How would a 24" MH/T5 fixture look over a 36" tank?

[Anonymous]

I've been mulling over my options for my new tank and, although I'd more or less settled on two MH pendants, giving up on the idea that there was an affordable all-in-one MH/T5 fixture out there, I had another look just now at what was out there. On looking again, I see that you can actually get the Giesemann Infiniti series 150w 24" fixture for not a bad price (a whisker under $800 at Marine Depot), especially when you consider that you don't have to buy a separate ballast and it comes with bulbs. OK, it'd still be about $180 more than buying two Lumenax pendants plus bulbs and ballast, but I kind of like the idea of having the actinics and, bizarrely, I'm worried about the two MH pendants being too bright (I want to keep corals like Blastos and shrooms as well as more light-loving corals and clams etc).

I figure that buying the Giesemann might be the best option - giving me some dimmer areas of the tank, while still having a significant bright area in the middle for clams etc. Or would it look too dim at the ends of the tank?

I am currently planning to either get a 39" long x 28" deep x 20" high tank (strange dimensions down to conversion from cms - looking less likely now it's clear that this might cost me a lot more - just waiting for the quote now) or 36" x 24" x 18".

 

[Anonymous]

If you are going to spend that much on a fixture, why not go LED?

It may cost $200-$300 more but you not need to replace bulbs for many years to come and reduced electricity costs and cooling. The Ecoxotic Panorama probably compares to that fixture and costs the same. JMHO.

 

[Anonymous]

As far as keeping blastos and shrooms in a high light tank, you can just put them in a shaded area or off to the edge of the tank where they will receive less light.

 

[Anonymous]

If you are going to spend that much on a fixture, why not go LED?

It may cost $200-$300 more but you not need to replace bulbs for many years to come and reduced electricity costs and cooling. The Ecoxotic Panorama probably compares to that fixture and costs the same. JMHO.

I was looking at that exact same fixture not long ago to be honest. But I wasn't sure how good LED fixtures would be at lighting an area broader than their footprint. I seem to remember reading somewhere that their spread isn't great, though that might not have been for the exact same fixture.

 

[Anonymous]

As far as keeping blastos and shrooms in a high light tank, you can just put them in a shaded area or off to the edge of the tank where they will receive less light.

Sure, I was thinking about doing that with the two MH pendants. Trouble is, I was thinking of a tank with more corals like that and a few light-loving corals/clams, rather than the other way round.

 

[Anonymous]

Still interested in people's views on the original question...

 

[Anonymous]

You can do a 24" fixture over a 36" tank, no problem. The ends will look dimmer, but if the reflector is good and the fixture is more than a couple of inches over the water they shouldn't look too dim. How much usable light you'll really end up with in the corners I don't know.

I really like the ecoxotic panorama fixture and have considered picking one up myself, but I'd be hesitant to use it in your application, for the light spread issues you mentioned. That said, if you were to do a canopy of some sort, the ecoxotic retrofit LED modules might work out really well. You've seen them, right?

 

[Anonymous]

Tom,
I've got a 24 inch horizontal MH fixture over a 36 inch tank.

True the sides don't get as much light as the center, but I would hardly call it shaded. I do have my fixture higher to try and give a better spread. I keep clams in the center but do have some SPS and LPS near the sides without much problem. Xenia and other softies have thrived throughout the tank.

My biggest problem is that my tank is acrylic with a center brace. You can imagine that the brace is positioned just beneat the light fixture. This does tend to decrease my central lighting a bit.

If I had to do it all over again, I would get a longer fixture with two MH bulbs along with some T5 or LED's

 

[Anonymous]

You can do a 24" fixture over a 36" tank, no problem. The ends will look dimmer, but if the reflector is good and the fixture is more than a couple of inches over the water they shouldn't look too dim. How much usable light you'll really end up with in the corners I don't know.

I really like the ecoxotic panorama fixture and have considered picking one up myself, but I'd be hesitant to use it in your application, for the light spread issues you mentioned. That said, if you were to do a canopy of some sort, the ecoxotic retrofit LED modules might work out really well. You've seen them, right?

I've seen the ecoxotic fixtures and quite like the look of them. However, I just wasn't sure whether the 23.5" fixture would provide enough coverage for the whole tank (not too worried about getting the same intensity throughout, only that the ends have enough for the lower-light corals like Blastos and Mushrooms etc and that they look too dramatically "dim"). Plus my budget won't stretch to two of the 17.5" fixtures. Plus I'll be going for a hanging fixture (from a frame over the tank) or on legs, not in a canopy.

One thing that has caught my eye though is the Illumagic Blaze fixture. When I was searching for Bubble Magus skimmer suppliers in Japan, I came across a company that also sells these fixtures. Trouble is they only have the 12" and 24" fixtures and I would need the 36" (I'm going for the 36" tank on the basis it's a third of the price of the 40" tank!). I've e-mailed the company to ask whether they can get hold of the 36" for me.

They're not sold in the US yet, but here's a link to someone trying a prototype out on his tank (which happens to be the same size as the tank I plan to order...).

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/tank-threads/62542-cozers-basement-tank-8.html

Also the "official" thread for international customers, which is a link from the thread above.

http://ph84.idv.tw/vbb/showthread.php?t=114998

 

[Anonymous]

Tom,
I've got a 24 inch horizontal MH fixture over a 36 inch tank.

True the sides don't get as much light as the center, but I would hardly call it shaded. I do have my fixture higher to try and give a better spread. I keep clams in the center but do have some SPS and LPS near the sides without much problem. Xenia and other softies have thrived throughout the tank.

My biggest problem is that my tank is acrylic with a center brace. You can imagine that the brace is positioned just beneat the light fixture. This does tend to decrease my central lighting a bit.

If I had to do it all over again, I would get a longer fixture with two MH bulbs along with some T5 or LED's

Thanks Mitchell. Good to hear your experience as well. When you say you would have gone for a 2 x MH fixture in retrospect, is that purely because of the problems with the brace? I'm currently planning to go for a glass rimless tank, so if that's the only drawback, I'm not as concerned.

 

[Anonymous]

Tom,
I've got a 24 inch horizontal MH fixture over a 36 inch tank.

True the sides don't get as much light as the center, but I would hardly call it shaded. I do have my fixture higher to try and give a better spread. I keep clams in the center but do have some SPS and LPS near the sides without much problem. Xenia and other softies have thrived throughout the tank.

My biggest problem is that my tank is acrylic with a center brace. You can imagine that the brace is positioned just beneat the light fixture. This does tend to decrease my central lighting a bit.

If I had to do it all over again, I would get a longer fixture with two MH bulbs along with some T5 or LED's

Thanks Mitchell. Good to hear your experience as well. When you say you would have gone for a 2 x MH fixture in retrospect, is that purely because of the problems with the brace? I'm currently planning to go for a glass rimless tank, so if that's the only drawback, I'm not as concerned.

Yes, Tom, my concerns in my setup are related to the center brace.

I think with your minimalist tendencies with rock work, a 24 inch fixture over your rimless tank would function well and look fantastic. You will likely keep your rockwork centered with plenty of space in the periphery which should maximize the use of your light spread.

 

[Anonymous]

You can do a 24" fixture over a 36" tank, no problem. The ends will look dimmer, but if the reflector is good and the fixture is more than a couple of inches over the water they shouldn't look too dim. How much usable light you'll really end up with in the corners I don't know.

I really like the ecoxotic panorama fixture and have considered picking one up myself, but I'd be hesitant to use it in your application, for the light spread issues you mentioned. That said, if you were to do a canopy of some sort, the ecoxotic retrofit LED modules might work out really well. You've seen them, right?

I've seen the ecoxotic fixtures and quite like the look of them. However, I just wasn't sure whether the 23.5" fixture would provide enough coverage for the whole tank (not too worried about getting the same intensity throughout, only that the ends have enough for the lower-light corals like Blastos and Mushrooms etc and that they look too dramatically "dim"). Plus my budget won't stretch to two of the 17.5" fixtures. Plus I'll be going for a hanging fixture (from a frame over the tank) or on legs, not in a canopy.

I actually meant these....
http://premiumaquatics.com/store/mercha ... de=EX-8201

But if you're not looking to use a canopy or something similar they wouldn't be an option.

I hadn't seen the illumagic fixture before. Attractive design and the acrylic mounting legs are a great option on a rimless tank. Price looks nice too.

 

[Anonymous]

(I'm going for the 36" tank on the basis it's a third of the price of the 40" tank!). I've e-mailed the company to ask whether they can get hold of the 36" for me.

They're not sold in the US yet, but here's a link to someone trying a prototype out on his tank (which happens to be the same size as the tank I plan to order...).

Y'know, if you're going for a rimless LED tank, have you considered the Elos Mini? I think I'm going to order one of'em myself this week. Although with the dimensions of the tank you have in mind, I suppose an Elos 70 or 120 would be more the size of what you had in mind...

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, Tom, my concerns in my setup are related to the center brace.

I think with your minimalist tendencies with rock work, a 24 inch fixture over your rimless tank would function well and look fantastic. You will likely keep your rockwork centered with plenty of space in the periphery which should maximize the use of your light spread.

Thanks again. You've reassured me that this would work. I think the Giesemann Infiniti 24" 150w looks like my preferred option if I don't go down the LED route now.

I actually meant these....
http://premiumaquatics.com/store/mercha ... de=EX-8201

But if you're not looking to use a canopy or something similar they wouldn't be an option.

I hadn't seen the illumagic fixture before. Attractive design and the acrylic mounting legs are a great option on a rimless tank. Price looks nice too.

Ah, yes those ecoxotics. As I'm not going for a canopy, you're right, they won't be an option. Which is why the fact that the Illumagic lights look pretty slick attracts me as well. They'll actually cost a little bit more in Japan than the prices they gave for the US (no surprise given the hugely overpriced market here), but will still be relatively reasonable I hope (certainly no more than the cost of the Giesemann) and I won't have to pay much at all for shipping. Plus the Bubble Magus is a great skimmer from what I've heard, so getting two major bits of kit from a local supplier I can turn to in case of problem is quite attractive.

Y'know, if you're going for a rimless LED tank, have you considered the Elos Mini? I think I'm going to order one of'em myself this week.

Would the Elos Mini be big enough for a 36" tank? I like the look of it, but assumed it was too small...

 

[Anonymous]

It is smaller, considerably. The mini is a 17" cube, around 20 gallons. Elos's closest match do the dimensions you have in mind is their 70 model... 29.5x22.44x19.7 55 gallons 75x57x50 210l. It's got a substantially higher price tag at $2650 without lighting.

 

[Anonymous]

Ah, I see, my reading comprehension is yet again skew-whiff. I thought you were talking about the Elos LED lighting fixture, but you were talking about the tank itself of course. Sorry, it's getting late here...

I did look into the Elos Mini as it happens, but I really want a much larger tank this time. The extra price of the larger Elos tanks, plus the hassle of ordering an Elos tank from outside Japan put me off. I've opted for the very simple option of going for a quote to the LFS I always used to go to when I lived here last time.

 

[Anonymous]

Ah, I see, my reading comprehension is yet again skew-whiff. I thought you were talking about the Elos LED lighting fixture, but you were talking about the tank itself of course. Sorry, it's getting late here...

No worries. And yeah, I absolutely wouldn't recommend the elos E-Lite fixture for a tank much larger than the elos mini it's designed for.

I did look into the Elos Mini as it happens, but I really want a much larger tank this time. The extra price of the larger Elos tanks, plus the hassle of ordering an Elos tank from outside Japan put me off. I've opted for the very simple option of going for a quote to the LFS I always used to go to when I lived here last time.

I hear ya. I strongly considered just picking up a stock 20 gallon glass tank from the LFS this time around myself.

 

[Anonymous]

Then again.... this seems to have just been unveiled at the current tradeshow....

 

[Anonymous]

Looks gorgeous (and expensive), but I can't wait that long.