93g Cube Lighting ?

[427HISS]

The owner of a LFS will give me a great price deal for a MarineLand 93g Cube, for $275 !

It will be un-drilled, as I want to drill the top, not on the bottom with the corner overflow that comes stock.

For my application, I need a reef lighting system that will be mounted on the aquarium, close to the water surface.

It'll need to have a dawn to dusk program and hopefully come with a remote or can utilize a tablet.

I can not afford the Radion or other higher priced lighting systems.

The tank will be mixed SPS & LPS.

What are your suggestions ?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[427HISS]

Bump ?

 

[Tx Medic]

Tank dimensions?

 

[427HISS]

Sorry about that.

Also couldn't decide between which section to put it in, Cube or lighting

Anyway, 30 x 30 x 24 tall.

 

[Tx Medic]

If it was me I would go with an 8 bulb t5 ho aquatic life makes a great one for the price. Also if you are going to have a canopy you could retrofit t5's in it.

 

[427HISS]

I assume this one below ?
How's the dawn to dusk programing ?

I'm really wanting to stay with LED's so I don't have to replace the tubes every 6-12 months.

Eight-Lamp T5-HO | Aquatic Life

 

[SloppyJ]

Gonna be hard pressed to get that functionality without the price. I have 1 radion gen 3 pro over my 93g cube. Look into the ATI t5 units. You might be able to get away with a 6 bulb unit.

 

[427HISS]

Lime I mentioned, I'm really wanting to stay with LED's so I don't have to replace the tubes every 6-12 months.

I have the new Reef Radiance 165p on order for my wife's 29g cube, so I'm wondering if that size would work well for this 93g cube ?
It's all programmable with a remote for $199 and has a tank mounting system for $60.

(I have his 240 model for my 150g reef and love it)

Light-
DM-165p - Reef Radiance

Mount-
Mounting Solutions - Reef Radiance

 

[SloppyJ]

Yeah it might work. You might want to get 2 for it though. Lighting isn't something to compromise. Save money elsewhere.

 

[vanz]

I'm in the same boat as you. I just picked up my 93 cube last week. I'm also looking for a light that has a sunrise to sunset feature since it's going to be in my living room. More for my viewing pleasure than for the corals. The fixture also needs to look good. Not some huge hanging brick with cords sticking out all over the place.

These are my options for lighting and for a softies and anemones tank:
• 1 Kessil A360WE with spectral controller for sunrise to sunset effect
• 1 Reefstar Alpha 16", this one has 4 channels of controllability and the case is full aluminum. It's also very modular so adding another fixture and upgrading parts is very easy. Looks very sleek.
• That reefradiance light you mentioned has caught my attention, it's cheap and has that controllability I am looking for. But it could really need help in the design department. If hidden it will work, like behind a shade or something.

 

[427HISS]

I'll look up that Reefstar.

My Reef Radiance for my 150 tank is 1/2" too long for this tank,...arg.... !
Plus, I believe it's supposed to 12" from the water surface, so I don't know how it will look.

This cube is replacing the fireplace insert in our entertainment center. If I wanted to delete one of the cabinets, the 150g and the already purchased 240 Reef Radiance light would work great, but I believe the small 93g would look more built in than the larger 150g.

I don't have a full shot of the entertainment center, but this pic show's part of it and was showing a friend the frame around the TV.

It will be where you see the stainless frame.

The plan was/is (?) to put the 150g in the wall next to the TV, but now we're excited of having a reef in the entertainment center.
It would be cool and different.

 

[SloppyJ]

I had the same issue as far is it looking clean because it's in my living room too. If you plan it out, it can look nice. I used an AI EXT mount and made a bracket to fit my radion.

 

[427HISS]

The tank and stank look great !

How high is the light from your surface, 10-12" ?

For this build, I have to get mine down as low as possible.

 

[Sn4k33Y3z]

Simple... How much is your budget?

 

[vanz]

One thing to keep in mind with the brackets that attaches to the rim, if you have children that likes bumping into things, they could potentially fall into the tank. I'm def hanging mines from the ceiling.

 

[427HISS]

We don't have children, but rather 4 dogs that like to play rough with PaPa, especially our Boxer ! lol
Could thought.

 

[SloppyJ]

The tank and stank look great !

How high is the light from your surface, 10-12" ?

For this build, I have to get mine down as low as possible.

My fixture is 10" off the surface. You can easily adjust it by loosening two screws and adjusting the arm. It's attached to the back of the stand and slides up or down.

 

[427HISS]

I believe 10" is the lowest with my Reef Radiance, so I'll do some measurements. Still waiting on Rick to make sure.

 

[427HISS]

Speaking with Rick (owner of Reef Radiance) and decided to use his 240 model that has the programer.

 

[reef87]

i think any 8 bulbs t5 fixture would work on that size cube.