Lighting for a 24" cube?

[shibbyplustax]

If you had a 24" cube and were planning on keeping mostly lps and softies, what lighting/ light fixture would you use?

 

[82engineer]

4-6 bulb T5. 1 led fixture or a 250 watt halide with or without T5 supplementation. You can go as easy or crazy as your budget allows. With the T5 fixture you can tweak your colors more. Led's will last a while. Halides are great but limited on spectrum unless you add some T5 for a dawn to dusk effect.

 

[specvjeff]

I've always loved metal halides. The old "disco ball" current metal halide fixture would be my first choice. After that, I'd go for some 24" panorama pro led's, last choice would be a 4-6 bulb T5 fixture depending on the height of the aquarium.

 

[GeoHawk]

I run a 250 wat metal halide with 2 24" T5 over my 60 gal cube. Mostly sps though. You could do 6 bulb T5 fixture and be fine.

 

[jeremy]

If you do go t5 go with 8 bulb fixture over a 24x24x24 tank. Unless ist just lps and ssoftys then six bulb.

 

[NanaReefer]

For me it would have to be the 4x24w T5HO by AquaticLife. Hands down the best T5HO unit for the money out there. One cord, 3 independent digital settings, whites, blues & 4 LED lunars.
I've been running one for almost 3yrs. Never an issue! My clam is going on 3yrs too

 

[lawnman]

I've always loved metal halides. The old "disco ball" current metal halide fixture would be my first choice. After that, I'd go for some 24" panorama pro led's, last choice would be a 4-6 bulb T5 fixture depending on the height of the aquarium.

I love my disco ball over my 24x24x12.

 

[mcarroll]

LED without question, but are you looking for DIY or a commercially produced fixture?

Can you suspend it, or will it have to sit on the tank?

Budget?

-Matt

 

[fletch999]

Reef Breeders Nova A4, would light that perfectly

 

[Camkha1234]

If you're on a budget, a D120 LED fixture would be fine.

 

[1reeflover]

Look into the Reefbreeders Photon series! Full spectrum & fully controllable for $329.00 shipped to your door! I have the P

 

[1reeflover]

Sorry, miss click! I have the Photon 16 & it is unbelievable over my 24. You won't be disappointed & for the price IMHO... Can't be beat!!!

 

[Surfside74]

I have a 24"x24"x24" cube. I have the radion gen2 over and love it. Had contemplated going back to t5 just for a change but my colors and growth are to good to mess with. Staying with the radions.

 

[shibbyplustax]

Im open to anything, although i am leaning towards led for high temps during the summer. I am really not sure whether i am going to hang the light fixture or make a canopy but either way will work. I also already have a d120 from my jbj 24g cube that i was thinking about using and perhaps also adding 2 t5s for supplementation but as you can see i have no set plans.

 

[jackson6745]

I would light it with 2 cheap chinese led's. Leds like radions are too strong. you would be running them 40-50%. I opt for better led coverage and less intensity.

 

[k2parkstar]

I have a 24x24x20 cube and an ATI 6 bulb t5 fixture. I love it, T5 is hands down the best for growing LPS without bleaching or burning you corals. Also it can really color up acans. Lastly my zoas grow like crazy. I'd recommend it 100 times over.