Lighting a 2ft cube

[stevedola]

what would you guys use to light a 2ft cube sps reef? I like T5s but Im thinking of a MH + T5 lighting.

ideas? thoughts?

 

[stevedola]

bueler?

 

[an411]

I would do with a 250 MH and if you wanted to add 2 2' T5 for actinics i think that would be a sweet setup.

 

[stevedola]

do any manufacturers make a fixture like that?

 

[pezjunkie]

Sunlight Supply used to make a 24" Maristar fixture that was MH/T5... looks like the 36" version is the smallest one they list on thier site now.

 

[broke1]

This what I was going to run over a 24" tank, but went with a 3' tank instead. It seems to be a decent light.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...duct~CU01075~idCategory~FILTFIMHMTMDMLM3.html

 

[stevedola]

link doesnt work

 

[cpllongjk]

Look up a CURRENT USA OUTER ORBIT PRO I think.

It has 250w MH with 4 t5 actinic supplementation. I think it also has moonlights with it. Its 24" wide.

 

[stevedola]

Im looking at a lumen bright 3 black pendant reflector with a 25ow IC ballast. I think I might go in that direction.
do you guys think the 20" version or 16"

 

[Ron Popeil]

im currently running a lumenarc reflector with a 400w SE xm 20k bulb. i love it. i have a 2' x 2' x 2' tank.

for the sake of novelty, ill probably add two T5 actinic bulbs and may upgrade the reflector to the lumen max elites in the near future.

 

[stevedola]

how high do you have the reflector off the water

any pics?

 

[cpllongjk]

with the lumenbright 3 you need to have it about 12-16 inches from the water. make sure you either have a chiller or a lot of air flow as to not heat the water to much. Also, make sure you get a single ended bulb. You have so many more choices with bulb selection. With single ended bulb you can do 1 bulb and no actinic supplementation.

XM 20K
Radium
Hamilton

All are nice bulbs with 20k look

 

[stevedola]

it will heat the water up that much? where i need to run a chiller?

 

[customclimates]

Hey Steve,
I have three of the 20" 250W Lumen Brights with the reeflux 12k bulbs and I love them. Talk to Mike over at Reef Specialty ... he will not steer you wrong. Super product support and willing to answer all your questions from beginning to end.
http://www.reefspecialty.com/

 

[stevedola]

hey scott! nice to talk to you again. so you have the LB 20" reflectors and like them alot. Im pretty sure this is the direction im headed for my reef. Ill be sure to talk to Mike when I order them.

do you have actinics along side the LBs? do they get too hot?

 

[stevedola]

what made you go with the coralvue ballast (btw) ? Ive always been an Icecap guy and I know a few others that enjoy IC products. are the coralvue ballast rated better or just a personal preference?

 

[customclimates]

I do have a set of actinic along with the LB’s. They are just two 36” running along the front side of the tank with ice cap ends and a work horse ballast. Just enough to give a little pop. As far as the ballast I went with the dimmable coral view as a recommendation by a few friends and Mike at Reef Specialty. I have no complaints at all. No noise and they run pretty cool. They drive the Reeflux bulbs real nice too. I have only used the dimmable feature when I first set up the tank. Since they have been at 100% power.

 

[NyReefNoob]

i have a 60g cube with a coralife pro 250w fixture on my 2x2x2 cube and love it, i do have a chiller so heat really isnt a problem