36x36x36 200 gal questions

[areeftank]

Hi,

First of all this is not a build thread [i wish it was] it is me asking for your expert advice, again :twitch:

:thumbsup:

first question is

i would like to keep a stony coral tank [lps/sps] for lighting i am thinking 4 x 250w MH 14k will this be ok or would i be better with 4x 400w 14k?

second question is

acrlyic vs glass?

third question is

will 2 x 15,000 lph sicce flow pumps [the new ones] on a timer provide enogh flow or should i go for 4 of them?


Other info

sump: 30x20x20+
return pump: sicce multi 9,000 lph
skimmer: Deltec SC2060 [internal]
central overflow with durso
temp: 1/2 hp chillier and 2 300w heaters
auto top off
250 pounds of live rock
100 pounds of medium CCS
Calcium reactor
fresh sea water
GHL III EX with weather simulation [can the ghl control pump brands other than tunze]


................. can you not make me feel like this about the hight :sad1: :lmao:

 

[discus510]

if it was my tank ill go with glass dependin on where its place in house which side is viewable ill go with low iron glass on viewable side also with euro brace or rimless ill change out the sicce with mp40 3 of them one left one rite one back panel return ill go with the ehiem 1262 and if ur plannin to use media reactors ill use a bigger return pump and t it off to the media reactors and refug ( i like the rio 26 or 32 hf prcied nicely and does like 1500-2100 gph at 5 ft) i would make the sump 30 x 24 x 20 and have a built in refug in it and for lighting ill get 2 400 watts 10k supplement with 6-8 t5

 

[discus510]

oh yea and the height suck:lol2: hope u got long arms its hard gettin into 30" depth tank

 

[areeftank]

thanks but since im in aus i cannot get my hands on the voyger and tunze [i wish i could]

i will upgrade the return to a 16,000lph sicce because i can get a good deal on them.

any thoyghts on the lighting and alos how thick should the glass be on a 36 inch tall tank if i hade all the braces [starfire only comes in 12mm in australia so acrlyic is the clearest i can get my hands on

 

[mike_cmu04]

Your lighting you will for sure want 4x400w lighting that is a very deep tank and i dont even know if that will give enough light at the bottom for sps

 

[TampaReefer79]

I think 4x400 watt metal halides is waaaay too much. What kind of reflectors are you going to use? Are these the smallest reflectors ever made or something? lol With the right reflector you could probaby get away with 2x400 watts, possibly even 1. You'll need the 400 to penetrate the 36".

 

[t4zalews]

you need ONE 400w and use a lumenarc reflector. or if you really feel like your missing out a light, you could go with a 1000w bulb in the lumenarc. But I think the 400w would be enough. Do you already have the tank? If not I would recommend going with different dimensions. If you feel you need a square, get the marineland Deep Dimension 3 foot tank. That way you only have 25" of height. Which is much more reasonable. A 3 foot height tank would be a pain for maintenance too.

 

[areeftank]

hmm i am debating 24 tall or even 20 open top........... anyway tanks for the help with the lights guys

 

[cdeboard]

Yeah only one 400w and you will be good.

 

[KafudaFish]

You could be like Crazy and do 2 x 400 in a single reflector and have a mid day burst if you were still interested in such a deep tank.

 

[skanderson]

my 4'x4'x30" cube is lit by 4 250s in lumenbright reflectors. you could easily light a 36 inch deep and wide cube with that set up. i agree that you could probably use a single 400 or 1000 watt mh but then you need to watch placement more.

 

[asmodeus]

You could be like Crazy and do 2 x 400 in a single reflector and have a mid day burst if you were still interested in such a deep tank.

ya that is what im talking about mid day BURST....

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

I think 4x400 watt metal halides is waaaay too much. What kind of reflectors are you going to use? Are these the smallest reflectors ever made or something? lol With the right reflector you could probaby get away with 2x400 watts, possibly even 1. You'll need the 400 to penetrate the 36".

Agree with tanpa on this one. I used to run a 48x48x26 on 4 lights. I had the same questions in the beginning, but found my way with 4 x250. I used the lumenarc reflectors with 14k bulbs. My rockwork did not work well with the single pendant, the corners where shady. I never got the flow right with pumps. I ended up using a surge bucket to get the proper flow that i needed. Lighting was plenty for my stonies, and my softies enjoyed the lack of par towards the bottom. I did find the corals that fragged themselves growing on the lower section of the tank. No way no how could i get in the middle of that tank that deep. If you dont have to go 30" dont, it will be a nightmare to clean.