's as your main light and have 1-400 come on during the middle of the day to represent the sun at full strength. But in doing that finding reflectors might be a pain. this is exactly what i do and my tank is 24" deep and the light is still too bright for a lot of the chalices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 apparently what I posted was incorrect....it was 210 at 30" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kshack Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 My tank is 36 wide, so you can see what 1 light with a Lumenbright looks like. Tank is 72 long, so I have three pendants. Two are 250 one is 400. You would want 400 for a 27" deep tank if you want to grow SPS close to the bottom, but you may want to go with 250 so you can grow lower light corals down there. My suggestion would be one Lumenbright large (20") with a selectable ballast. Then you could easily switch from 250 to 400 and back if you wish. Simple...one light, one ballast=cost savings over time. If you would like to come over and see what that would look like you are welcomed. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Re: Lighting Suggestions I am not argueing with all the MH input here....but please check out the LED thread....most of the guys are SPS freaks and raving about that LED setup. Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Re: Lighting Suggestions Here is the thread....look towards last pages for PAR results http://nationalcoralregistry.com/forum/showthread.php?1149-LED-test....but-on-a-very-small-scale....should-be-interesting. Sorry you gotta cut and paste into browser....didn't do it right from my phone cuz I am rushing Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Here is the quote from page 6 Here ya go, took a quick test on the light. All #'s except the 30" was taken with the fixture 4" above the water level. The 30" # was taken with the fixture 10" above the water line. 6" is 1479 12" is 878 18" is 553 24" is 392 30" is 210 here is the link post number 59 is what I quoted on page 6 http://nationalcoralregistry.com/forum/showthread.php?1149-LED-test....but-on-a-very-small-scale....should-be-interesting./page6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCG CWO Posted July 31, 2010 Author Share Posted July 31, 2010 I am definitely not wanting to start a LED/MH/T-5 war. I prefer MH with T-5 supplement and can not afford LED prices yet. So I guess the no expense thing is not accurate. So two 250w with T-5's or 1 400w with T-5's for a 36"Lx 36"W x 27"H? Would I get enough spread with one LumenMax Elite reflector? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 I have a LumenMax Elite and I get light fall-off at the edges. A large Lumen Bright would give better coverage. If you are going to be adding T5 I might suggest a Fiji Purple T5. PS: I really like the look of Stylaster's tank. I believe he was running a couple of Radiums and a middle whiter light to balance the blue. His corals pop nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 I'm going to go with Coralvue dimmable electronic ballast. I did buy one Lumatec 250/400 so I'm going to use that for one of the 400's. Might look into those, pretty small and if the 250 isnt enough switch to 400. T5's also, blues for evening viewing. how many light are you going to put over it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 I have a LumenMax Elite and I get light fall-off at the edges. A large Lumen Bright would give better coverage. If you are going to be adding T5 I might suggest a Fiji Purple T5. PS: I really like the look of Stylaster's tank. I believe he was running a couple of Radiums and a middle whiter light to balance the blue. His corals pop nicely. right on the money Franklin, im running two 250 20k radiums on the ends and a 400w 14k hamilton in the middle. I dont run any actinics, but have been looking into it. Not sure if i want that much blue, but it probably would make some of the fluorescent colors pop more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 I am definitely not wanting to start a LED/MH/T-5 war. I prefer MH with T-5 supplement and can not afford LED prices yet. So I guess the no expense thing is not accurate. So two 250w with T-5's or 1 400w with T-5's for a 36"Lx 36"W x 27"H? Would I get enough spread with one LumenMax Elite reflector? I would image with using the 400 with reflector will get you pretty good spread, but you would be fairly dim around the edges of the tank. This can be a good thing for less light loving corals (ie chalices, some fungia, some favias, etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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