Cheap supplement lighting

korted842 · Jan 8, 2023

Looking for a cheap or diy supplement light to go on a 40 gallon and a 120 gallon reef tank. I’m running t5 and one reef bright blue uv led strip on the 40 gallon. I want something with more blue and uv for color pop on the tank when the t5 fixtures are off. looking for a more neon/fluorescent glow look to the corals.

Fish Think Pink · Jan 11, 2023

korted842 said:
Looking for a cheap or diy supplement light to go on a 40 gallon and a 120 gallon reef tank. I’m running t5 and one reef bright blue uv led strip on the 40 gallon. I want something with more blue and uv for color pop on the tank when the t5 fixtures are off. looking for a more neon/fluorescent glow look to the corals.

You do not say that you want it for any coral growth purposes... just pop...

This $3.50 to $12 home improvement light (splurge for $12 if you want 3 color options in 1 LED light bulb) has served me very well.

An inexpensive Refugium Bulb | Melev's Reef

melevsreef.com

Given that above, it makes me wonder if LED black light light bulb might be what you are seeking for supplemental lighting. It will give you that glow... memories of when they were incandescent bulbs and our shirts would pop with white teeth gleaming!

Reefing102begal · Jan 11, 2023

korted842 said:
Looking for a cheap or diy supplement light to go on a 40 gallon and a 120 gallon reef tank. I’m running t5 and one reef bright blue uv led strip on the 40 gallon. I want something with more blue and uv for color pop on the tank when the t5 fixtures are off. looking for a more neon/fluorescent glow look to the corals.

I highly recommend Nicrew lights they are cheap and the blues are beautiful

Cthulukelele · Jan 11, 2023

My favorite addition to my tank was drilling in the brs t5 supplemental lighting strips into my canopy. That's a fun option

BamaCoastPyrat · Jan 11, 2023

Cthulukelele said:
My favorite addition to my tank was drilling in the brs t5 supplemental lighting strips into my canopy. That's a fun option

Are these what you are talking about?

T5 HO Miro-4 Retrofit Kit

Add to your canopy with the Miro-4 T5 High Output Retrofit Kit from LET Lighting. Retrofit kits give you the flexibility to add T5 lamps virtually to any tank, while keeping a low overall cost. T5 lighting can either be the main light source or supplemental light to another light source like LED...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

vetteguy53081 · Jan 11, 2023

korted842 said:
Looking for a cheap or diy supplement light to go on a 40 gallon and a 120 gallon reef tank. I’m running t5 and one reef bright blue uv led strip on the 40 gallon. I want something with more blue and uv for color pop on the tank when the t5 fixtures are off. looking for a more neon/fluorescent glow look to the corals.

Best bet is a PAR 38 or similar bulb

Cthulukelele · Jan 11, 2023

BamaCoastPyrat said:
Are these what you are talking about?

T5 HO Miro-4 Retrofit Kit

Add to your canopy with the Miro-4 T5 High Output Retrofit Kit from LET Lighting. Retrofit kits give you the flexibility to add T5 lamps virtually to any tank, while keeping a low overall cost. T5 lighting can either be the main light source or supplemental light to another light source like LED...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Yeah it was a lot of fun installing them, and I appreciate the light spread from the t5 with my main light being led

BamaCoastPyrat · Jan 11, 2023

Cthulukelele said:
Yeah it was a lot of fun installing them, and I appreciate the light spread from the t5 with my main light being led

I have been looking at adding one of these sets to supplement my AI prime 16's. What LEDs are you running and what color T5's did you decide on? I would like to have more of a daylight look than I currently have.

Cthulukelele · Jan 11, 2023

BamaCoastPyrat said:
I have been looking at adding one of these sets to supplement my AI prime 16's. What LEDs are you running and what color T5's did you decide on? I would like to have more of a daylight look than I currently have.

I just run 2 black boxes that have more than enough juice mounted high and I run them at 100% blue and like 60-80% white then run 2 blue plus t5s over a 4 foot 120. The t5s come on about an hour before the main lights and go off about an hour after.

SteveMM62Reef · Jan 11, 2023

21LEDUSA, ReefBars, or ReefBar Pros.

All_talk · Jan 11, 2023

If you are just looking for florescence I would try a "black light". Most of the cheap ones will use 395nm LEDs witch are on the edge of the visible spectrum and should suit your purpose.