Best single DE fixture to light 36" cube

[eskymick]

I recently purchased a rimless 36" cube (36"w x 36"d x 25" high) and I'm planning its setup.

I'd like to use a single 250w DE MH bulb (Phoenix 14k) and pendant for the tank. It will house a SPS dominated reef.

With that in mind, I ask ...What is the best DE fixture to provide not only appropriate PAR but also sufficient spread to cover the width and depth of the tank's dimensions? Or, can't it be done with just one fixture (pendant)?

You're the experts. Please help me out.

 

[eskymick]

I remember once seeing an article comparing the various Lumen**** (Arc, Max, Bright, etc.) fixtures. It charted the PAR values and the spread of light for each fixture. Can someone post a link to that article?

Thanks.

 

[eskymick]

bump

 

[wayne in norway]

IF you can get one I was very impressed with the Elos e-power for perofrmance and decent coverage. Not impressed enough to buy one because I had just gone to T5, but for a cube it's what I'd get.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I've got a PFO mini HQI 250w MH pendant over my cube. Driven by an Icecap ballast. That being said, my cube is only 18x18x21 I think. The light spread for MH is 24" so if you go with just one pendant, you'll have dimmer light on the outer edges of the tank.

 

[eskymick]

Thanks. I hope someone has a link to an article on the subject. I wish I had bookmarked it.

 

[bergzy]

here ya go!

my 30x30x24 cube clam tank is lit by a lumen max elite with a phoenix 250w de on an icecap electronic ballast.

excellent light spread and penetration. for 36x36, the lumenarc should be good as long as you dont put anything too close to the sides of the tank. 30" i would say is the max light spread.

i have pfo mini's, ocean light etc. the rectangular reflector is great for regular tanks but for a cube...lumen arcs/max are the way to go for efficient use of light.

 

[eskymick]

Thanks, bergzy. It looks like your pendant is suspended only a few inches above the water. If I raise it to 8 or 9 inches above the water, I should be able to get some additional spread.

I wonder if the larger pendant, for SE bulbs would provide a little bit of extra spread, as well.

 

[bergzy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15544763#post15544763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eskymick
Thanks, bergzy. It looks like your pendant is suspended only a few inches above the water. If I raise it to 8 or 9 inches above the water, I should be able to get some additional spread.

I wonder if the larger pendant, for SE bulbs would provide a little bit of extra spread, as well.

it is suspended about 4 or so inches from the surface. this is too get max light into the tank with little no no loss from surface scatter.

raising will get more spread but...i would still be a little hesitant to put sps' near the edges of the tank.

i 'think' de's would give a little more light than a se with lumenarcs but check with sanjay's threads on this:
Sanjay's Lighting Articles

 

[eskymick]

Are you getting 30" of SPS sustaining spread with your setup?

 

[bergzy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15545606#post15545606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eskymick
Are you getting 30" of SPS sustaining spread with your setup?

the tank is a clam tank so i cant say what it will do with sps. i do not plan on sps in that tank as it is skimmerless. i have tried sps in the old skimmerless tank where the clams were temporarily housed in. the colorful sticks turned into brown ugly sticks into dead sticks.

i do not put the clams close to the side tanks for aesthetics.

i dont know if sps will be happy on the fringe of 30". 'i' would try it and if it doesnt work then you may have to go with 2 reflectors. or how about a 400w lumenarc. 'that' might do the trick!