Lighting options for 20" cube?

GreenSpottedPuffer · #1 10-28-2009, 06:14 AM

Its going to be mainly softies with a few sps but nothing all that high light this time. Just easy so I wanted to go with T5's if possible but I can't find anything under 24". I don't want a 24" fixture because of the look (over hanging the tank). I had the 250MH pendant over the tank before but that might be overkill this time.

Any ideas? Or maybe I should just go with a single MH over this tank again?

lastlight · #2 10-28-2009, 06:16 AM

Nothing comes to mind. I think the mh pendant is the way to go.

Are you thinking retrofit or an actual pendant? Open top? What do you have now?

I guess if you were to build a stand and canopy that joined and wrapped around one end of the tank (3-sides viewable) then a 24" fixture could fit in the canopy and just overhang.

the marine apprentice · #3 10-28-2009, 06:21 AM

i have the exact size cube and in the same boat for lighting.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #4 10-28-2009, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

Nothing comes to mind. I think the mh pendant is the way to go.

Are you thinking retrofit or an actual pendant? What do you have now?

I prefer retro fit I think but I haven't found anything.

I have a regular CF spiral bulb over the tank because its just a brackish tank now. Nothing living other than the fish.

I had that 250 watt DE MH but the heat was crazy and I needed too much equipment for that set up (chiller). I got so tired of dealing with all the additives, heat, too much sps, ect.... I sold it to get a baby green spotted puffer (my old one had died earlier this year) and use the tank to grow it up from fresh to saltwater. I was going to take longer to get it to full marine but I kind of rushed it along already.

So I prefer T5 to avoid heat issues.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #5 10-28-2009, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the marine apprentice

i have the exact size cube and in the same boat for lighting.

The 250 watt pendant I was using before was awesome and you can keep anything really but you do have to be careful about heat. My chiller was on all day long about 40 minutes of each hour. I added a fan which helped a lot but then I got some noise and more evaporation.

lastlight · #6 10-28-2009, 06:25 AM

I don't recall ever seeing a reef t5 bulb (or any for that matter) for sale at less than 24".

the marine apprentice · #7 10-28-2009, 06:26 AM

well my basement here in red deer stays pretty cool in the summer. i have a pendant but i want a better one and i want to go with DE

GreenSpottedPuffer · #8 10-28-2009, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

I don't recall ever seeing a reef t5 bulb (or any for that matter) for sale at less than 24".

Ok, that's what I thought.

I guess I will have to go MH then. Maybe just a 150 this time.

Anyone know how much cooler a 150 would be compared to a 250?

GreenSpottedPuffer · #9 10-28-2009, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the marine apprentice

well my basement here in red deer stays pretty cool in the summer. i have a pendant but i want a better one and i want to go with DE

Oh that may work well then. My condo is very hot all the time and that was part of the problem.

lastlight · #10 10-28-2009, 06:29 AM

Maybe LED? Elos Elite? I know you dig the fancy =)

*edit* I don't read anything good about these.