6 or 8 bulbs
- Thread starter kevin_e
- Start date
Definately won't be. Mostly in that central portion of the cube.
I guess I really don't have a preference. Obviously I don't want to get one and realize I didn't have enough light though. The only dilemma is that it may be 3 weeks until the 8 bulb is in stock. I could have a 6 bulb by the weekend.
True. It comes down to timing. I'm getting a decent deal on either fixture, but will need to wait until stock arrives in 2-3 weeks, then likely another week beyond that until I get the 8. I could have the 6 by the weekend. With the 6, my concern is not having enough light after shelling out the cash.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
I ran a 4 bulb over my old 40g breeder. I kept easy SPS on frag racks on the outside edges and still had plenty of light. I believe it is Sanjay who teaches you only need 100 PAR for most SPS to do well. A 6 bulb will easily get you that. I fear an 8 bulb will be so much, low light stuff won't have a chance in your tank. I'm confident I could run an 8 bulb fixture on a 32" wide tank and have all the light I ever needed
I've run an 8 bulb on 22" of depth and never felt I had too much light. I've run 8 bulb on 30" inch depth and then added reefbrites for more spread.
Go ahead and wait the 2-3 weeks for the 8 bulb to eliminate your doubt. If it's too much light you can always raise the fixture or go to actinic bulbs or even run six bulbs. But.....you can definitely grow colorful sps with 6 bulb and you can grow with 8 too.
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Go ahead and wait the 2-3 weeks for the 8 bulb to eliminate your doubt. If it's too much light you can always raise the fixture or go to actinic bulbs or even run six bulbs. But.....you can definitely grow colorful sps with 6 bulb and you can grow with 8 too.
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Potatohead
New member
IMO the two extra bulbs sound like they are just using extra power to provide extra par for the sand bed on the edges, but it sounds like you are trying to justify the eight, so just go with the eight.
Peter Eichler
New member
Personally I wouldn't run a 6 bulb to cover 24" and would run an 8 bulb. You could get by with 6, but the 8 will gove you much better coverage.
Also, for a 24 x 24 cube I would just go with a 250w radium pendant and call it a day, it will be cheaper in the short and long term and give you results that are just as good. The only concern might be the added heat, but if it's in a cooler room it might be fine.
Also, for a 24 x 24 cube I would just go with a 250w radium pendant and call it a day, it will be cheaper in the short and long term and give you results that are just as good. The only concern might be the added heat, but if it's in a cooler room it might be fine.
Here's some anecdotal stuff for ya.
My tanks display area (29g biocube) is 20x16x14. I'm running a single XR15 with wide optics, at 18k & 80% intensity. I added a 2-bulb AquaticLife T5 and growth all over saw improvement, even SPS that were theoretically too far away to get anything from the light (They were probably getting like 10-20% of the lights usefulness.
So the way it's sounding to me is most people are saying "you can get by with 6 bulbs, but 8 is magic". Truthfully, I think 6 is enough no problem. 8 might be a smidge better due to color combo's but you likely will only reap 20-25% of those last 2 lights benefit.
I would say if were talking about "getting by", you can get by with 4 bulbs. But 6 is ideal, and 8 gives you options to use AB Special/Fiji Pink, or what have you without feeling like you're missing out on Blue+ spots
My tanks display area (29g biocube) is 20x16x14. I'm running a single XR15 with wide optics, at 18k & 80% intensity. I added a 2-bulb AquaticLife T5 and growth all over saw improvement, even SPS that were theoretically too far away to get anything from the light (They were probably getting like 10-20% of the lights usefulness.
So the way it's sounding to me is most people are saying "you can get by with 6 bulbs, but 8 is magic". Truthfully, I think 6 is enough no problem. 8 might be a smidge better due to color combo's but you likely will only reap 20-25% of those last 2 lights benefit.
I would say if were talking about "getting by", you can get by with 4 bulbs. But 6 is ideal, and 8 gives you options to use AB Special/Fiji Pink, or what have you without feeling like you're missing out on Blue+ spots
Haha, well I have the T5 at an angle shining directly at my SPS now and everything is appreciating it. I like the XR15, but id have been happier with an XR30, or a 24x6 T5 fixture it seems.
Thanks everyone for the input. I ended up going with the 8-bulb for versatility and coverage. I guess the next questions is with bulb combo.
I am thinking of running 5 Blue Plus, 2 Coral Plus, 1 Purple Plus. However, I am qondering if I should mix a full spectrum GE 6500K in, probably in the place of a CP. Thoughts?
I am thinking of running 5 Blue Plus, 2 Coral Plus, 1 Purple Plus. However, I am qondering if I should mix a full spectrum GE 6500K in, probably in the place of a CP. Thoughts?
Hentz
New member
Great choice in the 8bulb. I would've gone 8 if I didn't get such a killer deal on a brand new 6x39 SunPower.
Bulb combo I chose was 50% Blue+/Coral+. Big E I believe has a whole thread about it. It's worked great and my corals exploded with it. At first it was slightly too blue for my taste. But I got accustomed to it and learn to love it. Though, setting up my reboot, I may add a 6500 or 10k bulb to give it more of a white look when all 6 are on.
I feel using 1 GE 6500k will help balance out the 5 B+ though also.
Bulb combo I chose was 50% Blue+/Coral+. Big E I believe has a whole thread about it. It's worked great and my corals exploded with it. At first it was slightly too blue for my taste. But I got accustomed to it and learn to love it. Though, setting up my reboot, I may add a 6500 or 10k bulb to give it more of a white look when all 6 are on.
I feel using 1 GE 6500k will help balance out the 5 B+ though also.
The 6500 might help balance out the visual spectrum, and no doubt it will help the Zoox in your SPS push growth -- But it might cause a Zooxanthellae explosion and make your corals a little brown. It might also make algae explode.
I like Hentzs idea, I havent' heard many people using this setup but I HAVE heard people praise it. I'm kinda interested though -- Hentz, you got a link to the original thread?
I like Hentzs idea, I havent' heard many people using this setup but I HAVE heard people praise it. I'm kinda interested though -- Hentz, you got a link to the original thread?
Hentz
New member
I was impressed with the results. However, it was a matter of tank parameters and stabilization that helped my acropora.
Yes I do, its a mixed thread with his tank and lots of close-ups while not being dedicated to the 50% C+/B+ Bulb combo, its heavily mixed in there with him explaining to people all about it. Great read.
http://166.78.194.238/forums/showthread.php?t=2197142
Thank you much! I've got an 8 bulb on the way and I was thinking 5 Blue+, 2 Coral+, and a Fiji Purp.
Lots of options with 8 bulbs. I was thinking of even using 2 of those T5 LED strips for shimmer and pop, potentially.
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