Croceas and Maximas on the sandbed???

[Richieboy]

Hi guys, I was wondering what kind of lighting you tradacnid experts would recommend for my 2x2x2 foot cube. I would like to have several croceas and maximas to cover the sand bed, they will be put on ceramic tiles first, then when they are attatched, I will place them on the sand bed. Any light recommendations?

I wanted to go T5HO, like 4x24watt Icecap retros overdriven with a 660 ballast but not sure if that's enough light in a 24 inch deep tank.

I was also considering a Lumen Bright Mini pendant with a 250watt Coralvue 12K SE bulb with the dimmable ballasts or something similar like icecap or sunlight supply.

What I don't want to do is if I go MH, I don't want to supplement
actinics.

All opinions are welcomed.

 

[TheH]

I don't think 4x24 Watt will do it. Especially not for croceas. You may have to consider something like a 14,000k+ metal halide.

 

[a4twenty]

for keeping crocea's and maxima's on the sand bed in a 2' tank i would recommend the 250W halide ( use a higher K bulb so you don't need to supplement actinics ), or go with an 8 bulb T5HO system that incorporates individual reflectors. this will give you adequate lighting for a 2'x2'x2' tank and allow you to keep SPS and clams.

 

[corbett_n]

would a 4X24 work if the the crocea is about 6" from surface?

 

[a4twenty]

the reason i suggested the 8 bulb fixture is the area being covered. a 4 bulb fixture is for a 12" wide tank, 6 bulb for 18" and 8 bulb for a 24".

in your 30G a 4 x 24" with good reflectors ( key ) would work as long as they are not all actinic or blues, crocea's are found in 0' - 10' of water and are used to very strong 10K light.

 

[TheH]

I believe that 4x24 would work for 6" with little difficulty.

 

[Richieboy]

Thanks for the advice guys. So would a 250 watt 14K Pheonix be enough?

 

[TheH]

That would be quite sufficient.

 

[Richieboy]

Hey guys, can I bother you for another question. With a 6x2x2 feet tank, can croceas and maximas be kept on the sand bed with a Aquatinics 72" Constellation light fixture which is
39watts x14???

 

[WhatIgot]

if you stick to a majority of your bulbs being 10k or 14k at the very lowest vs going for blue/actinic lighting and since the fixture in question has, as mentioned as key, individual reflectors you can probably get away with it but you would want the fixture close to the top of your tank and the bigger the sand bed the better.

I am a MH guy and although I have seen some really exemplary reefs done with only t5 my personal experience with them is limited to reviews however, I like it simple and the less bulbs, the less hassle IMO.
In any case, that fixture should under ideal circumstances work for you as hoped...

Cheers.

 

[crvz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13864774#post13864774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Richieboy
Hey guys, can I bother you for another question. With a 6x2x2 feet tank, can croceas and maximas be kept on the sand bed with a Aquatinics 72" Constellation light fixture which is
39watts x14???

I've got croceas on the floor of my barebottom tank, a 150 gallon 5x2x2, that I run eight 54W bulbs overdriven with icecap ballasts. Been doing this for a few years now with success. I run mostly 14kK+ bulbs, and the fixture is ~6" above the water. So these clams are probably 26"+ from the bulbs, and partially shaded, and I've never had a problem.

 

[Richieboy]

Thanks crvz and everyone else for their inputs...

 

[Dave12678]

I have a 24" high tank and keep a maxima with a 150w HQI and 2 54w antinics. I think you will be fine.

 

[Richieboy]

sweet, thanks dave.