Lighting decision needed, what would be best?

[stlouisguy]

Setting up the frag tank, its 3' x 3' Eurobraced with overflow in the middle. tank is 18" high. Trying to conserve money on this one so any links or ideas would be great. The lights cant hang from the ceiling so they need to be self supporting or I need to build a canopy which I want to avoid (when I build stuff I usually hurt myself)

Thanks

 

[Chelsey]

An 18" deep tank is going to be hard to "cheaply" light. What kind of frags are you planning on growing out in this tank? I personally think that 18" deep is too deep for a frag tank, I would go 12" or less, but that's just my opinion.

 

[frenchie]

you could build a rack out of egg crate to raise up in tank a little bit and get a t5 retro kit, t5's work with any corals and we have seen pics of mpcart sps growing like weeds under his. t5 put out less heat and bulbs last longer and get good penetration. But rack idea would work for like sps or lps and if you did lower light corals they could go on lower stands. Nice square tank with overflow in middle i think something like pyramid shape racks working downward towards end of tank would be neat. Ok sounds like alot of work but seen a similar pic earlier this year in another forum.

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10502798#post10502798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chelsey
An 18" deep tank is going to be hard to "cheaply" light. What kind of frags are you planning on growing out in this tank? I personally think that 18" deep is too deep for a frag tank, I would go 12" or less, but that's just my opinion.

Is it going to be all 18" deep or are you going to do tiers (eggcrate, etc...)? If you're doing tiers you can keep corals that don't need as much light at the bottom and keep your others near the top.

You can pick up a T-5 fixture pretty cheap or even VHO's

I'd personally go MH and use your bulbs from your main display and change those out a bit more frequently. Get the last 3-4 months out of your bulbs on your frag tank and keep your main display at a consistant intensity.

 

[stlouisguy]

Yeah, plan is egg crate tier stepped down, each section 6" or so at depths of 6", 12" and 18" so I can grow out differant sections.

I think MH is the best, just cant figure out how to put the lighting over the tank. also if I went with a luminarc reflector, would that cover the tank, or should I go with 2 smaller reflectors?

 

[Nanook]

Hmmm, tough area with that center overflow...putting one bulb over the overflow would be a waste of light. I would be inclined to put a MH on each side, or put an 8-bulb T5 fixture over the center and let the tubes cover it all.

 

[Nanook]

One of these on each side of the overflow would be nice for even lighting and excellent colouration:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...39W_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_Sunlight_Supply

 

[stlouisguy]

I was considering T5's just for the heat, but with no experience with them I am hesitant. How wide can you get the fixtures? Maybe 30" or 36" (hope hope) I will look around online

 

[Nanook]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10503231#post10503231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
I was considering T5's just for the heat, but with no experience with them I am hesitant. How wide can you get the fixtures? Maybe 30" or 36" (hope hope) I will look around online

Dimensions: 35.0" x 12.0" x 2.5" (L x W x H)

 

[latazyo]

no reason to be hesitant with T5

its great

my tank is 18" deep and its fine (not that I would put sps on the bottom of the tank anyways)

 

[stlouisguy]

so with T5's I would leave the bottom for zoos and such low light things? Leave the sps on the top 12" ?

 

[latazyo]

you could have your sps frags on the top and middle shelves

basically the only people that doubt T5s abilities are those with MH

remember T5s can sit 3" off the water if you want them to

 

[stlouisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10503773#post10503773 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by latazyo


basically the only people that doubt T5s abilities are those with MH

remember T5s can sit 3" off the water if you want them to

Yes, I am hesitant to use T5 because I use MH LOL and my MH sit 4" off the water

 

[kentrob11]

Go with a 400watt MH in lumenarc III reflector. You'll easily get enough spread to cover a 3ft cube with that...

 

[Jarob]

If money is an issue just build a DIY MH setup. Im currently building one and its only costing me about $120 for everything needed for my 2 - 250w MH system, although its using two used Iwasaki bulbs which helps me save. I figured it would run about $200 for a 2 - 400w system which includes ballast, bulbs, reflectors, sockets and everything. That should be sufficient for your tank.