Lighting for an aqueon 40 gallon breeder 2017-18

Richard the Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

Hello reefers! My girlfriend bought me a 40 gallon breeder for christmas and I'm looking at lighting for those dimensions and I am freaking out! No way I can spend over 400 bucks with our budget in 1 shot. Yet I want to get this tank rolling. I have 50 pounds of reef saver rock from BRS coming, and already have Dr Tims coming as well. Getting a stand by new years. Just curious about lighting. I've checked posts from the past on here and about 90% of what was recommended is no longer available. Thanks!!

Katrina71 · Dec 25, 2017

Just wait. Somebody will have gotten new lights for Christmas... you'll probably find something listed used tomorrow.

Katrina71 · Dec 25, 2017

Post what area you live in. Maybe a local can help ya out.

Richard the Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

Columbus Ohio

andyg1960 · Dec 25, 2017

Are you planning a fish only tank? If so, the lighting is less critical.

MSB123 · Dec 25, 2017

I would just buy a generic sunsun T5 fixture from Amazon- $90 and they work well!
https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Co-Fluo...50&sr=8-14&keywords=4+bulb+t5+grow+light&th=1

Chef Tommy · Dec 25, 2017

Agree with t5, great for coral and you just need something inexpensive to light the bulbs. I use a Hydro Farm fixture over my tank with ATI bulbs.

Richard the Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

I like the t5 idea. I plan on having some coral. Not a ton but a few SPS and some LPS. Only issue with T5 is I don't know which bulbs and how many to run!

Chef Tommy · Dec 25, 2017

I have a 4 bulb unit over an Aqueon 75 and use 3 blue plus and 1 actinic by ATI. The tank has softy, lps & goniopora. I had led over the nano but when I moved into the 75 I was able to use a fixture for t5 until I could afford led but now I plan on staying with t5 since the corals are doing so much better. I'll add a small led strip soon though because I enjoy the shimmer that led had.

Richard the Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

Chef Tommy said:
I have a 4 bulb unit over an Aqueon 75 and use 3 blue plus and 1 actinic by ATI. The tank has softy, lps & goniopora. I had led over the nano but when I moved into the 75 I was able to use a fixture for t5 until I could afford led but now I plan on staying with t5 since the corals are doing so much better. I'll add a small led strip soon though because I enjoy the shimmer that led had.

Chef! That sounds awesome! I may go LED though since I am seeing some pretty sweet options on amazon. I dont want a ton of coral since I will be moving within the next year and the more living things I have to move the harder it will be. After the move I will get a nice T5 fixture and place some LED strips in it somehow. Here is one I am looking at. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E...&sr=8-28&keywords=saltwater+aquarium+lighting

Grimm_Medic · Dec 25, 2017

For led look into SBreef lights. I currently have one of their 16" fixtures over my 40 and it gives a great mixture of intense light and shadows. Can't beat the price either!

Chef Tommy · Dec 25, 2017

Bulk Reef Supply did a good review of the Amazon lights which I felt was fairly non biased.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...lack-box-led-lights-are-they-worth-the-price/

I had an Aqua Illumination over my nano and loved it. WiFi is built in too. 2 HD Primes would work well for your tank, they cover an 18" square. You could then use them with T5 when you upgrade the lights.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquarium-lighting/t5-fluorescent-aquarium-lighting/retrofit.html

These retrofit fixtures are my plan in the future to be able to use the AI Primes once I build my canopy.

Legal Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

Get a lot of pics so you can possibly do a build thread if your interested in that. I'm following to see all the suggestions you get. I'm leaning toward the 32" SB led lights. If I want to start my lighting now instead of saving for a while to get SB lights I may go with 2 of the chinese wifi black boxes. Those are 15 to 16" long and would fit nicely over a 36" breeder. Saw them selling for $215.00 for two 165 watt lights on ebay. I bought 25 lbs of the pukani from BRS and it looks fantastic. Already drilled my breeder and picked up a overflow and return. I just finished the stand frame a few minutes ago and will be picking up the plywood and stain tomorrow for finishing. Keep us posted with your progress. If I see any deals I'll post them your way.

Richard the Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

Legal Reefer said:
Get a lot of pics so you can possibly do a build thread if your interested in that. I'm following to see all the suggestions you get. I'm leaning toward the 32" SB led lights. If I want to start my lighting now instead of saving for a while to get SB lights I may go with 2 of the chinese wifi black boxes. Those are 15 to 16" long and would fit nicely over a 36" breeder. Saw them selling for $215.00 for two 165 watt lights on ebay. I bought 25 lbs of the pukani from BRS and it looks fantastic. Already drilled my breeder and picked up a overflow and return. I just finished the stand frame a few minutes ago and will be picking up the plywood and stain tomorrow for finishing. Keep us posted with your progress. If I see any deals I'll post them your way.

I would love to do a build thread. The tank will not be drilled for a sump, I figure the 30-35 lbs of rock should be plenty of guarantees to handle the bio load added with the CPR large hang on back refugium with a 50-75 gallon hang on back filter. The refugium comes with a light and I would love to have that geared to run bio blocks and grow some kaeto sorry I probably spelled it wrong. Two oscellaris clowns, want a couple diamond goby once the sand has been established well enough to support them. And a red banded hawk fish. Suggestions on a stand? And thank you all for the light suggestions! Appreciate it a ton!!

Richard the Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

Just came across the this... Would not cover 3 inches on each side but I won't have anything there anyways to keep access to the glass. Thoughts?? https://www.ebay.com/i/351852334904...0-0%26rvr_id%3D1400928089384&var=621118677860

Legal Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

I think that's the size I have in my 7.5 gal nano. It's only 12.75" long and has only one power cord. You can find a light like that for $65.00 that's 16" long probably. Paid $70.00 for mine a few months ago. If you get the ones with two cords you can get outlet timers and have the blues come on before the whites and go off last. The ones with wifi can be set for a sunrise sunset effect. This is a pic of mine on my 7.5 gal. It would take two for a 40 breeder, that's why I was thinking about the two wifi 165 watts for $117.00.

Richard the Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

Legal Reefer said:
I think that's the size I have in my 7.5 gal nano. It's only 12.75" long and has only one power cord. You can find a light like that for $65.00 that's 16" long probably. Paid $70.00 for mine a few months ago. If you get the ones with two cords you can get outlet timers and have the blues come on before the whites and go off last. The ones with wifi can be set for a sunrise sunset effect. This is a pic of mine on my 7.5 gal. It would take two for a 40 breeder, that's why I was thinking about the two wifi 165 watts for $117.00.

Do you have the Exact link for those? That looks amazing!

Legal Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

I have a diamond goby in my nano...best fish ever, lots of personality. When I get the 40 up, I'll definatly have a couple of clowns also.

Legal Reefer · Dec 25, 2017

I'll see if I can find the link. I usually just search wifi 165 watt wifi led on ebay. I have seen singles as low as $105.00 per light. Might have been called popular grow or evergrow. You need to get a top to. I lost a firefish so I made a mesh top.