Lighting a 36" sps tank

[thefuture]

i need help deciding on the lights to throw on my 40 breeder. 36" L X 16" W X 18" H.
i have been thinking about doing 250 DE watt halide but from reading some posts i herd this will not light up the sides. is this par wise or literaly from looking? what will be ideal for this tank. if i do 250 watt halide i will not have any actinic supplements probly go Xm 20K. not sure but need help first.

 

[md fishes]

I have a 92 corner tank. I used a 400 watt pendant and it lights everything up well. However, if I didn't have such an odd shape I would go with a canopy that would house my 400 watt halide with T5 supplements. From what I have seen, I have been very impressed with the growth rate of corals when using T5s.

Otherwise, if you just go with one bulb, I would use a 400w and no lower that a 14k.

 

[Mike O'Brien]

I use a single 250 on my 58 with a pair of 24" T-5's. With the right reflector and height there is no problem at all.

 

[SunnyX]

A single Lumenarc III would be perfect.

 

[Mike O'Brien]

How do you like my diy luminarc IV ? Nothing you can't do with a brake and a few rivet's. LOL This made a dramatic difference in getting the light to the sides of the tank.

 

[Lunchbucket]

mike - wow a luminarc!! nice

i use 2x400w MH's on my 36" 58gal. 1x400w or 1x250w would be enough

Lunchbucket

 

[nebraskareef]

I haven't got it all set up yet, but I will be running 2 175w on reef optix 2 reflectors on my 50, 36x18x18.

 

[thefuture]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7111641#post7111641 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
A single Lumenarc III would be perfect.

where can i find one of these? havnt even herd of one before and how much are they?

 

[Ceak]

Lumenarc III manufacturer: www.pacificgardensupply.com

You should have a look at the new Lumenmax 2 reflectors from Sunligh Supply, they have powder coat finish so if you don't plan on having a canopy this might be a better option... They are just as good as the Lumenarcs and can cover a 3"x 3" area very nicely...

Lumenmax thread in Sunlight Supply Forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=810830

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7114045#post7114045 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thefuture
where can i find one of these? havnt even herd of one before and how much are they?

 

[thefuture]

thanks! i think that will be great. i want MH for shimmer lines not t5s. lol im not stomping on t5s

 

[MiddletonMark]

Check the size on that reflector though ... I thought they were 18 x 18" or close - which would make working on the tank [or additional supplimentation if just 1 MH] tricky. The LA mini's might be a better choice - but that's my take.

I go with 2 250's + 2 VHO actinics on my 58. With a shorter tank I'd probably just use 175's [or 150 de] ... less power/heat, still plenty of spectrum unless you're dead-set on 20k.

 

[thefuture]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7115243#post7115243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MiddletonMark
Check the size on that reflector though ... I thought they were 18 x 18" or close - which would make working on the tank [or additional supplimentation if just 1 MH] tricky. The LA mini's might be a better choice - but that's my take.

I go with 2 250's + 2 VHO actinics on my 58. With a shorter tank I'd probably just use 175's [or 150 de] ... less power/heat, still plenty of spectrum unless you're dead-set on 20k.

which lumenarc will best be for my tank? which is better DE or SE as far as par and the displacement of light on the tank goes. my tank is 18" tall should i go 250 or 175/150.

 

[wakefreak33]

I run 2 x 250w w/ 10,000k reeflux on my 40 breeder. I also have 2 x 75w VHO actinic. I dont think I would change it.

I dont like one bulb over that long of a tank because then the corals dont color up evenly.

 

[thefuture]

it seems like the lumenarc will spreed too much light off the side of the tank. cause its 20" X 20". and the with of the tank is just 16"

 

[thefuture]

what about a 175W Single Ended Hamilton Reefstar Metal Halide Fixture. how do you guys think this will do on my tank? will the dim sides of the tank be visual or just par wise? is the hamilton fixtures any good?

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7115243#post7115243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MiddletonMark
Check the size on that reflector though ... I thought they were 18 x 18" or close - which would make working on the tank [or additional supplimentation if just 1 MH] tricky. The LA mini's might be a better choice - but that's my take.

I go with 2 250's + 2 VHO actinics on my 58. With a shorter tank I'd probably just use 175's [or 150 de] ... less power/heat, still plenty of spectrum unless you're dead-set on 20k.

iirc, the lumenarcs are like 19x19, the lumenmaxs 22x22. so yeah, the LA3mini may be the best choice.

 

[RichConley]

Re: Lighting a 36" sps tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7111238#post7111238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thefuture
i need help deciding on the lights to throw on my 40 breeder. 36" L X 16" W X 18" H.

40br is 36 long by 18 wide by 16 high, not the other way around.

 

[MiddletonMark]

Agree with Rich, or that's the size my AGA one is. Other manufacturer, could be different

 

[Jeffie]

I'm running 1 250w SE 14k with 2 65w PC's on my 40 breeder and have had no problems keeping any corals because of lack of light. All high light corals(acros) on the top and center of the tank and lower light corals(montis) on the sides. Everything has been doing great.

 

[gizmo7718]

no problems with my 2x150 over my 46 gal bow (36" long). if i had to do it again, i'd probably go with 2x250.