Lighting

Zoanuts · Feb 7, 2007

My dad and I are going to order some more or different light for my 24x24 cube. We are not sure which ones to get. A 6-24watt t5 fixture or a 1-250watt 14k MH with two 24W t-5 fixture. We are looking for some help! We want a fixture not a build in a hood model. The tank doesn't have a top on it and we don't want to build a hood. Help!

Corbin

chadfarmer · Feb 7, 2007

i love the new ATI light but you could get a tek or the new lights from sunlight supply for T5

Zoanuts · Feb 7, 2007

Can I get more ideas from some of you!! I need some feedback. Dad will be home tomorrow and I want to tell him.

Corbin

bryan · Feb 7, 2007

Hmmm, sweet cube, I think I would drop a 175-250 watt MH (SE or DE, whatever floats your boat) in the 14-20K range and call it a day. Well, at least thats my vote!

Best of luck with it, always fun!

Peace, Bryan

Smarsh · Feb 7, 2007

I have a 250 watt HQI DE on my 30 gal cube. I run a 14k Phoenix bulb and love it.

My new tank will have MH and T-5.

I have T-5's on my 24 gal cube and they are pretty nice as well only the zoa's morph under the T-5, they still look good just different.

Sandy

surfn · Feb 7, 2007

go with the MH. but for a 24x24. a single DE halide won't have enough spread IMO.

therefore i'd go with an SE metal halide mounted into a lumenarc reflector. after you get that set up, you can just add in a set of T5 retro's if you want some actinic in there.

as far as MH wattage, what do you primarily want to keep? and how deep is the tank?

Zoanuts · Feb 7, 2007

The tank is 25"deep and we want to run 250 Watt 14k bulb. I don't think they make a fixture with single bulb only double ended. The tank is a 24x24x25.

surfn · Feb 7, 2007

dustincombs said:
The tank is 25"deep and we want to run 250 Watt 14k bulb. I don't think they make a fixture with single bulb only double ended. The tank is a 24x24x25.

25" deep you gota go with a 250w. but again, depends on what you want to keep. mostly sps and i'd say go with a 400w.

they make plenty of fixtures for a single SE bulb. although you are probably referring to a complete canopy already set up (plug and play).

all you gota do is buy a lumenarc reflector, seperately, or they also sell the mogul socket with the lumenarc reflector. then all you gota do is figure out how to mount the reflector. most people build a wooden canopoy around, but you can also hang them from the celing.

for a 25x25 wide tank, i think you'll find a single DE just want be spread out enough. you'll have the raise the light very high, and by the time you have it raised so high, its really just a waste of electricity considering how high your light is above the tank. you'll probably get the same intensity as a 175w a couple inches above the water.

JMO though. i'm building a 24"x24" wide cube also. and am going with a SE bulb in a lumenarc reflector