Lighting plz help!

[Chiefmaster30]

Need help with lighting. Kinda on a low budget and need some advice. I currently have a 60 gallon 4'L tank. The tank came with 2- led light sticks. Idk which fixture to buy. Was considering buying 2 MarsAqua black boxes but then someone mentioned T5 HO fixtures. I found this one for cheap. It comes with a built in timer and 4 6500k white bulbs. I was thinking of buying it and using 2 white and buying 2 blue to go with it. Would this be enough for that size tank. Plan on keeping some Zoas and shrooms for now.

 

[Saltine]

Need help with lighting. Kinda on a low budget and need some advice. I currently have a 60 gallon 4'L tank. The tank came with 2- led light sticks. Idk which fixture to buy. Was considering buying 2 MarsAqua black boxes but then someone mentioned T5 HO fixtures. I found this one for cheap. It comes with a built in timer and 4 6500k white bulbs. I was thinking of buying it and using 2 white and buying 2 blue to go with it. Would this be enough for that size tank. Plan on keeping some Zoas and shrooms for now.

While T5 HO fixtures are nice, you'll get more bang for your buck with the Mars Aqua. You won't be able to get very good part with these very low end T5 HO fixtures IMO. Go with the aqua, don't look back until you get more funds

Salt

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Can anyone tell me if the sbreeflight 30" basic would be enough for a 60 gallon 4' long tank? I was wandering the 30" basic or the 32" Sboxpro

 

[david p.]

I would do the math for initial cost + bulb replacement + power if you are on a budget.
T5 is a good option, but can prove more expensive.
You can look for a used ramp also, sometime you can get good deals on better lighting

 

[Tbabcock]

I have one over my 36" tank 10"from the water. I would go with two of the 16" and gap them 6 to 8" to get good coverage as the out side edges drop off in my case but i also have egg crate on my tank for cover.

Great light though and mine is 65% blue and 28% special (white, green, red). Then i run the moons for a couple hours before bed time.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Nice tank

 

[Tbabcock]

Also there is a simple mod you can do so you can run the SB lights with your controller. I have mine wired via patch cord to my Reef keeper and it works great.

 

[Tbabcock]

Thank you, its only 8 months old 55gal from pets mart. It was a gift from my wife last Christmas now she regrets it..lol
Im having a 110 built now and will be building it out this winter.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

I bet she does! If she's anything like mine.

 

[Tbabcock]

If you get the SB lights dont use the legs they come with because they rust.. trust me i learned the hard way..lol.
I just built a simple floating shelf to hide them. I had the hardware from an old shelf but it can be done with just wood. The stock cords are 6' and i got 10' cords to replace them so i can run them in wall to hid them.