large cube metal halide requirments.

[kylemm]

Hey everyone! I had previously posted a question over a 93 gallon cube. Right when I was getting ready to buy I found a local ad for a 36x36x24 cube. That being the original size tank I was interested in. Made me quickly change my mind, and go for the larger tank.

Basically, now I'm trying to light a 36x36x24 cube. This is going to be a sps dominant tank. With a few LPS towards the bottom. I was originally thinking of going for a single 400w mh. However, as long as you guys agree. I had moved my opinion towards doing 2x250w instead. I was thinking the radium 250w 20k bulb. Unless you guys feel a single 400w pedent would be enough to light the entire tank for sps?

My second dilemma is going with a luxcore or lumatek for a ballast. I believe the lumatek needs a power cord? This bit confuses me because I have only ever used LEDs. So with either one of these units will I have to buy a power cord to hook the hoods up to the ballast? Do the ballest themselves need a power cord too?

Sorry for the extremely ignorant questions. I just have not come across setting up mh before.

Thank you everyone for your time!

 

[alton]

http://www.coralvue.com/lumen-bright-large-metal-halide-mogul-pendant

I had a friend who had a 24x24x24 cube and he used the mini with 250w MH. The large with 400 MH should be perfect for 36x36x24. The nice part with the lumen bright is with all the vents it does not place as much heat into your tank

 

[kylemm]

http://www.coralvue.com/lumen-bright-large-metal-halide-mogul-pendant

I had a friend who had a 24x24x24 cube and he used the mini with 250w MH. The large with 400 MH should be perfect for 36x36x24. The nice part with the lumen bright is with all the vents it does not place as much heat into your tank

Thanks for the reply! So if I went with that reflector I should be good with a single pendent? What about a cozumel sun pendant? I found a really good deal on one with a ballast. Or should I be looking to spend a bit more on the lumen bright?

 

[kylemm]

http://www.coralvue.com/lumen-bright-large-metal-halide-mogul-pendant

I had a friend who had a 24x24x24 cube and he used the mini with 250w MH. The large with 400 MH should be perfect for 36x36x24. The nice part with the lumen bright is with all the vents it does not place as much heat into your tank

Thanks for the reply! So if I went with that reflector I should be good with a single pendent? What about a cozumel sun pendant? It has the same 20x20 footprint and has venting for heat exhaust. I found a really good deal on one with a ballast. Or should I be looking to spend a bit more on the lumen bright?

 

[d2mini]

I had the same size cube.
ran a 250w MH with 4 24" t5 bulbs.
Twas awesome.

 

[kylemm]

I had the same size cube.
ran a 250w MH with 4 24" t5 bulbs.
Twas awesome.

Thanks for the reply! Well that settles it. I bought a lumatek 400w dimmable ballast. I'm excited to finally start piecing things together slowly.

 

[jestronix]

My lumatek killed my bulb and didn't want to run others, swapped it for another lumatek, same thing. XM bulbs won't run in them. So I run magnetic now. Half the price and will take me a long time to make up the savings vs elect ballast. That was my experience.