This good for a beginner reef tank?

[Heidivee]

I found this as a make offer scenario. It's about 12x12". It was given to seller so he didn't know anything about this. Was used on the sump. He can't find any labeling on it. I have a 29 gallon tank trying to find affordable light. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[Jekyl]

That looks like a light meant for growing plants and algae if anything. Won't work for coral.

 

[twhit030]

That’s a grow light for Algae would probably pass on that on. Believe it or not I’ve made some pretty solid tanks with using lights off Amazon!
Red and green or pink ish lights grow algae blues are what you’re looking for

 

[Jekyl]

I found this as a make offer scenario. It's about 12x12". It was given to seller so he didn't know anything about this. Was used on the sump. He can't find any labeling on it. I have a 29 gallon tank trying to find affordable light. Does anyone know anything about this?

If just starting out, don't stress getting a light now. Your tank can go months without one. Corals shouldn't be put into brand new tanks. Will give you some time to research and save up.

 

[Heidivee]

That’s a grow light for Algae would probably pass on that on. Believe it or not I’ve made some pretty solid tanks with using lights off Amazon!
Red and green or pink ish lights grow algae blues are what you’re looking for

I just thought to run it past Google lense and saw it was a grow light

 

[Spare time]

Do you have a specific budget for a light? I know of some decent cheap lights that would work

 

[Dom]

I just thought to run it past Google lense and saw it was a grow light

Yes, it is a "grow light". But different lights grow different things.

There are two things you should be looking at when selecting a light; penetration and spread.

Spread is the area of the tank that is covered by the light.

Think of it this way; shine a flash light on a table. The amount of area on the table which the light covers is called the "spread". And the spread of any light you are considering should cover the entire footprint of the tank.

Spread can be adjusted mounting the light closer or further from the water line.

If you take a flashlight, turn it on and place it on a table top, as you lift the light from the table, the size of the light on the table will get bigger. Spread is adjusted in this manner.

But it isn't enough to have a light whose spread covers the entire tank footprint.

Penetration is the amount of power measured at the bottom of the tank. So it is important to have a light that covers the entire tank footprint with enough power to grow the coral you've selected.

The general rule is 5 watts per gallon. So in your 29 gallon tank, you would need a light of 150 watts that provides ample PAR at the deepest points in the tank.