Need Help with Lighting and Flow in a 36x36x31 Cube

[Biglurr54]

So I just got my new tank. It’s a 175 gallon cube 36x36x31. I am trying to figure out two major components, Flow and lighting. This will be sps and I would like to be able to have strong enough lights to keep things near/in the sand bed.

For lighting I think my mind is made up on a Hamilton Cozumel reflector and a Lumatek 400 watt ballast with a 14k bulb. I will add supplemental rb and uv LED around the reflector. With the 31in depth I might add optics to every other led to get coverage throughout the tank. Any other ideas on lighting a 31 inch depth tank? Any pointers on the optics for the LEDs?

For flow, I am lost. Cubes are terrible to figure flow out in. There is an overflow centered on the back and the tank will be visible on all three sides like a peninsula. My thought was to put xf230s on either side and run the wire along the eurobrace. I would control them with the apex to alternate and run together.

Other possibilities are 2 mp40 on the back wall, or 4 mp10s on the back wall

 

[Rakie]

So firstly, cubes are a NIGHTMARE to figure out flow in. They seem to defy the laws of physics when it comes to flow... BUT, at 36" you will have a lot less problems than someone with a 24" cube.

Second. I love the height. Beautiful depth and room for fish to do fishy things.

SO, my suggestions on lights -- Joe Yaiullo is the guy who has the 20,000g reef that's maybe 21 years old now.. He runs the reef exhibit at a public aquarium, he's the one and only person to ever be in charge of that reef. He said if he could do it over again today, he would run 100% LEDs. Now keep in mind, his tank is like 8 feet deep, top to bottom. He said high power LED's will bleach his corals, which are under like 2 dozen 400w MH's.

So based on that... I would recommend LED's. The thing with LED's is you almost always want more than is recommended. With a 31" height, I think 3 Radions would cover your tank. I know 3 radions isn't cheap, of course.. Otherwise, I'd suggest 3 AI Hydra52's.

People don't get what they want from LED's typically because they tend to use half as many as they need to. That's the usual problem.

SO, my thoughts on flow -- Man, there's a lot of options. I know everyone is gonna say mp60's, sure.. But IMHO, 4 Tunze 6095, or 6105's. OR, a mix of the two. OR, a Stream 3, and some 6095's/6105's.

You could run two Stream 3's on the back wall behind the rockwork facing each direction to get a huge wide gyre flow patter from around and behind the rockwork which will sweep the perimeter of the whole tank. And a pair of 6105's on the back corners.

With that 36" depth (front to back) you need some strong flow to get around the length of the tank. Considering you're going to be flowing near 1.5' across the back, 3' down the side, and another 1.5' around the front, each of the stream 3's is expected to blow 6' around the tank, meeting in the middle. You can of course set them to pulse too, so the flow is extremely chaotic and random.


So basically Radion and Tunze. Hope this helps. The good news is most things are such high quality these days you can swing blind and not miss with a quality product. But that's my two cents

 

[Servillius]

With all due respect to anyone’s expertise, if you like halides, go halides. My wife has a 140g cube (32 x 32 x 30) and two Bimini Sun 250w work great on there with two AI Prime for supplemental lighting. We had Radions and just didn’t like it over the long term. It never felt like the rock was getting that full light saturation that depletes it if it’s phosphates over time. Hard to explain.

Anyway, for flow get one or two Tunze 6095 and stick them on SeaSweeps and you’ll be happy forever.

 

[Biglurr54]

I know the perils of cube tanks. ... I tried led. I was not a fan. I've tried kessil, and ai hydra 52. Didn't like either. I went back to halide. I looked at the radions but it isn't a look I like.

That's my 60 cube. 150w 14k halide with rb led supplement. Two rw8 for circulation and I want more water movement. I'll look at the 6095s.

 

[Willy315]

My 36” wide 90 cube. Lit by one 250w Phoenix DE and 2 gyre 230 on either side of the over flow

 

[Biglurr54]

Nice. I can't get away with 250w on a 31 deep tank. Are you happy with the gyres?

 

[Willy315]

Nice. I can't get away with 250w on a 31 deep tank. Are you happy with the gyres?

Very happy with the Gyres. Tank is 24” deep.

 

[rosshamsandwich]

ap700

 

[Reefaddict1979]

Honestly I seen beautiful Reef tank with a lot of different lights. I have radion over one tank and ati over another. But are growing corals. But I will say one thing I have 4 radion g4 xr30 pro. If I had to do it over again I would of bought 6 g4xr15 pros. As person stared above more leds the better

 

[ltmsc]

I have a 150DD which is 36x36x27. I run two Radion XR 30 pros 3g. They site on top of my hood, centered. I have a hard time keeping LPS on the sand bed because of bleaching. I am running the lights at 45%. My SPS from the 1/2 tank up are doing very well.
For flow, I have two MP-40’s. I can only run them on 25%. They will move my sand around if I go up higher. My SPS polyps are always moving with that setting. The 36in length is nothing for the MP40’s. I tried MP10’s, but my glass is too thick. My MP40’s are placed one on back wall, one on side wall. I tried both on back wall and could not keep my sand in place. I also have had the Gyre 230’s in the tank. They do well in the tank also, but I prefer the Vortechs because I feel they are easier to maintain and clean. I have two gyres 230 and controller I might sell if you are interested.
Here is my tank.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/150g-cube-update.328640/

 

[Ardeus]

Concerning flow, try using the diagonals. It allows you to use the pumps with stronger flow without blowing sand around.

The lighting you chose sounds like a great plan.

If you want to go all led here are my suggestions:

2 x Kelo AE200 (if you can get them).
2 x Kessyl AP700
2 x Maxspect RSX200

I am currently running a 36x36x20 with a single Maxspect razor 180W placed along the diagonal and I am also considering going back to MH. I don't have many sps, but I have a magnifica.

 

[Biglurr54]

Concerning flow, try using the diagonals. It allows you to use the pumps with stronger flow without blowing sand around.

The lighting you chose sounds like a great plan.

If you want to go all led here are my suggestions:

2 x Kelo AE200 (if you can get them).
2 x Kessyl AP700
2 x Maxspect RSX200

I am currently running a 36x36x20 with a single Maxspect razor 180W placed along the diagonal and I am also considering going back to MH. I don't have many sps, but I have a magnifica.

I would live a mag. One of these days . I just worry about it climbing to the top of my rocks and blocking all the light for the other corals.

 

[Ardeus]

Put it on top of an isolated rock with a flattish surface and good flow and it will stay there.