Lighting a 40B frag tank?

JMSKI333 · Jan 8, 2014

I am looking for lighting suggestions for a 40B frag tank. What are you guys using?

I have a big project in the works for my aquarium at home and part of it is adding a 40B frag tank to my system. My current 90 has a 6x54w ATi Sunpower on it with a Reefbrite blue LEd strip.

My instinct it to put the same lighting on my 40B frag tank (stick to what I know) but I am open to suggestions. I figured with the same lighting and bulb combo, that my frags would have zero issues being moved from the main display to the frag tank since they will be in the same water and under the same lighting. Is this something I should be worried about?

I am also considering an Ecotech Radion or AI hydra as a LED alternative option. My budget it around $400 and I have no problem with picking up a lightly used light to save some $$$. Frags will be mostly SPS, Challices and Acans.

Ron Reefman · Jan 8, 2014

Go with your first plan, stick with what you know. And you are also right about acclimating your corals. The alternative is blow off the expensive leds and get good quality, less expensive ones and do both the DT and the Frag tank. You'll need a bit bigger budget unless you find some good stuff used. But having the same or very similar lights over both tanks is a good idea. I went form MH over both to leds over both. I tried a Radion and didn't like it too much and it's seriously over priced in my opinion. I now have EverGrow leds with controllers over the DT and OceanRevive led with dimmers over the frag tank.

JMSKI333 · Jan 8, 2014

I like you're thinking. I am happy with the T5's so I am not going to update my display tank. I wouldn't buy a radion unless it was used for a good price. Do you enjoy the LEDS?

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

reid429 · Jan 8, 2014

Lumentek 280 or the reef breeder it2080 both are essentially the same light and kill the radion. Both can be bought on eBay from a vendor for around $360 shipped or on here in the sponsor section. They are 32" lights and you would have no shadowing at all

JMSKI333 · Jan 8, 2014

reid429 said:
Lumentek 280 or the reef breeder it2080 both are essentially the same light and kill the radion. Both can be bought on eBay from a vendor for around $360 shipped or on here in the sponsor section. They are 32" lights and you would have no shadowing at all

Are you using any of these on your tanks? I would want something I can control with my Apex if I went the LED route.

reid429 · Jan 11, 2014

I have seen both on a 40 breeder. I almost pulled the trigger in one myself but got a deal on the larger maxspect razor as I had te smaller one

JMSKI333 · Jan 17, 2014

Still looking for more ideas. Is anyone running a 40b frag tank out there? What are you lighting it with?

LPSGUY · Jan 17, 2014

Stick with the T5. Only other thing I would suggest is 250W MH...its a frag tank so I'm assuming you want to grow the coral, not that you cant with T5 but MH has always been the best for me to grow corals.

EW_Fish · Jan 17, 2014

Yeah if he wants to grow coral mh is nice but costly... I love t5's also for the color and growth but leds are cheap and do just as good. I'm running a custom evergrow light on my aquarium but my lfs has the it2080 on their 40b frag tanks.. I know a few also that have amazing growth with these fixtures. No reason to control these with your apex they have built in timers and sunrise & sunset.

Usctom · Jan 17, 2014

Just started a a 40b and i am using a 4 bulb t5. I've been looking an led strip to add for a little pop. I find on my 60 cube with LEDs my lps look blah. Sps and z/p look good though.

JMSKI333 · Jan 17, 2014

Usctom said:
Just started a a 40b and i am using a 4 bulb t5. I've been looking an led strip to add for a little pop. I find on my 60 cube with LEDs my lps look blah. Sps and z/p look good though.

Does the 4 bulb t5 seem like enough light? the 40b is a wide tank.

EW_Fish · Jan 17, 2014

JMSKI333 said:
Does the 4 bulb t5 seem like enough light? the 40b is a wide tank.

I'd go six. I had 4 on a 20l

Usctom · Jan 17, 2014

JMSKI333 said:
Does the 4 bulb t5 seem like enough light? the 40b is a wide tank.

4 seems to be enough for lps. If I add led strip I'd think it would be enough for sps.

EW_Fish · Jan 17, 2014

Yes but i'm guessing the t5s are a few inches from the water? The led strip would have to go higher so it wouldnt be a spot light then the t5s would be blocking it.

Jlobes · Jan 17, 2014

one radion.

jt17 · Jan 17, 2014

I'm no expert on this but I know WWC just recently switched out a bunch of ecotech radions because a few failed and because they prefer the growth and color they get with t5s. That said many have had success with LEDs. I have the vertex illumina on my DT and have had decent results, I also torched a few before I learned how powerful LEDs are. That said, I'm using t5s on my current build.
Whatever you choose, the same light over both tanks will allow you to move corals from one tank to the other without light acclimation.