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FANTASY REEF BUILD
- Thread starter MUCHO REEF
- Start date
Since peeps are leaning towards a canopy/hood, here are my two different suggestions;
Lighting type
1. MH bulbs
If the tank is 72" long (can't recall) than 2-250w 12k bulbs on the outter ends and 1-20k 400w Radium (or 1 250 14k Phoenix) in the middle.
Four T5 or VHO with actinic bulbs.
Reflectors
1a. Luminarc
Canopy
1b. The canopy could be hung from the ceiling, and in a way that the couple could raise and lower the canopy them for maintenance.
or
2. Solaris led lighting fixture hung from ceiling
Lighting type
1. MH bulbs
If the tank is 72" long (can't recall) than 2-250w 12k bulbs on the outter ends and 1-20k 400w Radium (or 1 250 14k Phoenix) in the middle.
Four T5 or VHO with actinic bulbs.
Reflectors
1a. Luminarc
Canopy
1b. The canopy could be hung from the ceiling, and in a way that the couple could raise and lower the canopy them for maintenance.
or
2. Solaris led lighting fixture hung from ceiling
I think we're putting the cart before the horse again. We haven't decided yet if lighting is #4.
Oh Mucho sorry, you're right. lol, getting too excited here.
*sits on hands*
*sits on hands*
Lights are fine as #4. I think most think top down or bottom up when planning. Or is it just me?
Lights ?
Going once?
Twice?
Any objections?
Going once?
Twice?
Any objections?
#1 Read, research, purchase some good books, join a reef club.
#2 Purchase a tank, in this case you've chosen a 90 gallon predrilled, placed against a wall.
#3 Budget, $ 5,000 or less
#4 Lights
Since this is going to be a zoanthid and palythoa system, lets decide on the type of lighting and why. Let's make a choice by the weekend. Thanks.
#2 Purchase a tank, in this case you've chosen a 90 gallon predrilled, placed against a wall.
#3 Budget, $ 5,000 or less
#4 Lights
Since this is going to be a zoanthid and palythoa system, lets decide on the type of lighting and why. Let's make a choice by the weekend. Thanks.
carb850
New member
I vote the TX5 Aquatinics 5 bulb T5HO fixture. The 6 bulb TEK is nice the the Aquatinics comes with the shield over the bulbs and active cooling. Cost with bulbs will be about $590.
With these 5 bulbs 2 are one one switch and 3 on the other. On the 2 have a actinic bult and a blue bulb. This would make for some great dusk/dawn lighting. For the remaining 3, I would use a daylight 6500K, 10000K, and a procolor bulb (helps reds and pinks from my understanding).
I believe this would be more than enough light for a softy tank and give the option for the Rocks to even try a few others up high down the road if they decide to do so. Also, with 5 bulbs it is only using 270 watts.
Some par is lost due to not having active cooling but I still think it is the best bang for the buck for this system.
With these 5 bulbs 2 are one one switch and 3 on the other. On the 2 have a actinic bult and a blue bulb. This would make for some great dusk/dawn lighting. For the remaining 3, I would use a daylight 6500K, 10000K, and a procolor bulb (helps reds and pinks from my understanding).
I believe this would be more than enough light for a softy tank and give the option for the Rocks to even try a few others up high down the road if they decide to do so. Also, with 5 bulbs it is only using 270 watts.
Some par is lost due to not having active cooling but I still think it is the best bang for the buck for this system.
Assumptions factor in here I think. Most reefkeepers would agree that investing in the largest system you can afford is more desirable. With that in mind I would say three factors come first in order of importance:
1)Budget (what can you invest/afford?)
2)Location (are there structural/load limits...condo/apartment may not be able to support some size tanks)
3)Desired community (Fish / Inverts...for me a Mandarin is crucial and drives need for copepod cultivation in system)
Rationale:
Start-up budget has to come first. Without knowing your upper limit you could get half way into a reef tank project and find your self underfunded. At the same time you have to factor in location of the tank. You may have the dollars and desire for a 300g tank but if your location won't support that load it won't matter. Having said this I don't think you can help but consider the livestock and invertebrate options you hope to include in your community while considering budget.
When I first started in this hobby 3 years ago I had no clue and took the advice of three different LFS dealers. I ended up with a 90g tank, 35lbs LR/ 40lbs, Eheim Canister filter and standard off shelf lighting. I also took home 4 fish at startup!! Everything crashed and I had to start from scratch. That meant upgrade in lighting, Skimmer, Sump.
I am currently in the plumbing stage of a project similar to Joe and Betty and I am very glad that I spent time considering my startup budget first. I also considered my upper size tank limit and with some firm ideas about the ultimate community I want to keep.
1)Budget (what can you invest/afford?)
2)Location (are there structural/load limits...condo/apartment may not be able to support some size tanks)
3)Desired community (Fish / Inverts...for me a Mandarin is crucial and drives need for copepod cultivation in system)
Rationale:
Start-up budget has to come first. Without knowing your upper limit you could get half way into a reef tank project and find your self underfunded. At the same time you have to factor in location of the tank. You may have the dollars and desire for a 300g tank but if your location won't support that load it won't matter. Having said this I don't think you can help but consider the livestock and invertebrate options you hope to include in your community while considering budget.
When I first started in this hobby 3 years ago I had no clue and took the advice of three different LFS dealers. I ended up with a 90g tank, 35lbs LR/ 40lbs, Eheim Canister filter and standard off shelf lighting. I also took home 4 fish at startup!! Everything crashed and I had to start from scratch. That meant upgrade in lighting, Skimmer, Sump.
I am currently in the plumbing stage of a project similar to Joe and Betty and I am very glad that I spent time considering my startup budget first. I also considered my upper size tank limit and with some firm ideas about the ultimate community I want to keep.
scottsdalreefer
New member
My vote would be for a 48 inch Current USA Outer Orbit 2x150W 10K HQI-MH w/ 2x130W Dual Actinic & 6 Lunar Lights W/ legs. It also on sale for $499.00 and think it fits for the budget (JMO)
Can you guys/gals provide links or pictures of each unit nominated, pros/cons etc. Lets decide on a fixture by Sunday whether it's T5 or MH.
Mucho Reef
Mucho Reef
scottsdalreefer
New member
Tried the picture thing but wouldn't up load. The only cons that i can think of would be a heat factor unless you live in Alaska
But they live in Kansas so I think if they went this way a chiller will also be needed (IMO)
gemini aquarius(t)
Always Learning
I vote for option 5 as well.
carb850
New member
Note the individual reflectors and fan. Both help out T5 lighting immensely.
I think the Current Outer Orbit would be a fine choice for this build, but I would recommend the Rocks the Aquactinics because I believe it is built with better components, put out similar par, and use a lot less energy. The Aquactinics used to use Workhorse ballast (not sure if they still do) which are not known to be the best but that is the only downside I see to this fixture. Current isn't known for their ballast either. It will use less than half the wattage and have longer bulb life. T5HO's have about 18 months as long as they are not overdriven. That would make this an inexpensive fixture to upkeep.
The Outer Orbit would give the nice MH shimmer which the T5 cannot replicate. But for the softy tank I still vote the T5HO.
carb850
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13834579#post13834579 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottsdalreefer
Tried the picture thing but wouldn't up load. The only cons that i can think of would be a heat factor unless you live in Alaska
Single Halide were as the model scottsdalreefer is suggesting is a dual halide setup.
SIR PATRICK
New member
I vote 2 250w mh fixtures with 14k or 10k bulb and 2 4ft. vho actinics, ready to be built into a canopy that are less than a year old from the for sale forum, or found from the want to buy forum, here on reef central or a local saltwater reef forum.
The halides would give great penetration for the depth, and nothing (IMO) showes off the colors/glow of zoas like vho actinic.
Also, being their first reef set up in years, they might want to buy quality yet inexpensive as possible. If they decide to upgrade later, thats great, but if the tank proves to be a disaster and they loose interest they can recoop most of the money spent on their used lighting system.
The halides would give great penetration for the depth, and nothing (IMO) showes off the colors/glow of zoas like vho actinic.
Also, being their first reef set up in years, they might want to buy quality yet inexpensive as possible. If they decide to upgrade later, thats great, but if the tank proves to be a disaster and they loose interest they can recoop most of the money spent on their used lighting system.
Last edited:
SIR PATRICK
New member
As seen here- but in a 250w MH version-
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1511134
I found this one in less than 10 minutes with the search feature disarmed. I am sure the rocks can find what they need with a bit of searching around.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1511134
I found this one in less than 10 minutes with the search feature disarmed. I am sure the rocks can find what they need with a bit of searching around.
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