Question about lighting

[Frostiii]

Hello I had a quick question about lighting. I have a 40 gallon tank that has been fully cycled for about a year I just took all the fish out and move them up to my 300 gallon.

I wanted to utilize the 40 gallon tank as a frag tank. I don't have a problem with buying the correct light but I have two of these sitting around I was wondering if it might work.

And if not what would you recommend

Thanks in Advance!

 

[Ron Reefman]

Two of what? All I see is an Amazon logo?

If you had coral in the 40g and they did OK, the lights are probably OK. Even an inexpensive black box led like the Mars Aqua will grow healthy coral in a frag tank. It doesn't take anything better than a decent tank fixture (led, t5 or MH).

 

[Frostiii]

Sorry for some reason I guess the link didn't post.

I have 2 Maxisun 1000w Led lights from amazon.
They were used in the green house during winter. I tried to post the link so you could see the exact light fixture but I don't think working.

I was just wondering if they would be good for coral? I have only used them for plants and herbs

I know its 2 different completely worlds but I figured I'd ask the experts before I go out and spend some money on new lighting.

Thanks again

 

[MJ in Boise]

Wrong spectrum for corals. Would make a great fuge light though.

 

[Frostiii]

Thank you!!!

Hmm I might have to look into that!

Thanks again!

 

[Ron Reefman]

Plants, and even most sea plants and algae like (and use) way more yellow to red spectrum or warm white light. The algae in corals and anemones (zooxanthellae) use far more violet to blue spectrum with a dash of red.

The chart below is a breakdown of the common photosynthetic chemistries in the zooxanthellae in corals and the spectrum they use. Terrestrial plants are about the opposite of this.

 

[Frostiii]

Hell yeah!! Thank you for this. Yeah after reading and trying to educate myself on reef lighting it's all slowly starting to make sense now. Thank you again!

 

[Ron Reefman]

Frostiii, I worked for Ocean Revive (an aquarium led company) for a couple of years and made it a point to learn what I could about light and light fixtures. Feel free to PM me if you have a question.

 

[Frostiii]

That's awesome. I will probably be purchasing a light this week for the 40g frag. And hopefully get all this propagating done. If you have any suggestions on a decent frag light please let me know.

I don't have tons of money by any means but this is something I definitely want to do right lol

Thanks for the advice once again!

 

[Ron Reefman]

Any of the black box leds like the Mars Aqua will work well. A better looking fixture is the Ocean Revive. Any t5 fixture with 4 bulbs is also good.

I use a Photon V2, but it's more expensive because it has sunrise/sunset control and 6 channels rather than 2. Those features are fun for me to play with, but they do next to nothing better for the corals than a black box led.