My 60 gal mixed reef cube (building currently)

Tenelen · Mar 6, 2018

I just rebuilt my 60 gal cube after it being down for about a year. It is currently at the end of the cycle and I should be stocking it shortly Don't mind my aquascape I am using the cycle to seed some rock for a nano tank I am building and my frag tank.

For lighting I am currently using the Aquatic life 24" Hybrid system with 2 AI prime for additional spectrum/par/color (I know there are better LED's but I had these from a previous build). The Hybrid has 2 Actinic+, 1 Blue +, and 1 Coral + mounted in my canopy at about 8 inches above the water.

I am using a Trigger Systems Emerald Sump 20 gal with a coral box skimmer and a eFlux pump.

Just_Pete · Mar 6, 2018

What is your lightening schedule like?

Like when do your LEDs and T5 come on? I'm thinking about adding a hybrid light setup for my upcoming 40 build.

Tenelen · Mar 6, 2018

Just_Pete said:
What is your lightening schedule like?

Like when do your LEDs and T5 come on? I'm thinking about adding a hybrid light setup for my upcoming 40 build.

So for the t5's I have it on a 9hr schedule with an external timer from 2pm-11pm same with the LED's except for a 1hr ramp time. As for the AI spectrum settings I am using part of the A+ settings from BRS. UV 100% Violet 100% Deep Blue 80% Blue 80% and the rest are 0%. I don't have the lights on much at the moment since I don't have anything in the tank as I am at the tail end of my cycle.

FLAdaboy · Mar 6, 2018

Very nice. Love the aquascape.

Just_Pete · Mar 6, 2018

Tenelen said:
So for the t5's I have it on a 9hr schedule with an external timer from 2pm-11pm same with the LED's except for a 1hr ramp time. As for the AI spectrum settings I am using part of the A+ settings from BRS. UV 100% Violet 100% Deep Blue 80% Blue 80% and the rest are 0%. I don't have the lights on much at the moment since I don't have anything in the tank as I am at the tail end of my cycle.

Makes sense not to run them now. I'm assuming you haven't had this light setup on your previous build? Just curious how the overall corals responded to the bulb configuration?

Radman73 · Mar 6, 2018

Love the form factor of the 60 cube. I just set mine back up in our family room. Good luck!

Tenelen · Mar 6, 2018

Just_Pete said:
Makes sense not to run them now. I'm assuming you haven't had this light setup on your previous build? Just curious how the overall corals responded to the bulb configuration?

With the previous build I didn't have the the hybrid t5 I just had the AI Prime's. As for the AI Prime's all my LPS responded well to them and I had some awesome growth, but SPS struggled due to low par. So I took the SPS out of the tank and put it in my JBJ 30gal which had built in t5's with LED's and the SPS started growing better. With the new t5 setup with the Prime's my par ratings are much better and it will support SPS growth without issues. I had a Duncan colony that started with 2 heads explode into 5-6 within a few months but I also target fed all LPS I could.