Lighting for 93 Gallon Cube?

[Money_Pit]

Just looking for opinions on the best bang for your buck fixtures for a 93 gallon cube (30"x30"x24"). I keep mostly soft corals with a few lps and sps. So what fixture and fixtures do you think would work best for this tank?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Just looking for opinions on the best bang for your buck fixtures for a 93 gallon cube (30"x30"x24"). I keep mostly soft corals with a few lps and sps. So what fixture and fixtures do you think would work best for this tank?

Welcome to R2R!! I see this is your first post

Any idea what type of lighting you'd like to utilize? LED, Metal Halide, T5 or some sort of hybrid?
#WelcometoR2R

 

[shakinghorizons]

Reefbrite 250w halide with 2 XHO's.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!


That’s quite the can of worms.

It’s all about the budget , and heat mitigation. Then Visual color.
Bells and whistles (timers ramping color control )go under the budget.

IMO , the best bang for the buck is Black boxes. Two basic 16” and you’d be done for under $200.
I’m and SBreeflight fan, better spectrum and warranty (2 years and I haven’t used it in 18 mo) would be $240.

 

[Money_Pit]

I was leaning more towards LEDs. I would do halide but wouldn't there be heat issues? Yeah Im interested in the sbreef or Reefbreeders . Also been looking at Kessils.

 

[Money_Pit]

Would a 24" Reefbreeders photon v2 be enough or would I need two?

 

[Nburg's Reef]

Reefbrite 250w halide with 2 XHO's.

I had the 70g variant (not as tall) and a reefbright pendant and Blue LEDS looked awesome!! the only thing was you have to raise it enough to get a good spread and if you have a couch or chair near by, you'll get some light spill/blinding glare.

With 1 pendant, heat isn't a huge issue. also depends where you live. In ohio/norther US, with AC on, I have never had an issue in the summer, and helps keep heater usage down so not a huge problem for me.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

All three are very good leds.

I think the 24 is really meant for a long tank , I honestly don’t know how wide the spread is.

It would Probaly work but you’d lose some coverage.
So you’d get the 30L but maybe only get 20 w.

@crabs_mcjones , do you know any photon users or maybe the coverage specs.

I made the same mistake with a maxspect razor on my 20x20 cube.

Edit , I have a maxspect for sale lol

JK.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I had the 70g variant (not as tall) and a reefbright pendant and Blue LEDS looked awesome!! the only thing was you have to raise it enough to get a good spread and if you have a couch or chair near by, you'll get some light spill/blinding glare.

With 1 pendant, heat isn't a huge issue. also depends where you live. In ohio/norther US, with AC on, I have never had an issue in the summer, and helps keep heater usage down so not a huge problem for me.

That’s a sweet set up.

Oh yea. Same with leds too. Can be a pain inthe eye.
It’s too hot here for my old 150 coralife pendant. Super smooth spread too. It would do that 60 easy. The 250 too.

 

[Crabs McJones]

All three are very good leds.

I think the 24 is really meant for a long tank , I honestly don’t know how wide the spread is.

It would Probaly work but you’d lose some coverage.
So you’d get the 30L but maybe only get 20 w.

@crabs_mcjones , do you know any photon users or maybe the coverage specs.

I made the same mistake with a maxspect razor on my 20x20 cube.

Edit , I have a maxspect for sale lol

JK.

A single v2 24" should be able to handle that 30 long. It's the 30 wide I'm concerned with

 

[Money_Pit]

I think I would like to try a metal halide. Would a Hamilton Cayman Sun 250 watt pendant be sufficient? Other than the reefbrite, any other suggestions for a good metal halide pendant?

 

[DSmithZ28]

I would not use a 24 inch long light or a single 16inch. The shading is really bad IMO. I went with two SBREEF lights and have them turned down to 50%. Coral growth has been great.

 

[Money_Pit]

16"?

 

[DSmithZ28]

16"?

Yes they are 16” Wi-Fi extremes. The good thing is I will use them on my upgrade.

 

[DSmithZ28]

Here’s a better pic with a filter.

 

[Zuska]

This is what i have on my 93 cube
1x 400w 20k Radium HQI
4x 242 T5

 

[DSmithZ28]

This is what i have on my 93 cube
1x 400w 20k Radium HQI
4x 242 T5

You have to run a chiller?

 

[Money_Pit]

Okay so I just bought a 24" giesemann 250 watt metal halide with 4 t5s on it from another member here. I can't figure out what model it is. Any ideas?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/giesemann-250w.354039/

 

[mlb75]

Curious why people are still interested in MH now I thought most had given up on them for LED or T5 because of the energy efficiency, lower heat, and flexibility. I’m also looking at setting up a 90 cube and am thinking of a single radion xr30 g4 pro. Mine will be in a corner with the light on the diagonal if that makes sense.

 

[rtparty]

Halides are still relevant for those of us that can run them. I've yet to see any other light source work as well except a properly setup T5 system.