Lighting suggestions for a 36x36 cube

goofball310

goofball310

Premium Member
I need some lighting advice from cube owners. I have a buddy of mine that is selling a cube tank he has sitting in his garage and I have been thinking about how in the world I would light a tank with its dimensions. Tanks dimensions are 36x36x30 (175g) w/ external overflow viewable from 3 sides via Starfire glass. Here's what I've come up with so far as choices:

Option 1:
1x Aqua Medic Ocean Light 2x250w HQI w/ 2x39w T5's in the back half
1x Aqua Medic Ocean Light 2x150w HQI w/ 2x39w T5's in the front

Option 2:
1x Aqua Medic Ocean Light 2x250w HQI w/ 2x39w T5's centered in the middle of the tank
4x additional 39w T5's on each side of the fixture for a total of 8

Option 3:
2x 250w SE MH w/ a Spider Light reflector centerted in the middle of the tank running on a e-ballast (icecap or lumatek)
4x additional 39w T5's on each side of the fixture for a total of 8

Option 4:
2x 400w SE MH w/ a Spider Light reflector centerted in the middle of the tank running on a e-ballast (icecap or lumatek)
4x additional 39w T5's on each side of the fixture for a total of 8

Option 5:
1x 400w SE MH w a Lumenarc reflector centered in the middle of the tank running on a e-ballast (icecap or lumatek)
4x additional 39w T5's on each side of the fixture for a total of 8

I'm totally open to other suggestions. Also, if there are any cube owners with similar dimensions I would love to see pictures of your lighting and tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14794035#post14794035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by precko
Check mine out http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1615692

You can see how much coverage I get from just a 2ft fixture with 1x250w hqi bulb and 4x24w t5's.

Also All T5's would do a good job a 10x39w unit would be nice.
Click to expand...

I really don't want to rely on T5's as the primary source of light. Having to change them out every 6 months really doesn't sound like a real option when you're look at 10+ bulbs. With this tank being 36"w I was looking at 12-14 bulbs and around $480-$560 a year on bulbs.
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14794149#post14794149 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NCreefwannabe
why would you have to change them every 6 months???

Id go with the lumenarc or lumenbrite setup. less power usage also.
Click to expand...

From all the threads I've read about T5's, they lose there efficiency after 6 months.
 
I have been trying to figure out how to light the same type of tank, and have logged numerous hours searching forums and various web pages. The lumenbright focuses light too narrowly for a 36x36 cube, the lumenarc and lumenmax spread the light out better, your choice. The hard part is deciding on a ballast and bulb combo.

You will need a 400W for that tank, with those dimensions, and you will have to hang the reflector up a bit to get full coverage. I woud go with SE bulbs so you dont have to use a shield, which blocks alot of usable light. 400W halides are more efficient than 250W halides, whose par numbers look good only if you overdrive them with a hqi ballast. Also, a 400W halide on a electronic ballast will not be overdriven, and will last alot longer than an overdriven 250 on a hqi ballast.

The best performance numbers I can find on a properly driven bulb on an electronic ballast is the 400W Ushio 10K, which you could supplement with actinic t5s on the sides. You can get the same par numbers with overdriven 250W, but the bulbs will burn out very quickly, and any similar numbers with double ended bulbs are quickly cut back by the shield you must use.

There is no efiicient way to light that tank with fluorescents alone, and bulb replacement costs would be ridiculous.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14794169#post14794169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by goofball310
From all the threads I've read about T5's, they lose there efficiency after 6 months.
Click to expand...

I've never seen a single thread that says that.


12-18 months for T5s. 6 Months for PCs. 6-12 Months for MH
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14794446#post14794446 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
I've never seen a single thread that says that.


12-18 months for T5s. 6 Months for PCs. 6-12 Months for MH
Click to expand...

I'll going looking for those threads now, but every successful SPS tank that I've researched running only T5's has changed out their bulbs every 6 months.
 
T5s are 12-18 months
MH are 9-12 SE and 12-18 DE(they will last longer on an electronic ballast)
VHO 9-12 months
PC 6-12 months
 
This is just a one of the quotes I was able to dig up quickly.

Has anyone tested their PAR after 2 months and then after 8?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14016550#post14016550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ed Reef
T5
ATI Power Module T5 880mm 10 X 39W
Advantage
- Build-in cooling fans to extend the lifespan of T5 tubes
- Lower electricity bills $$ - 39w x 20 = 780 watt
- Color combi is just never ending with T5
- They come in 10 tubes fitting so it’s great for my tank width
- Less heat issues
- 2 unit of Powermodule will give me the flexibility of future upgrades to either an open tops, Cube, etc

Disadvantage
- Costly maintenance if we want to ensure max output of T5 (every 6 months exchange is norm for those European reefers)
- Not to mention more holders, tubes to deal with
- My distributor don’t carry them so will make the exchange a bit more tricky
Click to expand...
 
i have the exact tank..i am using 2x400W 12k coralvues with lumenarc minis on icecap electronic ballasts...can keep pretty much everything. only drawback is i dont have any room for actinic supplementation.
 
I have a 36" X 36" X 30" tall cube tank in dry dock in the garage. I purchased it back in 2001 before the nicer reflectors became available, and T5's were not being used on tanks.

At that time, my plan was to install a single 1000W mh in the center with a couple of 400W Radiums run by a double PFO HQI ballast. Its still not time to set up that particular tank, but eventually I will. Who knows, I may even give the 1000W MH a whirl for a couple hours a day plus a couple other MH lamps.

If you go with dual 400W halides, you could run them on separate, but overlapping schedules. For example, halide #1 could come on at 8:00 AM and turn off at 4:00 PM. Halide #2 could come on at noon and turn off at 8:00 PM. That would give you 12 hours of MH coverage with four hours of intense lighting when both lamps are on.

You could use T5's to provide dawn and dusk lighting before the halides turn on and after they turn off.

Do you plan on running a chiller?

Gary
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14794446#post14794446 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
I've never seen a single thread that says that.


12-18 months for T5s. 6 Months for PCs. 6-12 Months for MH
Click to expand...

This also marks the first thread I've ever seen the 6 month lifespan claim for T5 also.

Could be 6 months for VHO though...
 
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