93g cube 30x30x27 LED options

[danielh]

So I've got a JBJ Pacifica that I can use. It seems really bright. I'd have to turn it on and off using my Apex and have a constant intensity and mixture of the white and actinic. I can control the moon light separately but I guess that's not a big deal. I feel like there's a concern with turning it on with the Apex though. I think the fan turns itself off shortly after a power up from the outlet rather than a power up from the on button on the remote.

I've got an Ocean Revive LED as well. More easily centered on the tank. Very controllable with two channels on the unit itself. I can go between a cleaner sunlight and blue for when I'm not at home. I can power that through the Apex as well of course but I won't use it for most normal control functions. Visually, it seems less bright than the JBJ unless I just haven't figured out how to turn up the intensity yet.

Lastly... I'm considering biting the bullet and getting a Kessil A360W E. My concern is has a wide enough spread to cover the 30x30 as well as get to down the 27". Of course it costs considerably more than either of the other two, I don't have it on hand and it's Apex ready.

 

[danielh]

No feedback?

 

[Drauka99]

I went with a single kessil 360we and 6 24" t5s. Stuff seems to be settling in nicely now.

The kessil maxes out at 30-40% each day for about 6 hours and slowly ramps up and down from 6am till it goes off around 10:30pm The t6s are running about 6 hours each day and I am slowly upping that time by 30 minutes each week till they are on for 8-10 hours.

T5s are 4 - Blue +, 1 Purple+ and 1 Coral+ the Kessil color shifts some to keep the tank color looking between 14-20k depending on which combination of the t5s is on.


I have 100-150 par full coverage on the sandbed with this setup. I would love a little higher PAR at the top but I can always up the Kessil power slowly to achieve that.


IMHO the kessil alone would be pushing it to get light to the corners

 

[danielh]

This is going to be a mixed tank. I doubt I'll have much SPS but if I do I have a couple of high shelves. The I got the OR LED dialed up last night. I don't have a par meter but it appears to get decent coverage.

 

[Drauka99]

I used a 30" LED fixture similar to the OR, just more diodes and longer. It worked decently well with the optics removed. I am a halide and T5 guy and missed that look and the combination of the kessil and t5s got it for me with minimal power and heat.

 

[danielh]

I definitely want to stick to full LED. The main thing this OR is missing aesthetically is the shimmer. The JBJ actually shimmers more. I think the OR will likely meet the needs of the tank.

 

[Drauka99]

the 30x30 dimensions is tough for most single fixtures to cover, most are made with 18-24" depth tanks in mind. I know I had considered 2 of the OR or similar fixture ran side by side to get good coverage and par on my tank. I have a friend with the same cube who is running 2 Gen1 Radions in that manner and has had great success.

 

[danielh]

I'm not a big fan of Radions. IDK why really.. I think for now I 'll have to see how the OR turns out as far as corals liking it. Not coral in the tank yet.

 

[danielh]

Anyone else with an opinion on ONE Kessil 360 vs the Ocean Revive black box on the 30x30x27?

 

[Scott Chitwood]

I have a 93 rimless cube and had a single Kessil on it and found it directed most of the rays into the middle of the tank. So I opted to buy 2 AI 26' s and the coverage is much better.

 

[danielh]

Thanks for the input.