20 gallon long light
- Thread starter sergifed91
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Are you planning on keeping corals, and if so what kind? softies and LPS do not require as much light demand as SPS.
Are you set on a single light fixture or are you open to using multiple lights? On a long tank a single light source will not be conducive to a lot of coverage.
What is your budget?
Are you set on a single light fixture or are you open to using multiple lights? On a long tank a single light source will not be conducive to a lot of coverage.
What is your budget?
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sergifed91
Valuable Member
I am looking for keeping corals. mostly softies. I'm not looking to blow a thousand but a couple hundred if I have to.
Porpoise Hork
Well-Known Member
For a 20L and wanting to grow soft and LPS then a pair of either of these over a 20g will work just fine. I have used both and both will produce 100-180 PAR fairly well and have some decent adjust ability.
First is the Pixie 30 A really good light that provides good color blending and PAR. I ran a single one of these on a 10g AIO FOWLER tank and it did a really good job.
The second is the HIPARGERO LED A low profile light with two settings options, white and blue channels with touch controls. They do sit really low to the tank surface by comparison to the Pixie 30 but these use 3w CREE led chips.
Neither of these are made for rimmed tanks, but I managed to mount them securely over a 20/29G with a bunch of ( (Don't Laugh) water bottle caps. I found some that were the exact thickness of the tank rim and make it so the clamps would fit very securely.
Get a dual outlet digital timer like the BN-LINK 7 Day Timer and set your schedule. Both lights will remember the settings when the timer turns them off and back on.
If you're wanting more advanced features and are willing to spend about $400 total then a pair of Prime HD's with 12" flexible mounts is your best option. They are 20% off pretty much everywhere because AI is releasing a new version of it next month. Most LFS in your area probably have them in stock. If that's too much for you to spend then the Pixie or Hipargero will be your best bang for the buck.
First is the Pixie 30 A really good light that provides good color blending and PAR. I ran a single one of these on a 10g AIO FOWLER tank and it did a really good job.
The second is the HIPARGERO LED A low profile light with two settings options, white and blue channels with touch controls. They do sit really low to the tank surface by comparison to the Pixie 30 but these use 3w CREE led chips.
Neither of these are made for rimmed tanks, but I managed to mount them securely over a 20/29G with a bunch of ( (Don't Laugh) water bottle caps. I found some that were the exact thickness of the tank rim and make it so the clamps would fit very securely.
Get a dual outlet digital timer like the BN-LINK 7 Day Timer and set your schedule. Both lights will remember the settings when the timer turns them off and back on.
If you're wanting more advanced features and are willing to spend about $400 total then a pair of Prime HD's with 12" flexible mounts is your best option. They are 20% off pretty much everywhere because AI is releasing a new version of it next month. Most LFS in your area probably have them in stock. If that's too much for you to spend then the Pixie or Hipargero will be your best bang for the buck.
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I would also recommend a pair of the AI primes. They will future proof you in the sense that if you ever want to dabble in more light demanding corals down the line those will suffice for most things besides some of the par loving acros.
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sergifed91
Valuable Member
I am planning on ai prime with my Main DT that I am upgrading to either a marineland 75 g or 90 g. haven't decided yet
Nice! I’ve got an IM20 that I had originally paired with a NanoBox Duo not thinking I would want to get into high end SPS. I then ended up getting into high end SPS and had to upgrade and got an Radion XR30 so I had to buy two light when I could’ve just spent the money up front. That’s why if you think you will want to do more light intensive corals, just save up and go for that off the bat and not do what I did!
Porpoise Hork
Well-Known Member
For a 75/90 you're going to need at least 4 Prime HD's or a pair of 26/32's to support soft and lps corals.
Another option for a tank that size is the ReefBreeder Photon V2+ I ran the 48" over my 75 for 18 months with amazing growth and color. They use the same exact LED chips as the Hydras with 100 degree lenses. The LED placement pattern gives this light near the same coverage as T5's. When I ran the Photon V2+ at 60% power on the blues I easily hit 300 par at mid tank depth with the light mounted 12" above the tank and very even light spread across the bottom with 90-120 PAR.
Also if you're thinking about a 75/90 and drilling it with an external overflow, go for a 120g internal flow tank. It will use nearly the same footprint as the 75/90 but you get so much more real estate at 24" compared to 18". I'm wishing I had went with a 120 instead of the 75 and it will be what I upgrade to in the next year or two.
Another option for a tank that size is the ReefBreeder Photon V2+ I ran the 48" over my 75 for 18 months with amazing growth and color. They use the same exact LED chips as the Hydras with 100 degree lenses. The LED placement pattern gives this light near the same coverage as T5's. When I ran the Photon V2+ at 60% power on the blues I easily hit 300 par at mid tank depth with the light mounted 12" above the tank and very even light spread across the bottom with 90-120 PAR.
Also if you're thinking about a 75/90 and drilling it with an external overflow, go for a 120g internal flow tank. It will use nearly the same footprint as the 75/90 but you get so much more real estate at 24" compared to 18". I'm wishing I had went with a 120 instead of the 75 and it will be what I upgrade to in the next year or two.
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sergifed91
Valuable Member
for my dt right now I have 2 basic 16" sbreef lights.
BamboozleBean
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The Orbit Marine LED would probably be the best bang for your buck, great for zoanthids and very inexpensive, it comes in a bunch of different sizes too.
old salt reefer
Valuable Member
That's what I'm using. I only have to penetrate 11 inches of water(gravel takes up a inch at the bottom) The 24-36 inch one. the light itself is 22 inches long. I bought a 2nd light to make mine a "pro". Like the loop setting(ramp up/down, moonlight) and the fact I can run 3 different powerheads from it as well. My zoanthids and LPS coral is doing just fine under it.
