Lighting for 10' tank

[Stylo328]

Hello all,

I am about to purchase a reef tank that measures 120" x 36" x 30". Currently tank is lit with four 400 watt metal halide bulbs in hydroponic reflectors. I was looking for other options to light the system, but all searches yield information that is dated.

I am okay with keeping the 400w MH, but want to explore all options. This will be an SPS dominated reef, setup peninsula style as a room divider.

Look forward to your suggestions.

 

[boogie01]

Two ati led powermodule

 

[Stylo328]

Two ati led powermodule

Thanks.

Do you think that will cover the 36" width?

I currently have an 8-bulb ATI with reefbrite strip over my 30" 187 and it isn't great coverage.

 

[Bent]

I'd keep the MH.

Get some LED to supplement some control with some fancy schmancy stuff like sunrise, sunset and storm if that kind of thing interests you. If not then just put the halides on a timer and call it good.

1600w of halide is baller if you ask me. I don't think you'll get that kind of output from an LED fixture.

 

[Ron Reefman]

+1 for what Bent said.

I'm a serious led user and I love them. But you'd need 4 of the ReefBreeders 48" fixtures and they would cost you $1800.

You are in South Florida (I'm in SW Florida) so your A/C is going to have to work a fair amount harder, probably in the $300 to $400 a year range. I had 8 250w MH (about equal to your 4 400w for heat) and my electricity went down $400.

You'd also save on bulbs. I did 50% every year, that's probably $100 to $160 a year for you.

Does this system have a chiller? If not, being in S Florida, unless you run your A/C pretty cold (like 70 F or lower) you are probably going to need one. I have a 1hp on my 180g and 75g tanks with a shared 180g sump/refugium.

Maybe $1800 in new leds isn't such a bad idea. I run mine at 90% blue and 40% white and get 200+ PAR near the sand at 24". Two pair of 48" fixtures side by side and tipped in toward each other a bit to reduce light spill out the sides and 30" deep shouldn't be an issue. My tank is mostly sps, my chiller hardly ever runs and we run our house A/C at 80 to 82 degrees.

 

[Stylo328]

Thank you both.

A bit more information. The MH are vented with a 10-inch in-ceiling extractor fan. They will be suspended in a lite box from the wall/ceiling. Pumps will all be DC, except for closed loop that will run intermittently (hammerhead/baldor). Im anticipating that heat should not be an issue.

May end up with four radium bulbs on PFO tar ballasts.

Would like to keep reading opinions though.

Thanks again.

 

[boogie01]

I have 72x32x28 and it does 32 width fine, do a set of reef brights on it like u did on your other and you def be fine width. I do 90 percent sps 10 percent lps, i have the lfs that does my tank cleaning every other week and tbey always comment on my growth compared to any other tank they service or own.Ati on the German site says 85cm coverage witch is 34 inches, premium says 36 which may be a bit of a stretch but if you've already added reef bright do it to these fixture as well. I've contemplated this situation Myself as I'm considering an elos 300 that's 300x100x60cmkinda similar domensions

 

[Stylo328]

Thanks boogie.

I may give the MH a try and if the heat is an issue, switch to what you've suggested. It would be an easy modification to the hanging light box.

 

[gcarroll]

Thank you both.

A bit more information. The MH are vented with a 10-inch in-ceiling extractor fan. They will be suspended in a lite box from the wall/ceiling. Pumps will all be DC, except for closed loop that will run intermittently (hammerhead/baldor). Im anticipating that heat should not be an issue.

May end up with four radium bulbs on PFO tar ballasts.

Would like to keep reading opinions though.

Thanks again.

Are each of the MH reflectors ducted like hydroponics ducting? If so theose are probably very efficient reflectors and will really be effective with pullung the heat off the bulb.

 

[Stylo328]

Are each of the MH reflectors ducted like hydroponics ducting? If so theose are probably very efficient reflectors and will really be effective with pullung the heat off the bulb.

Yes, they are all ducted with 10" ducts. These feed an in-ceiling 10" exhaust fan that will then be vented out of the attic.

I agree that temp should be very manageable as a result. All pumps in the system will be DC or Ecotech MP60.

 

[nuxx]

Using 4 Kessil A360WEs on our 120x29x31" tank.

Adding 2 more soon.

Seems to be fine.

 

[Icefire]

Using 4 Kessil A360WEs on our 120x29x31" tank.

Adding 2 more soon.

Seems to be fine.

4@ 90w (360 w) on a 467 gallons?

I got 240w r420r on a 60 gallons, look way underpowered

 

[Stylo328]

Thanks for the feedback all. I've decided to give the (4) 400w MH a try in the vented reflectors.

That said, I currently have PFO tar ballasts as well as some e-ballasts. What would you all recommend I use? I will definitely be using radium bulbs.

Thanks again.

 

[gcarroll]

It really depends. E ballast don't take up as much real estate!

 

[Stylo328]

It really depends. E ballast don't take up as much real estate!

Do they produce the same intensity?

 

[gcarroll]

Yes, they are all ducted with 10" ducts. These feed an in-ceiling 10" exhaust fan that will then be vented out of the attic.

I agree that temp should be very manageable as a result. All pumps in the system will be DC or Ecotech MP60.

Heat will be manageable for sure. Depending what corals you are going to keep, you could consider dropping down to 250w metal halide. Run a higher PAR 10k and add some blue reefbrite LED strips.

Do they produce the same intensity?

The tend to be a little down but the right ones will be really close. I would go with the Galaxy Select-a-watt or the Lumatec Dial-a-watt. This will allow you maximum flexibility as you can switch from 250w, 250w HQI, 400w, and 400w HQI.

 

[nuxx]

4@ 90w (360 w) on a 467 gallons?

I got 240w r420r on a 60 gallons, look way underpowered

So far so good

Two others will clear up the dark areas. They're also only running at 85%.

Have a few SPS pieces in the middle of the tank and some LPS at the bottom that are doing fine.

Here's a picture with 4 A360WEs running at 75% intensity and 45% color.

Running 85% intensity and 55% color now.

 

[Stylo328]

Unfortunately the purchase that prompted this thread fell through. I am now in the process of planning a similar build from scratch. Dimensions will likely be 120 x 36 x 30, but I am open to considering a height of anywhere from 24-36".

Since I do not have the constraint of purchasing an existing system, I have the luxury of planning the lighting entirely different.

At the moment I am considering two of the 60" ATI Power Module Hybrid fixtures.

Would like thoughts from others on this set up as well as recommendations for depth of tank if I go with this lighting option.

Thanks in advance.

 

[d-man]

I like taller tanks, hence my current build is 43" tall.
Yes, it will be a pita, but so is anything over 30", so I figure utilize space since it's already a pain over 30". I went all leds, and a few T5 supplements. I'd go all T5s if my budget was unlimited, but it's not so...leds it is

 

[Rancherlee]

4@ 90w (360 w) on a 467 gallons?

I got 240w r420r on a 60 gallons, look way underpowered

I've got 3 360we on my 84x24x24 running at 60%/50color thats mostly LPS but the SPS I do have seems to be doing just fine in the mid-upper depths. I don't doubt I could do SPS in the mid-low areas if I bumped it up to 80-90% power. looking to add a 4th just to get a bit more coverage.