How to light a 36x36 cube using MH?

[chrissreef]

36L 36W 24H

Trying to figure out the best way to light this... single 250w or 400w w/ Lum3 in the center or 3 250w spread around? (overflows in each back corner)

I think the LED approach just won't be practical and is $$

[Southern Boy]

I know the old rule of thumb says 1 MH per 2' but,a single 250 lights up my 54 corner pretty good and is like 37-38" at it's widest point.

[jaydub74]

I'd be interested in some feedback as well. I'm considering a tank of the same size. Current thought it one 250 MH.

chrissreef have you begun to work on the plumbing plans for your tank. i would be interested to hear your ideas.

[2crazyreefers]

I am thinking of getting a cube like that for my Infinity dual 400 watters that is too much for the center of my 180.

[sabodish]

i have a 36x36x30 and im using 2 400 watters in lumenarc minis mounted about 12" above the water surface and have no dead spots....depending on what kind of reef you wanted you can get away with one 400 watter in the middle..i wanted sps everywhere, thats why i went with two.

[chrissreef]

Sabodish - I plan on sps halfway down and at the top... the rock will be in a U shape (upside down) so I'm not sure if sps will get enough at the corners/edges. Someone mentioned raise the lamp height but I'm just not sure as I've never seen a Lum reflector's impact... just a 250w halide w/ crap reflectors on my old tanks.

also - are your lights front to back or side by side? think a lumenarc normal (instead of mini) would help a single 400w instead of dual?

Jaydub74 - I figured out the sump/refugium... can send a screenshot to ya? as far as plumbing? I was going to get the sump first and then figure it out MacGyver style =P (no planned closed loops - overflows in each rear corner of tank.

[sabodish]

my lights are side by side, but its funny you should mention that because i was just thinking about moving them front to back and seeing if it makes a difference.

i kind of have my rock in the same formation you are talking about and my sps on the corners do fine at a depth of about 26". i am running 400 watters though.

i think a normal size lumenarc would light a 36x36 easily and probably work for where you want to keep the sps.

[burton14e7]

Check this cube

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...5&pagenumber=1

[jaydub74]

Originally posted by chrissreef


Jaydub74 - I figured out the sump/refugium... can send a screenshot to ya? as far as plumbing? I was going to get the sump first and then figure it out MacGyver style =P (no planned closed loops - overflows in each rear corner of tank.

A screen shot would be excellent - can you post it or send via pM.

[chrissreef]

That's a nice cube =) - dark in the corners which is what I want to avoid... maybe his MH aren't high enough (they don't look very high... I'll read the thread in a few)

Here's what I was thinking regarding sump and tank. As you can see the purple "light" area is based on normal recommendations of 1 MH per 24"... maybe it can be raised a few inches to cover the extra 6" on each side. hmmm

(the chaeto area is getting cut off, I don't know how get a screenshot that isn't cut off on my powerpoints! grr)

[Anemonebuff]

Look Here:


http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopi...92672366560fb9

[burton14e7]

Originally posted by Anemonebuff
Look Here:


http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopi...92672366560fb9

I was just thinking to myself if there was a way to mount the pendants in a way that wouldn't necessitate more than one and then saw that. His tank didn't seem to have any dark spots.

[chrissreef]

^^ yes

but i don't think his is 36 x 36... maybe i missed it tho?

it looks more like 30 x 30 or 24 x 24

Lumenarc III is "19.5” x 19.5” x 8.5” tall" i believe...