Need help deciding on lighting

Mickali · Feb 6, 2018

I've been looking at different lighting for a while now, and wanted to know which (if either) would work best for the tank I am setting up. I have a rectangular 75g tank that is 49 x 19.5 x 21.25. I plan on housing a variety of corals and fish. I do not want to get a T5 light because I do not currently have the funds to purchase a chiller and having extra fans will be too noisy for the location I am placing it. Does anyone on here have either of these lighting sources, or have recommendations of similar priced lights that would work?

Option 1: https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Lig...ble+LED+Lighting+System&psc=1#customerReviews

option 2: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=28562

I am leaning more towards option 1, as option 2 seems to be less intense. Also, option 1 has an option to turn on the lights at separate times, which I could use to not "shock" the coral as the lights all turn on in the morning. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Devan Petersen · Feb 6, 2018

Option 1.

I may be wrong, but i don't believe that the second option would be good for coral growth.

:EDIT:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073GQWHRP/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

i use this as a timer for my lights, works great!

Devan Petersen · Feb 6, 2018

i use the same type of lights and i have been getting good growth. removing the lenses from the LED'd has also helped with more even lighting.

Jeremy Luke · Feb 6, 2018

I'm not trying to sway anyone towards one light technology over another. Utilizing a T5 light fixture does not necessarily necessitate the use of a chiller or a fan. There are many factors involved with the most important one being the temperature of the room where the tank is located. I have been running halides and T5s over my current tank for a year now and I have no issue keeping my tank at a steady 78F year round without the use of any fans or a chiller.

Mickali · Feb 6, 2018

Jeremy Luke said:
I'm not trying to sway anyone towards one light technology over another. Utilizing a T5 light fixture does not necessarily necessitate the use of a chiller or a fan. There are many factors involved with the most important one being the temperature of the room where the tank is located. I have been running halides and T5s over my current tank for a year now and I have no issue keeping my tank at a steady 78F year round without the use of any fans or a chiller.

What temp. is the room you keep your tank in? I will be placing mine at the school, and they usually let the building run without A/C over the summer to save money. I'm worried that this will cause everything to overhead. I've also had times during the school year where my room was in the high 70s.

Mickali · Feb 6, 2018

Devan Petersen said:
Option 1.

I may be wrong, but i don't believe that the second option would be good for coral growth.

:EDIT:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073GQWHRP/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

i use this as a timer for my lights, works great!

I was worried about it not being good for coral, which is why I started looking at the first one more. Just wanted another opinion, as I'm not the most experienced with this yet. Thank you for the information!

Mickali · Feb 6, 2018

Devan Petersen said:
i use the same type of lights and i have been getting good growth. removing the lenses from the LED'd has also helped with more even lighting.

Glad to hear it's working well for you. What size is your tank? I was looking at getting 2 for my tank and another for my refugium, and was hoping that would be sufficient.

Jeremy Luke · Feb 6, 2018

Mickali said:
What temp. is the room you keep your tank in? I will be placing mine at the school, and they usually let the building run without A/C over the summer to save money. I'm worried that this will cause everything to overhead. I've also had times during the school year where my room was in the high 70s.

The room my tank is in is generally around 72F but it has been 76F in the summer before and the tank did not go above the 78F with all the lights on. I have a rimless aquarium with no canopy and the light fixture is suspended from the ceiling to about 10" above the water surface. I have a lot of surface motion from circulation pumps. The light houses 2 250w radium halides overdriven at 300w each. It also house 4 54w T5 bulbs.

As long as the tank doesn't get higher than 82F you're fine. I believe if you do not use a canopy, have good surface agitation, stay away from 400w Halides and keep the room temps below 80F you'd be fine with T5, Metal Halide or both.