Beginner reef lighting basics

[Wvreefnewb]

Hello there fellow fish dorks! I am starting my first reef tank. I have a 120 gallon aquarium that is 4 feet wide by 2 feet by 28 inches deep. I recently bought a coral life metal halide that has the blue and white bulbs that are 53 watts. When I told the guy at the fish store I was ready for corral he laughed at me. He suggested to 2 an reef led units that were 199 each. As a beginner I'm not looking to invest a grand into a light bar. I want to start with some zoos and basic soft corrals to learn. I looked at some other posts and it was like reading Chinese with conversions of light breakdowns. The fish guy also stated that a lot of people just use blue lights for coral. I like this look in my tank. Help a fellow fish dork out

 

[PSLReefer]

Try some black box leds. You can find them on eBay for like $80-100 a piece and you would only need two. Look up mars aqua, good beginner leds with no bells and whistles but will grow coral and save on your electric bill and heat output.

 

[melypr1985]

Welcome to R2R!

I recently bought a coral life metal halide that has the blue and white bulbs that are 53 watts.

Are you sure these are not compact fluorescent bulbs? I don't think you need a 'light bar" but what kind of lighting you need depends greatly on what kind of corals you want to be able to keep. Think long term and not short term.

 

[Wvreefnewb]

Try some black box leds. You can find them on eBay for like $80-100 a piece and you would only need two. Look up mars aqua, good beginner leds with no bells and whistles but will grow coral and save on your electric bill and heat output.

How many watts do I need? I hear that leds can burn corral?

 

[PSLReefer]

2 of the 165 watts boxes but you can turn up and down the intensity levels depending how high off the water they are and what type of corals you plan on having.

 

[Wvreefnewb]

Welcome to R2R!


Are you sure these are not compact fluorescent bulbs? I don't think you need a 'light bar" but what kind of lighting you need depends greatly on what kind of corals you want to be able to keep. Think long term and not short term.

Thanks for the welcome. I got the light bar and it had good reviews for growing coral. It has to 52 watt light where one is the acidity and the other a white bulb. Fish guy said they were terrible

 

[PSLReefer]

Think of it like a dimmer knob

 

[bluedevils6653]

youll get a lot of different answers when it comes to lighting. t5 led metal halides are all good options. itll just depend on what types of coral you will want to keep and defiently think about long term you might just want to start off with some soft coral now but the addiction will start and you might want to start keeping lps and sps eventually lol. i currently run metal halides on my tank

 

[Wvreefnewb]

2 of the 165 watts boxes but you can turn up and down the intensity levels depending how high off the water they are and what type of corals you plan on having.[/QUOTE

I plan on doing newbie corrals that I can't possibly kill if such a thing exists. What would you suggest. I got one zoo and the other was a drag that has small green hairs

 

[Wvreefnewb]

youll get a lot of different answers when it comes to lighting. t5 led metal halides are all good options. itll just depend on what types of coral you will want to keep and defiently think about long term you might just want to start off with some soft coral now but the addiction will start and you might want to start keeping lps and sps eventually lol. i currently run metal halides on my tank

He said with halides and the size of my tank I would need a six bar unit. This sound right?

 

[Wvreefnewb]

Think of it like a dimmer knob

I hear not enough light it will be a ugly color. What does a coral do with not enough?

 

[PSLReefer]

He said with halides and the size of my tank I would need a six bar unit. This sound right?

You could do 2 x150 or 250 watt halides pendants, but make sure your tank won't get too hot as halides put off a lot of heat. Put them up high or run a fan if you get halides

 

[Wvreefnewb]

Welcome to R2R!


Are you sure these are not compact fluorescent bulbs? I don't think you need a 'light bar" but what kind of lighting you need depends greatly on what kind of corals you want to be able to keep. Think long term and not short term.

I def want beginner corrals that I can grow. I take if they get bigger I'm doing okay. How long would it take for example for a zoo to double in size?

 

[PSLReefer]

Not sure what bar your referring to

 

[melypr1985]

How long would it take for example for a zoo to double in size?

that not only depends on your lighting, but also every single other thing in/about your tank. From water parameters, to flow, to feeding ect. Nobody will be able to give you an accurate answer to that.

 

[Wvreefnewb]

You could do 2 x150 or 250 watt halides pendants, but make sure your tank won't get too hot as halides put off a lot of heat. Put them up high or run a fan if you get halides

I think I will go with your led suggestion. If I were to give you a link to one would you be so kind as to tell me if they would work?

 

[Wvreefnewb]

that not only depends on your lighting, but also every single other thing in/about your tank. From water parameters, to flow, to feeding ect. Nobody will be able to give you an accurate answer to that.

Let's say one day I get to be an expert like you. How long would it take for you to double a small drag size in ball park terms. Would it be a few weeks or when haleys comet returns?

 

[PSLReefer]

Sure post some lights people will say yay or nay

 

[Wvreefnewb]

https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-reef-lights/2-sbox-pro-timer.html

 

[Wvreefnewb]

What you think about this. Very close to the watts you suggested for the other