Brand New 8 gallon bio cube

[SashimiTurtle]

You should go there now, they have this thing called the sky walk. You go out on the catwalk above the restaurant and walk along the edge of the tower. Ofcourse you're wearing a harness and tied to a bar so you can't fall off but there absolutely no railing atall.

Little known fact, Niagara Falls is actually on the US side, the large horseshoe shaped falls are called just that, Horse Shoe Falls. It is absolutely stunning, I went on the maid of the mist when I was a kid and loved every minute of it.

The tower "space walk" sounds fun. I'd be all over that.

We went in a charter boat on the lake, but we didn't do the maid of the mist. We did go behind "horseshoe falls" and took a cable car across the river.

 

[JoshH]

According to my experience and the calculator @Why-Me posted, I would say that is pretty close

Do you think if I went the MH route, 2 of these would suffice for my tank?

And I am aware I would need a ballast and the bulb as well, is there anything else I'd be missing?

 

[JoshH]

The tower "space walk" sounds fun. I'd be all over that.

We went in a charter boat on the lake, but we didn't do the maid of the mist. We did go behind "horseshoe falls" and took a cable car across the river.

Shockingly I've been to Niagara Falls about 20 times and I have never gone behind the falls

 

[Crabby48]

Shockingly I've been to Niagara Falls about 20 times and I have never gone behind the falls

Would love one day to go

 

[NY_Caveman]

Do you think if I went the MH route, 2 of these would suffice for my tank?

And I am aware I would need a ballast and the bulb as well, is there anything else I'd be missing?

60x30x17” right? Two would suffice. At that depth though you may need to raise them up which will impact the entire room probably. Just something to consider. Other factors include what you will keep. If anemones and/or SPS, they would love MH.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Do your research though. I have not used MH in 20 years.

 

[JoshH]

60x30x17” right? Two would suffice. At that depth though you may need to raise them up which will impact the entire room probably. Just something to consider. Other factors include what you will keep. If anemones and/or SPS, they would love MH.

It will really be just a softy, LPS tank, maybe with a nem or two down the road. I might dabble in a little SPS but nothing too serious. And I'm thinking if I did go this route I'd have a taller floating canopy to help shield the room. How high do you think I'd have to go off the water? 18-20"? @Fin Suggested 18 or so. And I am doing my research asking you guys

 

[NY_Caveman]

That sounds about right. My 55 was 21” high and if I recall the MH was about 15” over the waterline.

 

[sfin52]

to bad that Niagara fall has lower water rates in September through april and after 2200 to 0800. The non peak rates are half of peak rates. Also because if the dams the river is lower.

I would love to see the falls at peak with 0 restrictions.

 

[sfin52]

so is the hobby going back to mh. I see a lot of talk about mh lately. Also t5ho have made a huge come back. What's the deal. I thought led was it.

 

[NY_Caveman]

May I ask though @JoshH , why Metal Halide? Is if for the look, or do you think it would be cheaper at that length than several LEDs?

 

[NY_Caveman]

so is the hobby going back to mh. I see a lot of talk about mh lately. Also t5ho have made a huge come back.

Honestly, all other considerations aside, nothing beats the look of Metal Halide on a reef tank.

 

[sfin52]

Honestly, all other considerations aside, nothing beats the look of Metal Halide on a reef tank.

I don't think ive seen a mh tank in person

 

[JoshH]

May I ask though @JoshH , why Metal Halide? Is if for the look, or do you think it would be cheaper at that length than several LEDs?

To me it's a bit of both, I've seen a few tanks lit with MH and really enjoyed the natural look. And T5 seems to be cheap up front but costly long term. LED I'm looking at a costly invoice to cover my tank. I currently run AI Primes and have almost since I started. But I'd be looking at thousands to light my tank with the width of it.

 

[Hemmdog]

I don't think ive seen a mh tank in person

It’s the public aquarium look if you’ve been to one of those. Crazy authentic shimmer that looks like the sun, it’s awesome.

 

[JoshH]

to bad that Niagara fall has lower water rates in September through april and after 2200 to 0800. The non peak rates are half of peak rates. Also because if the dams the river is lower.

I would love to see the falls at peak with 0 restrictions.

Standing next to the inlet gates for the power plant is pretty awesome too, I think there are 2 or 4 of them and they are HUGE!

Google Image for an idea...

 

[NY_Caveman]

I don't think ive seen a mh tank in person

Ask your LFSs if any of their tanks are lit this way.

 

[NY_Caveman]

If cost were no object and I was doing my dream tank it would likely be MH with T5. I have not used T5 myself, but have seen the combo many times.

 

[Hemmdog]

If cost were no object and I was doing my dream tank it would likely be MH with T5. I have not used T5 myself, but have seen the combo many times.

Nicee. I’d do MH with orphek bars to blast UV if money and heat wasn’t an issue.

 

[JoshH]

Nicee. I’d do MH with orphek bars to blast UV if money and heat wasn’t an issue.

Those Orphek LED bars aren't really all that expensive. I thought about solely doing them but not sure if it was enough. The MH combo would be nice though