50g Cube Lighting Sugestions?

MrSkumFrog · 11/05/2017, 08:46 PM

Hello

I'm going to buy a 50g cube reef for my wife 24"x24"x21". This is going to be her Softy/LPS Reef. I've ran halides and T5s in the past. This tank will be LED. I'm not up to date with all the LED fixtures out there. I'm just interested in decent spread and some controllability. Are the Hydra-26 or Radion-15 too small for such a tank. Any other suggestions?

TIA

Cheapreef · 11/05/2017, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSkumFrog

Hello

I'm going to buy a 50g cube reef for my wife 24"x24"x21". This is going to be her Softy/LPS Reef. I've ran halides and T5s in the past. This tank will be LED. I'm not up to date with all the LED fixtures out there. I'm just interested in decent spread and some controllability. Are the Hydra-26 or Radion-15 too small for such a tank. Any other suggestions?

TIA

For LPS and Softies a Hydra 26 about 12" or so off TWL should be fine. IF you go SPS you'll want a second IMO.

adtravels · 11/06/2017, 01:34 AM

g4 xr15 radion

Mark Bianco · 11/06/2017, 05:12 AM

I run a Hydra 26 on a 24 x 18 x 24 cube and its plenty even sps on the bottom. However I was never happy with the shadowing and color. I made a diy fixture and added a few T5's I like the overall look of the tank much better. There is a company now making these fixtures where they put in the T5's and you use your own led lights...

ReefMaster48 · 11/06/2017, 06:59 AM

Budget?

zooman72 · 11/06/2017, 08:47 AM

The Hydra 26 will work if elevated high enough as mentioned, although I would recommend a Radion XR30 over the XR15 for an aquarium that size - I run a gen 3 XR30 Pro over my 50 "cube", and prefer it over the Kessil A360 I had on it earlier...

ssagar · 11/06/2017, 08:56 AM

Both hydra 26 and radion xr15w should work fine, in case you plan to go with only soft corals even prime hd would be ok.

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zooman72 · 11/06/2017, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssagar

Both hydra 26 and radion xr15w should work fine, in case you plan to go with only soft corals even prime hd would be ok.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00ED using Tapatalk

While they might be sufficient, one must note that not all soft corals prefer lower light levels (certain leathers for example), and shadings can still be an issue depending on corals housed and rockwork/ aquascaping. I would not recommend a single Prime over a 50g "cube", unless it was an aquarium of lower-light corals only...

MrSkumFrog · 11/07/2017, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefMaster48

Budget?

Maybe $500-600

d0ughb0y · 11/07/2017, 09:36 AM

I use a hydra 52hd on 50 cube. you can get slightly used one for less than your budget. a new one will max out or go a little above if you add the rms mount.

jda · 11/07/2017, 09:44 AM

The AI, Hydra and Kessil will all shine from a small point and create lots of shadows. None of these cover a 24x24 area all that well once coral start to grow. They do well at mixing colors and not discoballing.

The wide panels like ReefBreeders or the Chineese-Fixture-of-the-Moment (there have been many over the last few years, but right now the SB Reeflight is the "it" one) offer less shadows and better coverage, but they do disco-ball and do not blend light as well.

You can get controllability with any of these if you choose a model that costs enough.

If spread is your #1 concern, then look at the wide panel ones like RB, SB Reef Light, Pacific Sun (expensive) or others like this.

Ron Reefman · 11/08/2017, 06:07 AM

OP, I have a DIY cube that is exactly the size that your's is. I have a Reef Breeder's Photon V2 24" and with a recent rebuild the tank is now mostly lps and sps. If you want to discuss or see pics, send me a PM and I'll share.

cpllongjk · 11/08/2017, 09:28 PM

I have the same size tank as you and when I did my research I came up with a few options:

1. Single GHL Mitra LX7
2. Single Radion XR30 G4 Pro

The Radion XR 15 Pro will also fit your needs but you will get better coverage with the XR30. You could always get the XR30 and dial it down.

jda · 11/08/2017, 10:18 PM

I do not use these, so take this FWIW, but a pair of 15s is better than a 30, IMO. You can space them out more and even angle them when/if you need more coverage. The coverage on the 30 is fixed.

jaking · 12/07/2017, 11:19 PM

What 50g cube are you looking at buying?

11/06/2017, 01:34 AM	#3
adtravels you cant buy blue fingers Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,542	g4 xr15 radion __________________ False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views supported by some evidence, do little harm, for every one takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon 36x24x24 reef

11/06/2017, 08:47 AM	#6
zooman72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lockport, NY Posts: 1,340	The Hydra 26 will work if elevated high enough as mentioned, although I would recommend a Radion XR30 over the XR15 for an aquarium that size - I run a gen 3 XR30 Pro over my 50 "cube", and prefer it over the Kessil A360 I had on it earlier... __________________ 7 reef tanks, 5 freshwater tanks, 2 terrariums, 2 dogs, 3 boys, and 1 very understanding wife! Current Tank Info: Marine: Pair of 40B's, 45W, 50g cube, ADA 45F at home...IM Nuvo 20 and 10 at office!

11/08/2017, 06:07 AM	#12
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	OP, I have a DIY cube that is exactly the size that your's is. I have a Reef Breeder's Photon V2 24" and with a recent rebuild the tank is now mostly lps and sps. If you want to discuss or see pics, send me a PM and I'll share. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

11/05/2017, 08:46 PM	#1
MrSkumFrog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Glan-Münchweiler Germany Posts: 203	50g Cube Lighting Sugestions? Hello I'm going to buy a 50g cube reef for my wife 24"x24"x21". This is going to be her Softy/LPS Reef. I've ran halides and T5s in the past. This tank will be LED. I'm not up to date with all the LED fixtures out there. I'm just interested in decent spread and some controllability. Are the Hydra-26 or Radion-15 too small for such a tank. Any other suggestions? TIA __________________ 9Sticknate on YouTube Red sea Reefer 250, Giesemann Aurora, SPS Reef, Simplicity Skimmer

11/06/2017, 05:12 AM	#4
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	I run a Hydra 26 on a 24 x 18 x 24 cube and its plenty even sps on the bottom. However I was never happy with the shadowing and color. I made a diy fixture and added a few T5's I like the overall look of the tank much better. There is a company now making these fixtures where they put in the T5's and you use your own led lights...

11/06/2017, 06:59 AM	#5
ReefMaster48 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 342	Budget?

11/06/2017, 08:56 AM	#7
ssagar Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 12	Both hydra 26 and radion xr15w should work fine, in case you plan to go with only soft corals even prime hd would be ok. Sent from my ASUS_Z00ED using Tapatalk

11/07/2017, 09:36 AM	#10
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	I use a hydra 52hd on 50 cube. you can get slightly used one for less than your budget. a new one will max out or go a little above if you add the rms mount.

11/07/2017, 09:44 AM	#11
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	The AI, Hydra and Kessil will all shine from a small point and create lots of shadows. None of these cover a 24x24 area all that well once coral start to grow. They do well at mixing colors and not discoballing. The wide panels like ReefBreeders or the Chineese-Fixture-of-the-Moment (there have been many over the last few years, but right now the SB Reeflight is the "it" one) offer less shadows and better coverage, but they do disco-ball and do not blend light as well. You can get controllability with any of these if you choose a model that costs enough. If spread is your #1 concern, then look at the wide panel ones like RB, SB Reef Light, Pacific Sun (expensive) or others like this.

11/08/2017, 09:28 PM	#13
cpllongjk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca Posts: 1,066	I have the same size tank as you and when I did my research I came up with a few options: 1. Single GHL Mitra LX7 2. Single Radion XR30 G4 Pro The Radion XR 15 Pro will also fit your needs but you will get better coverage with the XR30. You could always get the XR30 and dial it down.

11/08/2017, 10:18 PM	#14
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	I do not use these, so take this FWIW, but a pair of 15s is better than a 30, IMO. You can space them out more and even angle them when/if you need more coverage. The coverage on the 30 is fixed.

12/07/2017, 11:19 PM	#15
jaking Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Florence, AL Posts: 50	What 50g cube are you looking at buying?