need to light a 40x36x21 cube

[Reefermike]

I need to light this . I currently have a single 400w metal halide with a 2x2 reflector . is it enough. I also have (4) 6" makers heatsinks along with 36 RB, 18 NW , 16 TV and 8 OCW . I was thinking of maybe building a light to replace the halide with the 4 pods and perhaps 3 39w T5 1 one the side and in front . Do you think I would get the same coverage or more or less.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Pretty sure the Halide will work well. I'm only using 2 Halides on a 8' long tank, and its only got some slightly shaded areas in the corners and center. So your 400w while giving some bend to a reflector bat wing, should do nicely.

 

[Jlobes]

the MH should work just fine.

Not trying to be technical/rude here....but, what you have is NOT a cube. in any way, shape, or form. no 4 sides are the same size...let alone all six. just FYI

 

[Reefermike]

I am so sorry . I need to remember to be nice .

 

[that novice guy]

Do you have any pictures of this tank

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[Ron Reefman]

I agree, technically it's not a cube, but it close! And it's way closer to being a cube than 99.9% of the other rectangular tanks we all have and use. What you said isn't rude, just picky.:fencing:

 

[Reefermike]

it is what it is . I have a lot of led that I was going to use for a full spectrum build . If I were to keep the halide any suggestions on supplementing the halide with led . I have rb, nw, tv, and ocw. I also have all the drivers . I would only need to figure the heatsink as I currently have several 6 inch makers.

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[Reefermike]

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[that novice guy]

That tank is amazing

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[Liquid360]

Very nice square tank!!!

 

[Reefermike]

thanks, I have considered breaking it down. it come out from the wall so far and its acrylic so it scratches easily. I need to buff it out.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Looks very nice. And yes, over some time you do have to break the tanks down to buff them out, thats the only bad side of Acrylic.

 

[Reefermike]

well I just need to figure if this halide is giving me enough par or if I need to travel another road and supplement with led. I also have never had to buff scratches out so no idea as to weather it will take a long time.

 

[mcarroll]

Rule of thumb is that a 400w halide should be good for about 30" of penetration...whether it works or not can depend heavily on your reflector and mounting height though.

If it's a fairly broad reflector, I think you'll be fine running a 400-watt Radium 12 inches or so from the water - whatever gets most of the light into the tank vs spillage into the room. (And doesn't overwhelm the tank with heat.) Run it on a magnetic ballast for maximum blue-ness....should run at 360-watts.

This is about the only way I'd run the halide...no supplementation. If you have a narrow reflector (and can't mount high enough to compensate) or e-ballast I think I'd skip the halide and just go all-LED. The ongoing cost differential alone was enough for me to shut down my Radium rig, FWIW.

-Matt

 

[Reefing Madness]

400w Halide is plenty of PAR for you tank. The 2 x 2 reflector, keep it clean. You will not have any issues at depth with it. No need for supplimentation with LEDs. I use LEDs only for Moonlighting with my Halides.

 

[Reefermike]

I have been running it for over a year. it is a 2x2 lumen something with a 400 w electronic ballast. the only reason I was going to supplement was to get a little pop. It only gets about 78-79 degrees but the hood is open

 

[Reefing Madness]

Throw some VHO Actinics on there if you want alittle pop.