Biocube 29 hqi
- Thread starter tony02133
- Start date
Ooh how the tides have turned. With led people have forgotten. That light represents the absolute best of what you can offer a coral. It can grow anything. Led is cool and all but they are still chasing what halides have done for years.
The only issue you’ll have, depending on where the tank is... is heat. In Colorado a simple fan can keep that heat down.
I run my halide for 4 hours a day with actinic led’s for 12 hours. Others do 8-12. My bulb life is 24 months with Hamilton and my light schedule.
The only issue you’ll have, depending on where the tank is... is heat. In Colorado a simple fan can keep that heat down.
I run my halide for 4 hours a day with actinic led’s for 12 hours. Others do 8-12. My bulb life is 24 months with Hamilton and my light schedule.
On a biocube 29 you are probably gonna burn corals with a 150W halide. Too much par for corals to tolerate.
Sent from my SM-G965U using MASC mobile app
Sent from my SM-G965U using MASC mobile app
I’m sure that light isn’t too much. Thousands of people grew corals in that exact set up for several years. It comes with the rank. They did not sell the tank with a light that wouldn’t work!
A few years ago I had a 20x20x20 cube tank with a 260 watt HQI that grew corals like mad! Yes chemistry was part of it but... halides simply put, provide the best spectrum for corals to grow in hands down! That bulb is the proper intensity for sps and many other corals (acclimate softies) Lps towards the bottom half in that specific size tank.
Run the light for 4. - 8 hours a day and you’ll be happy as long as you keep the water perams in line (just like any other light)
The beauty here is the spectrum is set and DECADES of research has been put into that bulb. You do not have the chance to fiddle with it like the LED’s which is mostly how people get into trouble with those things.
If you want the pop from led add a reefbrite strip or the like and you’ll be super happy I promise.
I run three 250 watt HQI Hamilton 20k over my 5 foot tank. Everyone who sees it askes how I get the corals to grow so fast... well? I wonder.... could it be the consistency of the spectrum and intensity of the bulb?
Ok... get off my lawn rant from the old guy that’s run reef tanks for almost 30 years over... but what do I know
A few years ago I had a 20x20x20 cube tank with a 260 watt HQI that grew corals like mad! Yes chemistry was part of it but... halides simply put, provide the best spectrum for corals to grow in hands down! That bulb is the proper intensity for sps and many other corals (acclimate softies) Lps towards the bottom half in that specific size tank.
Run the light for 4. - 8 hours a day and you’ll be happy as long as you keep the water perams in line (just like any other light)
The beauty here is the spectrum is set and DECADES of research has been put into that bulb. You do not have the chance to fiddle with it like the LED’s which is mostly how people get into trouble with those things.
If you want the pop from led add a reefbrite strip or the like and you’ll be super happy I promise.
I run three 250 watt HQI Hamilton 20k over my 5 foot tank. Everyone who sees it askes how I get the corals to grow so fast... well? I wonder.... could it be the consistency of the spectrum and intensity of the bulb?
Ok... get off my lawn rant from the old guy that’s run reef tanks for almost 30 years over... but what do I know
I have had 250W HQI over a 29 gallon with no issues. Heat can be an issue if you do not have a fan, but 150W HQI is not all that hot. This is a great light - best of breed and you cannot really do better. If you do need a fan, get a Vornado and don't jack around with a computer/DC fan.
People think that too much light is an issue, but this is mostly from the thumb suckers of the hobby. It most certainly is not if the quality is good. Sure, LEDs can burn corals, but it is because the spectrum is junk, not because of the quantity. Quality matters a whole lot. You cannot really give too much high quality light to a coral. I give more light with Halides than people would kill their SPS under LEDs... 750+ PAR in some places and the stuff shines and thrives.
Keep in mind that these are under about 2300 PAR and have to overcome some harsh conditions, yet are thriving... makes you wonder why a Radion at 50% will kill coral at 300-350 PAR (or maybe it doesn't if you are thinking clearly):
People think that too much light is an issue, but this is mostly from the thumb suckers of the hobby. It most certainly is not if the quality is good. Sure, LEDs can burn corals, but it is because the spectrum is junk, not because of the quantity. Quality matters a whole lot. You cannot really give too much high quality light to a coral. I give more light with Halides than people would kill their SPS under LEDs... 750+ PAR in some places and the stuff shines and thrives.
Keep in mind that these are under about 2300 PAR and have to overcome some harsh conditions, yet are thriving... makes you wonder why a Radion at 50% will kill coral at 300-350 PAR (or maybe it doesn't if you are thinking clearly):
I think that not people are starting to see the benefits of diffusers over LEDs. I don't know if I would go as far to say that the spectrums LEDs put out are junk (I'm sure we have all seen some insane LED tanks), but would agree that the overall blending and spread of the spectrum is lacking with LEDs. Perhaps not lacking, but nowhere near ideal as MH and T5. I have plenty of SPS under less than 3" of water just getting hammered, but they love it. Corals are amazingly adaptive...if you stop fidgeting with settings and let them do their thing. My amateurish .02.
I have had 250W HQI over a 29 gallon with no issues. Heat can be an issue if you do not have a fan, but 150W HQI is not all that hot. This is a great light - best of breed and you cannot really do better. If you do need a fan, get a Vornado and don't jack around with a computer/DC fan.
People think that too much light is an issue, but this is mostly from the thumb suckers of the hobby. It most certainly is not if the quality is good. Sure, LEDs can burn corals, but it is because the spectrum is junk, not because of the quantity. Quality matters a whole lot. You cannot really give too much high quality light to a coral. I give more light with Halides than people would kill their SPS under LEDs... 750+ PAR in some places and the stuff shines and thrives.
Keep in mind that these are under about 2300 PAR and have to overcome some harsh conditions, yet are thriving... makes you wonder why a Radion at 50% will kill coral at 300-350 PAR (or maybe it doesn't if you are thinking clearly):
People think that too much light is an issue, but this is mostly from the thumb suckers of the hobby. It most certainly is not if the quality is good. Sure, LEDs can burn corals, but it is because the spectrum is junk, not because of the quantity. Quality matters a whole lot. You cannot really give too much high quality light to a coral. I give more light with Halides than people would kill their SPS under LEDs... 750+ PAR in some places and the stuff shines and thrives.
Keep in mind that these are under about 2300 PAR and have to overcome some harsh conditions, yet are thriving... makes you wonder why a Radion at 50% will kill coral at 300-350 PAR (or maybe it doesn't if you are thinking clearly):