lighting a 6ft 2ft 2ft rimless tank

johnj · Dec 4, 2018

about to set up my 1st marine tank in the new year" 6ft 2ft 2ft rimless" iv got 2 kessil 160we led lights to start for few fish till I go corals" But just wont to ask whot lights I wont on tank this size for lps and sps and zoas please"

whot are the benefits using t5 tubes over LED and LED over t5s please"

would 3 x hydra 26 hd led units do my tank?

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 4, 2018

4 hydras would make you happier.

Both lights will grow coral. Heat and expense are the major factors.

johnj · Dec 5, 2018

saltyfilmfolks said:
4 hydras would make you happier.

Both lights will grow coral. Heat and expense are the major factors.

Think people use t5 because less Heat given off and no shadowing in tank" but are t5s strong enough for 2ft deep tanks and sps?
and yes hydra led are pricey but I suppose you only get whot you pay for"

there has bean a lot of problems with the WIFI on the lights when running through your router though iv bean reading

Pntbll687 · Dec 5, 2018

I like the look of t5 better than led. So that's what I use.

The main thing that stops me from moving to led is price for what I'm going to use. Most now have a high degree of control, as well as ramp up and down. The problem is, I'm not home to see/enjoy it. The lights come on after I leave for work, and go off when I'm usually getting my son ready for bed.

I also shy away from trying to set my own spectrum, mainly because I don't know enough about spectrum to know what I'm doing when I change things.

I'm also on the cheap side of things. I use a simple fixture off of Amazon and some ati bulbs attached to an outlet timer. I just can't bring myself to spend the money on some led lights.

As far as growth, I get good growth, nothing "amazing" just consistent growth.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 5, 2018

johnj said:
Think people use t5 because less Heat given off and no shadowing in tank" but are t5s strong enough for 2ft deep tanks and sps?
and yes hydra led are pricey but I suppose you only get whot you pay for"

there has bean a lot of problems with the WIFI on the lights when running through your router though iv bean reading

Like yelp, fills only post problems.
When you use WiFi , you set and program the lights. The program stays IN the lights. If you lose connectivity the lights don’t change.
Myself I don’t have WiFi and shudder at the thought. I’ve changes my intensity like 5 times in 3 years nothing else.

And yea , a six banger T5 at 12 in will be fine , an 8 banger is overkill by today’s standards. The 8 will give you 1000+ par at 12in. I’d go that route if you want clams in the sand.

johnj · Dec 5, 2018

Pntbll687 said:
I like the look of t5 better than led. So that's what I use.

The main thing that stops me from moving to led is price for what I'm going to use. Most now have a high degree of control, as well as ramp up and down. The problem is, I'm not home to see/enjoy it. The lights come on after I leave for work, and go off when I'm usually getting my son ready for bed.

I also shy away from trying to set my own spectrum, mainly because I don't know enough about spectrum to know what I'm doing when I change things.

I'm also on the cheap side of things. I use a simple fixture off of Amazon and some ati bulbs attached to an outlet timer. I just can't bring myself to spend the money on some led lights.

As far as growth, I get good growth, nothing "amazing" just consistent growth.

If that's whot works for you and corals buddy! And makes happy without spending a Lottery win on high tech led lights! Its all the better

JBKReef · Dec 5, 2018

I like the hybrid lighting approach. Get the best of two different worlds. If thats T5/LED, MH/LED, or T5/MH I would suggest trying to get two types on the tank for extra benefit.

In your position, with the tank you have, I would try to get another 2 A160, and a 61 inch Aquatic Life t5 hybrid mounting system. With the lights you already have, adding 2 more, and the LED's you could grow anything you want in the tank and the budget will still come in about $120 cheaper than 3 new Hyrdra 26's.

johnj · Dec 5, 2018

saltyfilmfolks said:
Like yelp, fills only post problems.
When you use WiFi , you set and program the lights. The program stays IN the lights. If you lose connectivity the lights don’t change.
Myself I don’t have WiFi and shudder at the thought. I’ve changes my intensity like 5 times in 3 years nothing else.

And yea , a six banger T5 at 12 in will be fine , an 8 banger is overkill by today’s standards. The 8 will give you 1000+ par at 12in. I’d go that route if you want clams in the sand.

JBKReef said:
I like the hybrid lighting approach. Get the best of two different worlds. If thats T5/LED, MH/LED, or T5/MH I would suggest trying to get two types on the tank for extra benefit.

In your position, with the tank you have, I would try to get another 2 A160, and a 61 inch Aquatic Life t5 hybrid mounting system. With the lights you already have, adding 2 more, and the LED's you could grow anything you want in the tank and the budget will still come in about $120 cheaper than 3 new Hyrdra 26's.

Are these the Hybrid units you talk about buddy"? only do 48inch I think bud" and another problem is that im in uk England" don't think they have uk distributor

johnj · Dec 5, 2018

this the hybrid light unit you talk about buddy

https://www.aquaticlife.com/aquatic-life-t5ho-hybrid-mounting-system-fixture.html

T-5unsystem · Dec 5, 2018

I'll say what others have said in a slightly different way. LEDs are great but T5s are foolproof. Not as trendy, not as feature rich but really hard to screw up your coral and doesn't require knowledge or experience to do it right and get good growth. Adding a few T5's to your kessils is a great place to start for a beginner.

Do keep in mind you won't find 6' T5's either. You'll have to settle with 5' or do 2x 3' end to end.

JBKReef · Dec 5, 2018

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/60-h...re-with-led-mounting-system-aquatic-life.html

These guys, yes 61"

At a 6 ft long tank, you would have about 5 inches on either side of the tank that the light would not overhang. With mounting these guys lets say 12 inches over the water the spread will more than reach every inch of the tank.

That being said, I didnt realize you were on the other side of the pond... that complicates things a good bit.

johnj · Dec 5, 2018

JBKReef said:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/60-h...re-with-led-mounting-system-aquatic-life.html

These guys, yes 61"

At a 6 ft long tank, you would have about 5 inches on either side of the tank that the light would not overhang. With mounting these guys lets say 12 inches over the water the spread will more than reach every inch of the tank.

That being said, I didnt realize you were on the other side of the pond... that complicates things a good bit.

id go with hybrid setup like this and use my 2 kessil 160s to start as im not to bothered about all the hi tech wifi units

yes bulkreefsupply don't do international shipping

JBKReef · Dec 5, 2018

johnj said:
id go with hybrid setup like this and use my 2 kessil 160s to start as im not to bothered about all the hi tech wifi units

yes bulkreefsupply don't do international shipping

Sounds like it’s time to open up Brit Reed Supply

johnj · Dec 5, 2018

T-5unsystem said:
I'll say what others have said in a slightly different way. LEDs are great but T5s are foolproof. Not as trendy, not as feature rich but really hard to screw up your coral and doesn't require knowledge or experience to do it right and get good growth. Adding a few T5's to your kessils is a great place to start for a beginner.

Do keep in mind you won't find 6' T5's either. You'll have to settle with 5' or do 2x 3' end to end.

yes im not the smartest with high tech stuff anyways! you could say Thick as two short planks ;Facepalm