Hello, I'm looking into setting up a shallow tank 48x24x10. I'm not looking into keeping sps with this tank, and i'd like to see what would be some good affordable lighting options you guys would suggest. I have a 4 bulb t5ho fixture that i technically could use but worried about heat control, higher utility costs, and hassle of bulb replacements.
Shallow tank lighting suggestions
- Thread starter chanathon
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You are going to have to dig in since you appear to have just seen the rhetoric with lighting. 4 bulb T5s are neither hot, take more wattage than similar LEDs nor are a hassle to replace bulbs being cheap and lasting up to 2 years.
Go into it with an open mind, use your math skills, pick a reasonable live span for a LED fixture (like 4-5 years) and you will find something that works for you.
I think that a 4 bulb would light the inner 16-20" of that tank, but not all the way to the edges with high output, which is OK in some cases. Probably not going to get much cheaper than just using what you have.
Go into it with an open mind, use your math skills, pick a reasonable live span for a LED fixture (like 4-5 years) and you will find something that works for you.
I think that a 4 bulb would light the inner 16-20" of that tank, but not all the way to the edges with high output, which is OK in some cases. Probably not going to get much cheaper than just using what you have.
Talking physics alone for that shallow of a tank and low-ish par demand you expand your choices into a lot of cheap strip lights..
for an example..
Prism LED Light Fixture 48-60" 96watts - AquaMaxx
Prism LED Light by AquaMaxx is good for aquariums up to 60" and uses a total of 96 watts.
fragtasticreef.com
96W over a 48gal tank....
See best under $200 though your size is not under $200..
Picking Reef Tank LED Lights – Best Guide For Soft, LPS & SPS Corals | The Beginners Reef
Eight Years ago I built my latest reef aquarium. Back then LED technology was just creeping into the hobby and being the DIY nut I…
thebeginnersreef.com
Err. never mind.. may be low PAr EVEN FOR 10"...Need some verification.. Should be equiv to 2-3 tubes of T5ho..
est guess is about 90Par at the sand..
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jstncoffman
Nothing happens overnight in this hobby
I'd buy 3 knight light leds, 65 a pop and par is above 330 at 3inch water level, not real tech light but it does its duty
