Cade Chaos Grimoire

[F i s h y]

Tank building is fun

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Yeah we planned on some kind of floating canopy idea I think. I just know my reefbreeders fixture will not translate, even if we stuck w/ like 60-64 inches.

Planning on sticking with mixed reef theme. Thought about t5 instead of led? Definitely need to sort out fixtures, how many bulbs, what kind, etc if I go that route. How much heat would that potentially add? I know nothing like MH would.... Or would hybrid be better? Not really sure. I'm no lighting pro.

If doing a floating canopy and where the tank is, not much heat transfer to the tank.

For lighting, you can do a horticulture fixture and either leave it t5 or mod it to be a hybrid. I like hybrid, as I can then use LEDs to ramp up and down then use t5 to eliminate shading.

Being as this is also a peninsula, you could more than likely get away with 48" t5 (8 bulb) to cover where all of the corals will be. The edges will not have as much light, but that can be good, as a place for lower light corals.

Or go hybrid with an 8 bulb and remove the 2 center bulbs and put some LEDs in there. (possibly 4 bulbs to be removed, depends on the LEDs being used).

I look at it this way, with T5 you have more middle room, as the light is blended better and less hot spots. Sure, with a 48" fixture, you will have some not direct light on the edges, but you are more than likely doing to leave some swimming room around those edges. Why do you need a ton of light on the "fish highway" lol. If you do decide to put some things on the sand there, just choose lower light things to go there.

An example, my tank is 6' and my hybrid fixture is 5 foot. So I have space on the sides with no t5 directly over them. Not a huge deal.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I have a 60 aquaticlife t5 hybrid fixture in storage you could use that and a couple kessils in...

Or this lol.

3x Jessie a360 and that fixture would be perfect. You could also grow anything under the sun. My 180 (6') was a 60" fixture and 3x 360s and did great.

 

[danieyella]

Is there a way we can think of that could retain the reefbreeders 48 and still be functional in a way that makes sense? It's only 43 long I believe. Looking at probably 64 length tank, potentially longer but really depends.

 

[danieyella]

He also keeps tossing 70 inch length out there to get more volume. So thoughts there as well I suppose

 

[fishguy242]

that'll cover 3/4 of tank, just need 1 light to cover last 20-24"

 

[Eagle_Steve]

that'll cover 3/4 of tank, just need 1 light to cover last 20-24"

Also depends on how much will be left open on sides of tank. Could possibly do that light and then just use longer t5s to "light" the edges of the tank. This goes back to how much light is really needed for the corals.

 

[danieyella]

In theory, I could buy another of the same brand and attach it to the 48 (he has railing bars available for that) but Idk if I'll see weird spacing or gapping in the tank that way or not.

I also still hate the way my phone photographs his lighting (picks up all the bars now) and part of me wants to avoid keeping that.

 

[fishguy242]

He also keeps tossing 70 inch length out there to get more volume. So thoughts there as well I suppose

how about a 24" reefbreeder w the 43" ??

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Also depends on how much will be left open on sides of tank. Could possibly do that light and then just use longer t5s to "light" the edges of the tank. This goes back to how much light is really needed for the corals.

And, I believe you can stack the reef breeders. So use that light and just get. shorter one to fill the gap. Then do t5 to provide 100% and get rid of shadowing.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

In theory, I could buy another of the same brand and attach it to the 48 (he has railing bars available for that) but Idk if I'll see weird spacing or gapping in the tank that way or not.

I also still hate the way my phone photographs his lighting (picks up all the bars now) and part of me wants to avoid keeping that.

If you hate that,

I say hybrid with 3 Jessie a360 tuna blues. Set to about 60% color (little more white) and it still makes corals pop, easy to take pics of and not to pricey. Plus, sell your other light to add to funds for new lights.

 

[danieyella]

I have a 60 aquaticlife t5 hybrid fixture in storage you could use that and a couple kessils in...

If you hate that,

I say hybrid with 3 Jessie a360 tuna blues. Set to about 60% color (little more white) and it still makes corals pop, easy to take pics of and not to pricey. Plus, sell your other light to add to funds for new lights.

So, if we decided on 70 length, this would still work with just some dimmer ends?

Sorry, had to take a ramen ordering break

 

[Eagle_Steve]

So, if we decided on 70 length, this would still work with just some dimmer ends?

Sorry, had to take a ramen ordering break

That hybrid will light the tank just fine. With t5 alone, I only had a 5 par difference from directly under the bulbs to the edge of a 6' tank with a 61" fixture. The kessils were placed so the par was almost even all across with them on. There were hotter spots, as where the lights overlapped and just directly under them,. but T% is pretty consistent, as it is not focused like LEDs.

 

[danieyella]

That hybrid will light the tank just fine. With t5 alone, I only had a 5 par difference from directly under the bulbs to the edge of a 6' tank with a 61" fixture. The kessils were placed so the par was almost even all across with them on. There were hotter spots, as where the lights overlapped and just directly under them,. but T% is pretty consistent, as it is not focused like LEDs.

I know leds give the shimmer and more controllability - but when it really breaks down, what's the true benefit of hybrid vs t5 vs led

 

[F i s h y]

I know leds give the shimmer and more controllability - but when it really breaks down, what's the true benefit of hybrid vs t5 vs led

T5 eliminates most of the shadowing that can occur from led. I like the idea of the t5 hybrid with 2 or 3 kessil in it.

 

[danieyella]

You guys are the best, thanks for answering all my ridiculous questions!

So, leaning towards 70x30x20 actually - he's talking about building stand to bar height, so cutting 4 inches off the tank itself so I can still reach in via stepladder assist. Lands me at approx 180 gallons.

Hybrid w/ some kessil.

Just gotta sort out sump better - and you know.... have the house built.

 

[danieyella]

I don't do refugiums, I do plan on continuing w/ an ATS. I currently have a float I moved from the cade to the cube, which I can keep in the cube. Idk if I'd want to do an appropriately sized float or set up a drip?

The skimmer from the cade got moved to the cube and is severely oversized for the cube. Would work in potential tank volume still at medium bioload without stressing it. I don't plan to add tangs back in again.

I do want a roller still, there are tons of stand alone options for rollers.

Also, just got the notification that my icp was received for the cube today so should have those results tomorrow

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I don't do refugiums, I do plan on continuing w/ an ATS. I currently have a float I moved from the cade to the cube, which I can keep in the cube. Idk if I'd want to do an appropriately sized float or set up a drip?

The skimmer from the cade got moved to the cube and is severely oversized for the cube. Would work in potential tank volume still at medium bioload without stressing it. I don't plan to add tangs back in again.

I do want a roller still, there are tons of stand alone options for rollers.

Also, just got the notification that my icp was received for the cube today so should have those results tomorrow

ATS is fine and more than likely with an ATS a smaller skimmer will be fine.

When you say drip or float, are you referring to the ATO?

 

[MrsBugmaster]

My 2 cents worth on glass vs acrylic is : everyone I know that went with acrylic wishes they didn’t. Some urchins will eat the acrylic and leave little divots in it. I vote for glass and add the armored seams to the custom tank. Protects the silicone from your razor blade glass cleaners. I added them to my new tank. Not that much more $ for the added protection!

I'm so on the fence about acrylic vs glass. I'd love everyone's feedback about why they think one is better than the other

 

[danieyella]

ATS is fine and more than likely with an ATS a smaller skimmer will be fine.

When you say drip or float, are you referring to the ATO?

Nah, for the ATS. I guess they call it something else for dripping through, rainfall or some fancy thing like that. I have a float right now, santamonica