Bills CDA 225 gal 72x30x24 tank upgrade/SPS Dream Tank!!!

[Reef370]

I have mine on the sides of the tank, one high and one low on opposite sides.

 

[Billldg]

I have ultimately decided to go with 4 MP40s in my 235 for the sole purpose of maintenance. It’s one of those things I could see starting out well but 1-2 years down the road not being consistent enough.

The only question I have currently is placement. I’d like to put all 4 on the back wall. Basically an 18x30 space per MP40. May also go 2 in the back, 1 on each side.

I will probably go with 4 MP40’s because I don’t want any wires in my tank, but still not fully sure as the Gyre just moves so much water. I still have a while to decide, thankfully, lol!

 

[rds85]

My 360 is a CDA tank and my previous 260 tank was as well. You will be happy with the quality. I am not sure if you are getting a peninsula tank or not. But there is some solutions to getting a gyre with minimal cords in the tank. IF you have a Canopy and eurpobracing. I have both 4 MP 40s and a Gyre. Happy with having both.

 

[Xanthurum]

I couldn’t help but notice your avatar pic, is that a Powder Blue/Goldrim hybrid? I have one as well he is quite purple and can be a real jerk.

 

[Billldg]

I couldn’t help but notice your avatar pic, is that a Powder Blue/Goldrim hybrid? I have one as well he is quite purple and can be a real jerk.

My avatar is my Gold Rim tang. Mine can also be temperamental. He and my LT Tang fight all the time.

 

[SteveG_inDC]

So what are you using for lighting?

 

[Billldg]

So what are you using for lighting?

I will go with a Aquatic Life 61 in hybrid with 5 Radion XR15 G5 Blues. I am a big fan of the hybrid. I have one on my 120 gal tank.

Still waiting on wider brackets to spread out the fixture even more as the tank will be 30 in's wide.

 

[TexAgReefer]

I will go with a Aquatic Life 61 in hybrid with 5 Radion XR15 G5 Blues. I am a big fan of the hybrid. I have one on my 120 gal tank.

Still waiting on wider brackets to spread out the fixture even more as the tank will be 30 in's wide.

I was trying to decide if I wanted 4 or 5 fixtures for mine as I will be doing the same. Will you get a PAR meter and test?

 

[Billldg]

I was trying to decide if I wanted 4 or 5 fixtures for mine as I will be doing the same. Will you get a PAR meter and test?

I have a par meter. Plus, I will try and bribe Dana Riddle to come over my house to test it as well, lol!

 

[TexAgReefer]

I have a par meter. Plus, I will try and bribe Dana Riddle to come over my house to test it as well, lol!

Haha awesome. I’ll be very interested in what you come up with.

 

[Tom Stevens]

I will go with a Aquatic Life 61 in hybrid with 5 Radion XR15 G5 Blues. I am a big fan of the hybrid. I have one on my 120 gal tank.

Still waiting on wider brackets to spread out the fixture even more as the tank will be 30 in's wide.

I have the same light set up on my CDA 180.... did you copy LOL. The only difference is I have XR15 G4 Pros. I am getting plenty of PAR (at least according to Seneye).

I need one of those fancy mixing stations! I feel like all I do is mix water, hehe. I am glad you are having fun!

 

[Billldg]

I have the same light set up on my CDA 180.... did you copy LOL. The only difference is I have XR15 G4 Pros. I am getting plenty of PAR (at least according to Seneye).

I need one of those fancy mixing stations! I feel like all I do is mix water, hehe. I am glad you are having fun!

LOL, I just like the hybrid setup, and I run my XR15 G4 pros on the AB+ program, so I figured I would go with the G5 blues to allow me to gain more par with the AB+ program. I went with 5 radions because the one thing I want is complete coverage if needed. I still haven't decided if I will go SPS or mixed reef yet.

The mixing station may be fancy, but its going to cost me as much as I first build did, LOL!!! I just got tired of looking at trash cans in my house. Plus, I will hook it up to my Apex and have control over it.

 

[SteveG_inDC]

I will go with a Aquatic Life 61 in hybrid with 5 Radion XR15 G5 Blues. I am a big fan of the hybrid. I have one on my 120 gal tank.

Still waiting on wider brackets to spread out the fixture even more as the tank will be 30 in's wide.

I was thinking the same thing for mine, but deciding between 3 and 4 LED fixtures. How (and why) would you put 5 Radions on there? It looks there are brackets for 4. Coverage for an XR15 is like 20x20. (In my case I have 6" of the left side of the tank used for internal overflow so my width is 66", not 72").

I was worried about how to cover the 30" front to back (I have same as yours) and I didn't know they sell wider brackets. Good news!

 

[Billldg]

I was thinking the same thing for mine, but deciding between 3 and 4 LED fixtures. How (and why) would you put 5 Radions on there? It looks there are brackets for 4. Coverage for an XR15 is like 20x20. (In my case I have 6" of the left side of the tank used for internal overflow so my width is 66", not 72").

I was worried about how to cover the 30" front to back (I have same as yours) and I didn't know they sell wider brackets. Good news!

My tank is 72 in wide. The fixture is only 61 in wide. I will space out the outer XR15's as far to the outside as possible to cover the 6 in's the hybrid fixture won't cover. Plus, as BRS showed in their studies, and I have seen myself on my current hybrid fixture, and I do own a par meter and have checked it, multiple XR15 fixtures reflect off each other, thus keep par readings almost flat at a cheaper price than 3 XR30's. The fixture comes with 4 sets of LED brackets, they sell extras, but haven't seen them in a while. Thankfully I have extras with my 36 in hybrid fixture that I have on my 120. I went with a hybrid because of the width of my tank, like yours. They do sell even wider end plates to allow you to spread it out even wider. I haven't seen them in a while though. I like the wider setup as compared to LEDs alone, as the hybrid's T5's prevent shadowing as they are positioned further out. To get the same spread I would have to go with, at least, 10 XR15's or 6 XR30's. Remember, even with the new LED cluster of the Radions, you will always have some sort of downward cone of light, thus the shadowing.

 

[TexAgReefer]

@Billldg How do you plan to mount your AL fixture?

 

[SteveG_inDC]

My tank is 72 in wide. The fixture is only 61 in wide. I will space out the outer XR15's as far to the outside as possible to cover the 6 in's the hybrid fixture won't cover. Plus, as BRS showed in their studies, and I have seen myself on my current hybrid fixture, and I do own a par meter and have checked it, multiple XR15 fixtures reflect off each other, thus keep par readings almost flat at a cheaper price than 3 XR30's. The fixture comes with 4 sets of LED brackets, they sell extras, but haven't seen them in a while. Thankfully I have extras with my 36 in hybrid fixture that I have on my 120. I went with a hybrid because of the width of my tank, like yours. They do sell even wider end plates to allow you to spread it out even wider. I haven't seen them in a while though. I like the wider setup as compared to LEDs alone, as the hybrid's T5's prevent shadowing as they are positioned further out. To get the same spread I would have to go with, at least, 10 XR15's or 6 XR30's. Remember, even with the new LED cluster of the Radions, you will always have some sort of downward cone of light, thus the shadowing.

Awesome. Thanks for sharing your reasoning! Another reason it's helpful to follow someone with the same tank dimensions.

 

[Billldg]

@Billldg How do you plan to mount your AL fixture?

The stand will have welded light supports on it, I will hang fixture from it.

 

[NeverlosT]

Not every CDA story ends well, but it seems like most do. Good luck! I am excited to follow your build progress.

 

[ddrueckh]

I have a similar size tank from CDA. Great tank. I had 4 very strong friends help bring it in. Let’s just say we barely got it up on the stand. It is a lot of glass and super heavy! Be prepared. Suction cups are needed. Sounds like you will have a great system!

 

[Katrina71]

Hybrid lights and hybrid flow. Exactly what we are doing in our new build. Ours is much smaller, but I'm excited to see what you do with this tank!