Metal Halides for CADE 1800 Pennisula

[ApolloReef]

I am planning to buy a CADE Peninsula Series 1800 S2/P tank with my goal to grow primarily high end SPS acros. The display tank will measure 70.9" L x 31.5" W x 23.6" H.

I want to go with Metal Halide lighting for the tank moving from LEDs from my previous tank. I am still learning a lot about the lighting and wanted some advice on what to purchase for the tank.

My current plan is to purchase Reef Brite Hybrid Halides. I was wondering how many, what length and what type people would recommend. My best uneducated guess is to purchase:
1 - Reef Brite HyBrid Halide 36" SE Pendant w/XHO LED strips
2 - Reef Brite HyBrid Halide 15" SE Pendant w/XHO LED strips

And hang them as pendants about 12" above the tank with an inch or two between the pendants. Is this a good plan? Any advice? Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[djf91]

The reefbrite pendants are relatively small compared to the large reflectors we used to have over our systems. This is going to seem like overkill, but I would go with 6 x 250 watt 15” pendants. 3 across the front and 3 across the back.

 

[rtparty]

My 250g tank. 72*36*22

This is 3 Reef Brite 250w pendants and ballasts running Radiums. The XHOs were mounted too high to be super useful but were needed to get these PAR numbers.

I actually needed 6 halides to cover this tank properly with Reef Brite pendants. They do not spread light well at all. The Reef Brite ballasts also don’t run Radiums properly.

6 Radion XR15s put out over 400 PAR at the top of my rocks. It was a no brainer to ditch the halides for my system

 

[ApolloReef]

Appreciate all the feedback. Would it be better to get Giesemann Spectra HQ/T5 below? Would that be enough for the whole system?

SPECTRA - HQ/T-5

High performance light with HQ-5 technology

shop.giesemann.de

 

[djf91]

Still going to be difficult because of the small reflectors in these fixtures. How important is aesthetic to you?

 

[rtparty]

Appreciate all the feedback. Would it be better to get Giesemann Spectra HQ/T5 below? Would that be enough for the whole system?

SPECTRA - HQ/T-5

High performance light with HQ-5 technology

shop.giesemann.de

You’ll need at least 3 and will have a major hotspot under them because of the reflector. You will also be replacing 12 T5s and 3 halides every 12-18 months.

Much cheaper and easier ways to accomplish the same

 

[ApolloReef]

Appreciate everyone's help with this.

I changed direction after the feedback and decided to go with 6 Reefi 2.1 Uno Pros.

 

[minus9]

Have you checked out the Quanta Atlas and Helix bars? You can do 3 Atlas and two Helix bars. Quanta Lights

 

[Rocks reef]

My 250g tank. 72*36*22

This is 3 Reef Brite 250w pendants and ballasts running Radiums. The XHOs were mounted too high to be super useful but were needed to get these PAR numbers.

I actually needed 6 halides to cover this tank properly with Reef Brite pendants. They do not spread light well at all. The Reef Brite ballasts also don’t run Radiums properly.

6 Radion XR15s put out over 400 PAR at the top of my rocks. It was a no brainer to ditch the halides for my system

How high were they mounted?

 

[Rocks reef]

Have you checked out the Quanta Atlas and Helix bars? You can do 3 Atlas and two Helix bars. Quanta Lights

Minus9, I was thinking the same. The Atlas have a very similar halide look to them.

 

[rtparty]

How high were they mounted?

Like 9-10” off the water if memory serves

 

[minus9]

Minus9, I was thinking the same. The Atlas have a very similar halide look to them.

One Atlas is doing the job of two halides over my tank. I wished it had more shimmer, but the coverage is really good. Especially if you’re a fan of 14k halides like me.

 

[Rocks reef]

One Atlas is doing the job of two halides over my tank. I wished it had more shimmer, but the coverage is really good. Especially if you’re a fan of 14k halides like me.

One covers your 36x36 right?

 

[minus9]

One covers your 36x36 right?

Yup.
Here’s a crappy pic.

I’m dealing with a puppy right now, so it’s a mess inside (and out) of my tank.

 

[Rocks reef]

By the looks of it, it would cover a four foot tank as well. One could keep less light demanding corals on the ends.