hope you guys can help I have a 100 gal tank 48 inch long 24 inch deep I currently have a fluval marine reef light and it’s not really doing the job . I was thinking about adding another light so I can grow different corals. Please let me know what inexpensive light you guys recommend or do u recommend using a t5 Hugh output light with the fluval ? Thanks again
Lighting question
- Thread starter Bhnj
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Salty1962
Wrasse and SPS Lover
There's no real inexpensive way to light up a tank
but a 4-6 bulb T5HO fixture would go with the Fluval. The T5's would give you the par, I highly recommend ATI bulbs, and the LED's would give you the shimmer effect. Keep an eye out on the forum for some good deals. Food for thought
but a 4-6 bulb T5HO fixture would go with the Fluval. The T5's would give you the par, I highly recommend ATI bulbs, and the LED's would give you the shimmer effect. Keep an eye out on the forum for some good deals. Food for thought
What are you keeping? If it is lower-light stuff, a Hydroponics T5 can be a good starter light with some reef bulbs. If you are having good success, then save up for a nicer one. Cheap Chinese LEDs are cheap in all meaning of the word... price, performance and reliability, but they get the job done for a while for most folks.
mcarroll
10K Club member
I think for the fluval to be the right light you would need at least two of them.
Unless you have a lot of budget to throw at lighting, I would not suggest switching to T5 or metal halide's where you will have a continual bulb replacement expense. I'd get the LEDs worked out.
2¢
Unless you have a lot of budget to throw at lighting, I would not suggest switching to T5 or metal halide's where you will have a continual bulb replacement expense. I'd get the LEDs worked out.
2¢
^^^all the best advice right there^^
kyleinpdx
Well-Known Member
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kyleinpdx
Well-Known Member
What are you hoping to grow? You'll be in a better position thats for sure, the 48" are only 59w. You'll be more than doubling your current lighting, however most folks who go with LEDs on a tank that size would do atleast 2 of the black boxes at 165w each or 2-3 kessils/radions.
My honest recommendation would be to search the for sale forum here and pick up some used kessil 150s/160s or a multiple 48" T5 fixture to compliment what you currently have.
mcarroll
10K Club member
I agree....I'm not the most familiar with the Fluval, but I suspect it's comparable with the Current USA Orbit Marine (plain). For something like that, you'll need to just about cover the top of the tank with fixtures. It'll work and look really good, but I don't know how practical or inexpensive it would be. You can do about the same thing with their (or someone else's) non-controllable strips.
If you want to keep with strips, but don't want to brace the top like that (it ends up a lot more like a T5 rig....cumbersome) consider some of the stronger Current strips....either the IC or Pro could do it. Go Pro if you want to hang the lights up a little. Either way if they can go down on the tank in "invisible mode".
If you want to try spotlights, then any of the suggestions can work.....look around at tanks already using them to see what look you like the best. Pay attention to details when you're browsing – mounting height, general husbandry practices – it'll help you in the long run.
If you want to keep with strips, but don't want to brace the top like that (it ends up a lot more like a T5 rig....cumbersome) consider some of the stronger Current strips....either the IC or Pro could do it. Go Pro if you want to hang the lights up a little. Either way if they can go down on the tank in "invisible mode".
If you want to try spotlights, then any of the suggestions can work.....look around at tanks already using them to see what look you like the best. Pay attention to details when you're browsing – mounting height, general husbandry practices – it'll help you in the long run.
