Need help setting up 46 Bowfront

AquamanE · #1 12/29/2007, 11:45 AM

Want to get back into hobby after an 8 year hiatus.

Plan: 46 bow front with sump/and refuge and skimmer. My main concern is lighting and temperature.

I would like to be able to have some LPS as well as SPS. I know MH is the best for this but temp is a concern since I am in South Florida. Chillers are bulky and expensive. Temp in house never exceeds 77F. HO T5's, PC ??

Any suggestions??

Thanks,
Eddie

Fish_wiz2 · #2 12/29/2007, 11:49 AM

8x39 watt HO t5 with individual reflectors but if you can't fit 8 bulbs then try 6 bulbs also don't for get fans in the canopy.

Sk8r · #3 12/29/2007, 12:06 PM

T5 would do it for most sps.
With a bowfront, if you make a fake canopy [shell facing with braced corners] you can set the light kit atop the canopy rim.

zotzer · #4 12/29/2007, 12:19 PM

Right now I have the 4-lamp Current T5 fixture and things are doing well. I plan to upgrade soon to the 6-lamp pro with individual reflectors. Most 8-lamp fixtures or MH/T5 combos are too wide for the narrow ends of the tank (unless you want to suspend it).

Frankly, I love the T5s, and you can play around with the lamps to get good color/growth combinations.

Have fun!
Tracy

chem-e · #5 12/29/2007, 12:23 PM

You could also skip the canopy all together and get a fixture. I had a Teklight on my 92 gal bow and I was able to keep SPS on top and LPS on the bottom. I can't remember the width of the 46 gal, but get as many T5 bulbs as you can fit over that tank.

kau_cinta_ku · #6 12/29/2007, 12:55 PM

I had the icecap 4-39 watt T5HO retro over my 46 gal. and was able to keep anything I wanted.

Deb91 · #7 12/29/2007, 12:56 PM

Hello, I also have a 46 gal.bow. I was waiting for the results of the new nova extreme pro. They seem to be a pretty good fixture for the money.(on sale for about $300.00).They don't have indivdual reflectors though. I thought that they had them myself,but it's one reflector contured to each bulb.They have a cooling fan thats not loud on it also.Check out the results on the lighting forum. Anyways I know of a few people with your size tank that are going to get them including myself. Not to get off topic but I want to say Zotzer, Happy 4th month on your tank. Looks Great! Best of Luck on your new tank set up AquamanE

zotzer · #8 12/29/2007, 01:39 PM

Thanks, Deb!

Seeing as the 4-lamp without the special reflector seems to be sufficient for my tank, I think the 6-lamp will work great. And I do look forward to less noise!

AquaMan...I think you will be very happy if you go the T5 route, and the Nova Pro does seem to be a good deal.

Tracy

Dingo Dog · #9 12/29/2007, 02:37 PM

If you're using a canopy, here is my setup.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...92img_1402.jpg

I also added a 4 bulb subcompact. 2-blue & 2-white.
Model #2060 96 watt Quad SmartPaq 10,000k Daylight/460nm Actinic 16.5" x 4.5" x 1" 1 lb. 10 here is their link: http://current-usa.com/sunpaq.html

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...092jpg0001.jpg

I don't need a chiller because I hang a small fan off the canopy. This setup allows me to have SPS and LPS.

AquamanE · #10 12/29/2007, 05:49 PM

Thanks all!!!. sounds great.

Deb91, will this new nova extreme pro fit a 46 bow front?

chem-e · #11 12/29/2007, 07:37 PM

There is one that's 3ft long, but it has 6 bulbs. You'll just need to double check the width to make sure it fits. If the 46 gal is 12" in width, then this fixture would be a good option.

Another option is the Aquactinics fixture with houses 5 T5 bulbs. This is a nicer fixture and it might barely fit your width. I'm guessing it's more expensive, but it'll put out just as much light if not more than the 6 bulb Nova (and you won't have to buy an extra bulb everytime, so there's some savings from this angle

).

Justinandkrista · #12 12/29/2007, 09:01 PM

36" Nova Extreme Pro 6x39watt T5HO 3-10k/3-460nm actinics 2 Yes 234w 36" x 12" x 4.25

those are the demesions and specs of the new nova pro. My bowfront is 12 inches wide so i dont see why it wouldnt work. Your fine. Anyway do u have a plan to make your sump or fudg im curious to see or hear it.

AquamanE · #13 12/29/2007, 09:34 PM

Thanks Justinandkrista,
No specific plan. Prob buy a commercially availble one.

Deb91 · #14 12/29/2007, 09:51 PM

AquamanE, yes the 6x39 is what you will need! I also have a 46 gal bow.

zotzer · #15 12/30/2007, 10:19 AM

FWIW, I run my 46G sumpless. It's an alternative if, like me, you want to keep things as simple as possible. I have a medium CPR HOB fuge, and a Remora Pro skimmer. Tank has been very successful, even with this simplified set up.

Just another option to consider.....

Have fun!!
Tracy

Justinandkrista · #16 12/30/2007, 04:24 PM

yea thats also an idea to run a hob fuge it would be a lot less work and easy to set up. What kind of fuge do u use and where did u buy it from zotzer. Do you use just a normal nova extreme fixture? Post a pic or 2 if u could. thx

Deb91 · #17 12/30/2007, 04:32 PM

Click on her red house! She shows her whole build from day till now, you will enjoy and learn alot from Zotzer (Tracy)

Justinandkrista · #18 12/30/2007, 05:02 PM

thx deb

jennibee13 · #19 12/30/2007, 10:25 PM

i wouldnt get a bowfront , distorts vision angles to me

zotzer · #20 12/30/2007, 11:10 PM

Thanks for the plug, Deb. LOL

Justin,
I bought almost everything used from local reefers. Only things I bought new were the Koralia power heads (and later upgraded to a Mag3 on my skimmer).

The fuge is the older model CPR aquafuge, but I rigged it to block out light exchage into the main tank. Like Deb mentioned, it's all in my thread.

Most importantly, have fun! That's what it's all about, after all.

Tracy

tazzmanian123 · #21 12/31/2007, 04:05 AM

36" Nova Extreme Pro ftw. Heres my 46g bow with.

Switched from pc, & absolutely love em.

Justinandkrista · #22 12/31/2007, 07:25 PM

is there still enought room to get your hand into the tank with the new nova pro. I dont think the bow really distorts it enought to wine about. I like the look of the bowed glass and you can have a little room for the open sand.

AquamanE · #23 12/31/2007, 08:53 PM

I took a look at zotzer's "blog" it is amazing. Her tank looks great, she has a frequently updated four month page.

Good work Zotzer. Lots of good advise, and lessons to be learned from your experience. Thanks for sharing.

Eddie

zotzer · #24 12/31/2007, 09:45 PM

Thanks, Eddie! That's one reason I link to it....I learned soooo much from others, and want to share the love.

Plus, many people make this sound like a doom-and-gloom, you-must-have-a-marine-biology-degree sort of hobby, when it isn't.

It really isn't all that hard if you research, figure out what you want to keep, and take the time to set up a manageable system that suits your needs. Oh, and take care to properly maintain it!

Tracy