Light suggestions

[ReisolnitsuJ]

I need to upgrade light for my tank currently running a generic white LED strip that came with tank. At the moment my tank is a FOWLR but plan on adding corals once I change my lights. My tank is a 37.5 gallon bow front and I plan on putting softies and LPS. I am looking for something that is high quality, relatively priced and energy efficient. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jda]

How wide? Any idea what you are going to keep? Do you have a penchant for tinkering, or do you just need something to plug in and let it rip?

There are all kinds of choices from 2 or 4 bulb T5, cheaper Chinese black box LED, slightly more expensive LED like ReefBreeders or SB Reef lights with more channels and stuff, LED strips... all the way to expensive LED that might cost several thousand of dollars that come with wifi apps and stuff. The T5s will do a great job and you just plug them in. The LEDs get more expensive as you choose features, channels and coverage.

Don't sweat energy efficiency - there is no efficiency between light types, just choices. If you NEED 100w of T5, then you will need 100w of LED too...and vice versa. If you CHOOSE 400w of LED and only ended up needing 100w of T5, then it was not the lights that were bad, it was the choice and it does not mean that LED are less efficient than T5s.

This is a good watch for a lighting first timer... just facts to help with your baseline understanding:

 

[ReisolnitsuJ]

How wide? Any idea what you are going to keep? Do you have a penchant for tinkering, or do you just need something to plug in and let it rip?

There are all kinds of choices from 2 or 4 bulb T5, cheaper Chinese black box LED, slightly more expensive LED like ReefBreeders or SB Reef lights with more channels and stuff, LED strips... all the way to expensive LED that might cost several thousand of dollars that come with wifi apps and stuff. The T5s will do a great job and you just plug them in. The LEDs get more expensive as you choose features, channels and coverage.

Don't sweat energy efficiency - there is no efficiency between light types, just choices. If you NEED 100w of T5, then you will need 100w of LED too...and vice versa. If you CHOOSE 400w of LED and only ended up needing 100w of T5, then it was not the lights that were bad, it was the choice and it does not mean that LED are less efficient than T5s.

This is a good watch for a lighting first timer... just facts to help with your baseline understanding:

Thanks for the response! I will definitely check that video out. The width of my tank is 32.5 inches and I plan on probably housing mostly softies and LPS. I probably would prefer something that is more of a plug and play but if there are any options that have some variability I wouldn't be opposed to doing my research.

 

[jda]

Look at 24" 4 bulb T5 or a 30 inch medium level black box like a Photon V2.

 

[ReisolnitsuJ]

Look at 24" 4 bulb T5 or a 30 inch medium level black box like a Photon V2.

Sounds good ill check them out!