JHunt's 30x30x18 SPS Shallow Cube

[jhuntstl]

Let me know what you think. Did you go with the 50w 20k I presume?

Hey I did get the 21led 20k and 453nm in. I probably should have checked their dimensions before ordering, cause they are HUGE!

Too big to use as supplements above the 30x30. I've plugged them in, but that's about it so far. I have no doubt the much larger housing will handle the heat much better.

Rather than return them, I'll be using them over a new frag tank. At some point I'll beg @mdb_talon to come over with his par meter. Hoping to have it flowing this weekend.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

Hey I did get the 21led 20k and 453nm in. I probably should have checked their dimensions before ordering, cause they are HUGE!

Too big to use as supplements above the 30x30. I've plugged them in, but that's about it so far. I have no doubt the much larger housing will handle the heat much better.

Rather than return them, I'll be using them over a new frag tank. At some point I'll beg @mdb_talon to come over with his par meter. Hoping to have it flowing this weekend.

Wow they look massive! Maybe the 30w would have been the better size? But hey still useful, good for frags and can see just how well they truly grow coral. Thanks up the update man!

 

[jhuntstl]

Wow they look massive! Maybe the 30w would have been the better size? But hey still useful, good for frags and can see just how well they truly grow coral. Thanks up the update man!

30w is 9x7, so still pretty big. For a cube, they're kinda awkward. On a longer tank, I think putting these in-between fixtures could work very well.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

30w is 9x7, so still pretty big. For a cube, they're kinda awkward. On a longer tank, I think putting these in-between fixtures could work very well.

oh wow, yeah thats still fairly large for a single add on light. interesting. well im curious to see how they do and what numbers theyre putting out.

are you going to go with their bars instead for add on for the main tank then?

 

[jhuntstl]

oh wow, yeah thats still fairly large for a single add on light. interesting. well im curious to see how they do and what numbers theyre putting out.

are you going to go with their bars instead for add on for the main tank then?

So the 50w Aquarium Essential Add a Lights are actually 8 1/4 x 7 1/2. But only 1" thick. Those are working just fine mounted at an angle. The 21led 30w is about the same size, but twice as thick. They very well could work.

I'm going to get more of these 50w Add a Lights though. I'd like to pair up a 20k and actinic side by side, front and back. I've looked at bars and actually tried a couple of the PopularGrow ones. I did not like the disco effect they gave off. I would love to see some diffused led bar options hit the market.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

Oh wow yeah those look much thinner. I like the way they’re mounted too, maybe the aquarium essential models are a little better. I wonder why such a massive size difference?

 

[jhuntstl]

Oh wow yeah those look much thinner. I like the way they’re mounted too, maybe the aquarium essential models are a little better. I wonder why such a massive size difference?

They're likely much worse when it comes to heat dissipation. They definitely run hot. It's still to be determined if it's too hot and how it will effect the lifespan.

I'll leave one of the 21led ones on for a while and see how much better the bulkier housing performs.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Seams are a slight eyesore, but really happy with it otherwise.

use Dap DryDex Spackling to fill the seems then paint over it. works like a charm! - there is a reason its available at every hardware store.

 

[Projects with Sam]

They're likely much worse when it comes to heat dissipation. They definitely run hot. It's still to be determined if it's too hot and how it will effect the lifespan.

I'll leave one of the 21led ones on for a while and see how much better the bulkier housing performs.

I think the larger ones are waterproof. That looks like the same housing used in greenhouse lights of similar ilk and they're all waterproof so gardeners can use sprinklers and for the humidity in the greenhouses.

 

[jhuntstl]

I think the larger ones are waterproof. That looks like the same housing used in greenhouse lights of similar ilk and they're all waterproof so gardeners can use sprinklers and for the humidity in the greenhouses.

Yup, the 21led ones are IP65 rated. The Aquarium Essentials have a "Water Resistant Design".

 

[jhuntstl]

So I got two more 50w Epistars up and running. I run the 2 blues for 10 hours a day and the 20ks only turn on for a few hours during peak intensity. I will be doing a lot of par testing tomorrow.

My most recent dry ocean rock addition was on it's way to full coralline. Nutrients got a little high and ulva decided to take over some prime real estate. I've been adding turbos to clear it up, but my hermits love to murder them. Surprised my Bristletooth Tang isn't interested in the sea lettuce. There's also a couple giant tufts of bryopsis on two montis I've attached to the bare bottom. TBH I've just been too lazy to yank it out.

Anyways here is some major picture spam showing how these epistars supplement the coralcare.

Coralcare Only

CoralCare + (2) 50w Actinic Epistar

CoralCare + (2) 50w Actinic Epistar & (2) 50w 20k Epistar

(2) 50w Actinic Epistar & (2) 50w 20k Epistar (NO CoralCare)

 

[Captain Redbeard]

hunt where are you getting these ones at, not 21led right?

tank looks amazing, thats a heck of a lot of light!

 

[Kodski]

It would be really cool to see if these are viable to use as stand alone lights. More lights = better coverage type of thing. You could easily afford to do like 6 or 8 50w lights over a 6ft tank and get great coverage.

 

[jhuntstl]

hunt where are you getting these ones at, not 21led right?

tank looks amazing, thats a heck of a lot of light!

I got them through a wholesale connection, but they're available on ebay and a couple other sites.

 

[jhuntstl]

It would be really cool to see if these are viable to use as stand alone lights. More lights = better coverage type of thing. You could easily afford to do like 6 or 8 50w lights over a 6ft tank and get great coverage.

I think they could be used for that purpose. Based on some quick par measurements, you would need to mount them low. The spread is significant and par does drop off pretty quickly.

 

[Kodski]

I think they could be used for that purpose. Based on some quick par measurements, you would need to mount them low. The spread is significant and par does drop off pretty quickly.

Very interesting. I figured the opposite being a "spot light" of sorts. I guess the lens must be more like the Kessil wide angle lens. Which is an even better argument for more = better par and better spread.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

Kod I thought the same originally. Interesting to hear that. I wonder if the 21 led are any better in terms of spread/par

 

[jhuntstl]

Very interesting. I figured the opposite being a "spot light" of sorts. I guess the lens must be more like the Kessil wide angle lens. Which is an even better argument for more = better par and better spread.

They have a 120 degree lens. When I originally found these, I did visualize them as cheap kessil spotlight replacements. So often you see supplemental focused spotlights on acropora dominated tanks. Now if you could find a way to changes lens that would be interesting.

 

[Kodski]

They have a 120 degree lens. When I originally found these, I did visualize them as cheap kessil spotlight replacements. So often you see supplemental focused spotlights on acropora dominated tanks. Now if you could find a way to changes lens that would be interesting.

My initial thoughts are to just use the kessil narrow reflectors provided they will fit over the top of the existing lens.

 

[jhuntstl]

My initial thoughts are to just use the kessil narrow reflectors provided they will fit over the top of the existing lens.

Didn't take too long to find some cheap reflectors on Amazon that should work. I'll give them a shot and report back!