Ashrs 36x30x20 build!

[mseepman]

Sad to hear about the tank crashing. Always fun to start something new though. That is a nice size tank and knowing you it will be stellar in no time!

[ashr]

Originally Posted by mseepman

Sad to hear about the tank crashing. Always fun to start something new though. That is a nice size tank and knowing you it will be stellar in no time!

It was a pretty sad day for sure, but life goes on! I am very excited to get this tank up and running. Thanks for the kind words, I hope to make this one even better!

So Lighting

10 bulb used ATI sunpower

Or

8 bulb new ATI dimmable fixture?

[mikellini]

Originally Posted by ashr

It was a pretty sad day for sure, but life goes on! I am very excited to get this tank up and running. Thanks for the kind words, I hope to make this one even better!

So Lighting

10 bulb used ATI sunpower

Or

8 bulb new ATI dimmable fixture?

If I had the scratch, I'd go with the 8 bulb + LEDs. Since I can't afford that, I'm going with Kessil LEDs... I actually don't like the look of t5's on their own, too much like a picture of a tank than an actual tank. Also has been described as a "windex" look. But to each their own

[ashr]

I wish I could afford that! I think the wife would kill me if I did.. haha

I have always loved the ATI bulbs but never had the fixture. Could you go into more details with what you mean?

[mikellini]

Originally Posted by ashr

I wish I could afford that! I think the wife would kill me if I did.. haha

I have always loved the ATI bulbs but never had the fixture. Could you go into more details with what you mean?

For me, it's the lack of shimmer. It's nice that on the ati fixtures you can dim the bulbs for somewhat of a sunrise sunset effect, but having no shimmer just doesn't look realistic to me. And the colours... Sometimes they look amazing, but sometimes they look totally artificial. Maybe it's because I've done some diving and snorkeling on reefs in the ocean, I just expect my aquarium to look a little more like that. Plus, then there's bulb replacement, higher energy usage, and trying to find just the right colour combination of bulbs (spending as you go)...

[ashr]

Originally Posted by mikellini

For me, it's the lack of shimmer. It's nice that on the ati fixtures you can dim the bulbs for somewhat of a sunrise sunset effect, but having no shimmer just doesn't look realistic to me. And the colours... Sometimes they look amazing, but sometimes they look totally artificial. Maybe it's because I've done some diving and snorkeling on reefs in the ocean, I just expect my aquarium to look a little more like that. Plus, then there's bulb replacement, higher energy usage, and trying to find just the right colour combination of bulbs (spending as you go)...

Good info for sure. What are you using right now? I am mainly looking growth SPS. I want the best color and growth I can. I have not heard the best things for LED and SPS...

[mikellini]

Originally Posted by ashr

Good info for sure. What are you using right now? I am mainly looking growth SPS. I want the best color and growth I can. I have not heard the best things for LED and SPS...

I'm not sure anyone knows yet what the optimal LED setup is for growing SPS... that being said, I'll be going with a Kessil A360WE, partly for aesthetics (going on a rimless tank) and partly because of other factors. For one, the shimmer is unreal because it really is a point-source light, more like the sun in that respect than any other light out there. This means, of course, that there will be significant shadowing, but I don't see this as a bad thing necessarily. Then there's UV; Kessil is the only LED that I know of that actually produces true UV light (<400nm); not sure from what I've read if this is absolutely necessary but is closer to natural conditions for coral. Also, I've read these lights are way more than enough for most tanks, and many people don't run them at full power; for me this is good, as I plan on raising it up a bit to cover 30x30, so I don't have to worry about it being underpowered.

For your tank, I would definitely go with two A360WE's for better coverage. I'm actually thinking about doing that with my 30x30 footprint, but I'll start with one and see how it is. Then there's the AP700:

http://reefbuilders.com/2014/05/30/k...-matrix-array/