Lighting a 60 Cube

[E.intheC]

I've been debating this for a few weeks now, and just simply can't make up my mind. So, I have decided to take a step back and ask for some advice.:nerd:

The tank is a 60 cube (24x24x24h). Mixed reef with a central spire-type rock structure, leaving open sand around all sides. I'm going to keep SPS at the top, LPS, zoas, acans, etc everywhere else.

What would you light the tank with? I can't spend crazy $$, but I'm not going to just throw cheap equipment at it either.

 

[wakeboardgeek]

I'm planning a 45 cube (24"x24"18") and SPS dominated. I'm planning a 250w halide in a mini lumenbright reflector with LED actinics. 250w should be plenty for your 24" depth.

 

[MBG75]

In case you didn't see my other post.

Ati 6 bulb dimmable with a blue ReefBrite strip

 

[E.intheC]

In case you didn't see my other post.

Ati 6 bulb dimmable with a blue ReefBrite strip

I love ATI fixtures. Do you have the dimmable on your setup now?

 

[Scoly]

I have a radion with a sunbright blue led strip over my 60g cube. Lights it up pretty dang good!

 

[MBG75]

I love ATI fixtures. Do you have the dimmable on your setup now?

Eric, I have a tek elite right now. Not dimmable.
But Jaftica has a dimmable ati with a ReefBrite and it's insane. It will definitely be my next light if I find one used.
The way the spectrum changes as the light dims is awesome.
Also, instead of turning on 2 then 4, they all go on at once, and ramp up from 0.

 

[E.intheC]

Eric, I have a tek elite right now. Not dimmable.
But Jaftica has a dimmable ati with a ReefBrite and it's insane. It will definitely be my next light if I find one used.
The way the spectrum changes as the light dims is awesome.
Also, instead of turning on 2 then 4, they all go on at once, and ramp up from 0.

That sounds pretty awesome. I wonder if dimming the bulbs will shorten their lifespan.
I just looked at the 6 bulb dimmable sunpower on reefgeek and it's $630.. That's not cheap either. Hmm. Much to contemplate.

 

[Steelerfan747]

Are you looking to do t-5 or LEDs? If LEDs, I would do ai sol blues or Vegas. If t-5, the tek elite or ati

 

[E.intheC]

Steeler, I'm not sure yet. No lighting system is really off the table at this point. I've used MH, T5, and LEDs so far, and they each have positives and negatives. I'm just trying to figure out which will be best for my tank at this point.

 

[AJreefs]

E. it will be nice watching this build come together! Have you planned out a budget for the lighting? If you were going to look at LED I might check out Ecoxotics' Panarama Pro, Kessil tuna blues on the lower end or if your feeling up to it the Radion. Lets us know.

 

[E.intheC]

At the start of this thread, i hadnt figured out a budget. But I'm starting to think the Radion is out of range.

I think it's between T5 and LEDs for now... Does anyone with a sunpower know what the light spill is like? I am going to have the cube pretty close to our couch and don't want to be blinded by the T5s. When I ran the Sunpower on my 90 I had a canopy.

Also, if I go LEDs, I'm leaning toward a single sol blue or a kessil 350(not sure on the w version or not).

 

[LECorals31]

ATI Sunpower 6x24 would work great over that cube. I run one over my 24x24x12 with a mix of ATI and KZ bulbs..
I love my Sunpower! There is no 24" TekElite fixture.. HTH..