HELP! Light for a 72 bowfront

[k20fa5]

I'm going to be setting up my 72 bowfront as my reef tank. It's going to be a long, slow process since I'm poor :lol: !

My main question is on the lighting. I'm really kind of limited here because the actual "square" part of the tank is only 48" x 12".

I'm going to be keeping lots of SPS just like I'm doing in my Nano Cube 24, but I have a 150W SunPod on top of it.

Would I be OK with T5's? I'm thinking 4 bulbs isn't going to be enough with the debth of this tank. What about running 4 bulbs with Icecap ballasts. Reefgeek says this will dive them to about 85W each vs the 54W they normally have? Would I just be better off staying with 2 150W metal halides? Should I go with the 250W metal halides instead?

I really like the T5's because of they run less hot, but I'm not sure I can get the light out of them that I want/need.

Thanks for any help,
Brian

 

[vthondaboi]

Overdriven T5's will still put out a lot of heat without proper use of a fan.

I use an Aquatinics Solar Flare fixture and it puts virtually no heat into the aquarium becase of the way it's designed. Their TX5 fixture is only 9.5" wide and uses 5 bulbs. I'm sure it'll be plenty for some SPS up top.

There are two options for metal halides though, these fit in the factory Oceanic canopy for sure too:
48" Current USA Sunpod
48" Coralife Advance - discontinued but they are still around if you ask

 

[rupatel]

I have a 72 bow and what I did was get a coralife aqualight fixtuer, it just has 2 150watts on it. Then I have 2 t5 (for my blues) held on to the light fixtuer with 2 headbands from my wife. I can post pics if you need me too.

 

[DaveJ]

@rupatel wrote:

Yep, please post the fixture, if you are getting that one new, what price are you paying for it? We may be able to find you a better solution at the same price. That coralife comes with PC bulbs and 2 DE 150's if memory serves me right and DE are even hotter than T-5's.

Also is that 12" measurement truly 12x48 square? Without the curve under it or does that include the curve?

 

[k20fa5]

@DaveJ wrote:

Yep, please post the fixture, if you are getting that one new, what price are you paying for it? We may be able to find you a better solution at the same price. That coralife comes with PC bulbs and 2 DE 150's if memory serves me right and DE are even hotter than T-5's.

Also is that 12" measurement truly 12x48 square? Without the curve under it or does that include the curve?"]

The 12" is just the "square" part of the aquarium. The middle of the bow is 18". Anything more than 12" wide will look funny IMO, since it will overhang the sides of the bow.

Brian

 

[rupatel]

My canopy Still fit on the tank, it only has 2 150's on it. My t-5s are driven by glo ballast. When i get home tomorrow I will post pics


Ru

 

[vthondaboi]

@DaveJ wrote:

That coralife comes with PC bulbs and 2 DE 150's if memory serves me right and DE are even hotter than T-5's.

"]

He probably has the Coralife Advance. As mentioned previously, they come with just two 150W DE, the Pro versions have PCs on them.

 

[rupatel]

here are some pics, hopefully it helps

 

[Treamaya]

I have a 72g bow and I am using a NOVA Extreme pro. it fits great with one minor modification, I cut 2 1x1x10 boards to place at either end for the light fixture to sit on. I am growing 2 different monitporas and bird's nest SPS. If you want come look let me know.

 

[vman181]

On my 72 BF I use two 250SE MH with two 46.5 VHO for supplement lighting. I drilled holes in the plastic canopy on the top ends to screw the spider reflectors in to it. Then I used wood striping to brace it across the middle so it doesn’t sag. I then screwed the end caps for the VHO’s in to the reflectors. It all worked out well and it’s easy to take off and on. I put the two IC MH ballast under the stand and the IC 660 I screwed to the back of the canopy in the middle. It doesn’t make the top to heavy and it holds just fine. Sooner or later I will cut two holes in the sides to place IC fans or some other types to move hot air out of the canopy. Right now I just have a clip-on clipped to the top to help blow out hot air.