Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Having a really hard time planning this new tank. I am leaning towards a custom tank from a local builder/friend, as I have specific dimensions I am looking for. I have re-designed this thing at least 50x at this point and I think I have my plans somewhat finalized. I am really looking into lighting at this point, but also looking for some suggestions from you fellow reefers. Specs are as follows: Tank- 36" L x 16" W x 16"H, low Iron glass, hand polished edges, with black silicone. I wanted close to the same dimensions as the Innovative Marine Fusion 30L, but did not want an AIO. Tank is going to cost me about 335.00, which is cheaper than the IM. I am still messing with dimensions, but the tank will be 30-40 gallons. Was considering 2, Radion XR15w with the RMS, but looking at nearly 1000.00 in lighting, which I feel is pretty asinine. I also thought about one Radion Pro XR30w, but unsure about coverage. I have seen several people with a single light( Radion, AI, etc) over a Fusion 30L, but I will want a fair amount of SPS and am wondering if here would be enough lighting..... Anyway, looking for some suggestions from people in relation to lighting ideas.....thanks! I've also included some pics of a tank/stand he built that was very similar in size to the ones I'll have built. Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Oh, I am also aware of my options, pretty much across the board. Just looking for,"If you were lighting this tank you would use*Insert light here*" answers. Maybe someone will think of something I haven't, meet my fancy more then the options I am currently considering. Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 For SPS, you'll want to have some distributed light. I'd consider a Nano Box Quad with two T5. Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 So a Nanobox Hybrid? Wonder what the would cost, I had discussed briefly with Dave about one.....however I was considering a different sized tank at that time. I'm not sure the cost difference Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Dave's new hybrids are being made with CNCreef housings that will have the T5 built in. Four PCB (so 52 LEDs, 112w) and two T5 is going to be right at $1K with the Storm controller. This thread has some teaser pics and more specs. http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/354787-nano-box-hybrid-teasers/ This thread has some specs on his new LED arrays: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/355869-nano-box-v3-array-lime-luxeon-t-uv/ Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Duuuuuude......weak. I was trying to spend NOT 1k, so much for that plan.....hahaha I also found a Deep Blue 34 gallon (36 x 18 x 12) reef ready tank for 200.00 at a local reef store.....at that price I might change my plans again.....a little shallow for my tastes though..... Link to comment
SouthFlorida_Tron Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Get a 36" 6x39w ati and be done with it. Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Get a 36" 6x39w ati and be done with it. Considered that as well. The Hybrids Dave is making are much different than some of the custom work I've seen him do for hybrids before. I hadn't seen the thread Ben showed me today. They are pretty appealing. Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Dave is also working on consolidating power for the LEDs, fans, and controller, so he's hoping that if pricing can get where it makes sense, there will only be two power cords instead of four. Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Dave is also working on consolidating power for the LEDs, fans, and controller, so he's hoping that if pricing can get where it makes sense, there will only be two power cords instead of four. Gotcha, that would be nice. Dave's work is top notch. I like the ATI fixtures, but I've only ever used LEDs, T5 is new to me. I can't really decided if LED, T5, or a hybrid is my best choice. What is the advantage of a Hybrid really? Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Gotcha, that would be nice. Dave's work is top notch. I like the ATI fixtures, but I've only ever used LEDs, T5 is new to me. I can't really decided if LED, T5, or a hybrid is my best choice. What is the advantage of a Hybrid really? LEDs are point-source light. It comes out in a cone of light under the diode. The problem is that for SPS corals, they want light hitting them from all over, so you need to have LEDs basically covering the entire area that you're lighting so that the cones will overlap and give the coral more distributed light. Fluorescent bulbs emit light in all directions from every point across their entire length, distributed evenly, which will be able to hit the coral in far more places with light. Even if you had less PAR with T5, you'd have that same PAR hitting every bit of the coral, instead of, say, the center of the coral getting 500 and two inches away only getting 200, if it could have 300 hitting every inch of it, it would have better growth potential. Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Ahhhhhhh..... I see So the advantage is coverage in relation to the coral when using both types of lighting? Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Ahhhhhhh..... I see So the advantage is coverage in relation to the coral when using both types of lighting? Correct. The LEDs give you an efficient way of getting some intensity and the T5 get you the light hitting everywhere. Link to comment
SouthFlorida_Tron Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 All depends on your budget. You can do tons of different things. Cant go wrong either way, all about the $. Good luck! Link to comment
plainrt Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I'd say a 4 bulb ati would be plenty of coverage for 16 inch wide tank you mentioned. 6 would be useless imo and have more light spill. I also have the db rimless 34 you mentioned and I'm happy with. Wish I had starfire glass though Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 I'd say a 4 bulb ati would be plenty of coverage for 16 inch wide tank you mentioned. 6 would be useless imo and have more light spill. I also have the db rimless 34 you mentioned and I'm happy with. Wish I had starfire glass though Really?! Have a link to your build? I'm worried about 12" height..... All depends on your budget. You can do tons of different things. Cant go wrong either way, all about the $. Good luck! Budget allows me to get most anything.... But obviously money not used in lights can be used elsewhere.... Thanks for the help! Link to comment
zooman72 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 You could keep it simple with a 160W/ 27" Maxspect Razor hung about 12" or so above the tank (ends might be a bit dim for high-light SPS, but just over $500), or a NanoBox Quad as previously suggested (I am not in the camp that T5's are absolutely needed in combination with LEDs for many SPS needs, and with the Storm controller comes in quite a bit lower at $650), or a pair of BuildMyLED 36" 20K XB's (in black of course... ) hung over the tank (with the 2-fixture suspension kit and manual dimmer would run you ~$655) that would be more than enough light.....top three LED ideas that come to mind... T5's would work well too, but I have been off that "bandwagon" for quite some time now... Oh, and one more thing - nice tank your friend built! Good luck with yours! Link to comment
plainrt Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I had a 27 inch razor and hated the coverage. Color sucked compared to t5 also. Link is my sig at bottom of my db 34. Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 I had a 27 inch razor and hated the coverage. Color sucked compared to t5 also. Link is my sig at bottom of my db 34. Yeah, already saw it, my phone doesn't show signatures... There is a 34 gallon for 180.00 locally, think I might forget the custom build and snag this. My buddy actually sent me the picture today, he suggested I do that instead of having him build one. Now he can just build stand. You could keep it simple with a 160W/ 27" Maxspect Razor hung about 12" or so above the tank (ends might be a bit dim for high-light SPS, but just over $500), or a NanoBox Quad as previously suggested (I am not in the camp that T5's are absolutely needed in combination with LEDs for many SPS needs, and with the Storm controller comes in quite a bit lower at $650), or a pair of BuildMyLED 36" 20K XB's (in black of course... ) hung over the tank (with the 2-fixture suspension kit and manual dimmer would run you ~$655) that would be more than enough light.....top three LED ideas that come to mind... T5's would work well too, but I have been off that "bandwagon" for quite some time now... Oh, and one more thing - nice tank your friend built! Good luck with yours! Hmmm, you've given me a lot to think about. 650.00 for a quad, huh? Man, I do love Dave's lights............... Wonder what the turn around is nowadays..... Link to comment
zooman72 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I had a 27 inch razor and hated the coverage. Color sucked compared to t5 also. Link is my sig at bottom of my db 34. I have one each over my pair of 40B's, and have no issues with coverage or color (although I am not keeping any SPS corals), plus I find color to be so subjective - I have mine skewed a bit more towards the blue channel and quite like it... Link to comment
NorthGaHillbilly Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I'd say a 4 bulb ati would be plenty of coverage for 16 inch wide tank you mentioned. 6 would be useless imo and have more light spill. I also have the db rimless 34 you mentioned and I'm happy with. Wish I had starfire glass though They no longer have them on their site, might be discontinuing the size which would explain the sale, but mine appears to have their "opti-pure" glass on the front panel OP- I have the same tank, while it is shallow, Im really fond of it. Im using a 24" T5 fixture, while there is shading on the edges, it seems to be working very well for me. Link to comment
zooman72 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Yeah, already saw it, my phone doesn't show signatures... There is a 34 gallon for 180.00 locally, think I might forget the custom build and snag this. My buddy actually sent me the picture today, he suggested I do that instead of having him build one. Now he can just build stand. Hmmm, you've given me a lot to think about. 650.00 for a quad, huh? Man, I do love Dave's lights............... Wonder what the turn around is nowadays..... Yeah, the turn around might be a bit, but I have a pair of his lights over IM Nuvo's in my office (a 10 with a Mini, and a 20 with a Duo), and they are sweet... Here is a pic of the IM 20 and the Duo... Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Thanks fellows for all the insight, I really appreciate it. Looks like I am gonna go with something Nanobox or DIY. A member contacted me with what seems like a pretty good deal on some DIY supplies. I also love the shimmer I see from Kessils.....wish I could get the same effect on this shallow tank. Link to comment
Steensj2004 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 Picked up a Deep Blue 34 Gallon Rimless Frag Tank tonight. The buddy who was going to build my tank was in his friend's LFS, saw this tank for very cheap. He suggested I go with this as it was 1/2 the cost and similar dimensions I was looking for. 36 x 18 x 12 I believe. So now back to the drawing board..... Link to comment
fredfish01 Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 If you are considering DIY, you could do that with NanoBox boards. Link to comment
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