what is everyone lighting there 40br with?

Devaji · Jul 18, 2017

Hi all I am in the thinking stage of setting up a 40br SH tank with low to med light needs.
corals will be gorgs, shroom, macros and softies.

to bad BML are not making aquarium lighting

relly like them...

36" tanks are not the easiest take to light. most lights cover 24x24 so one would need 2.
so I am looking for affordable lighting that get the job done but dont look like crap.

I have a aquamax nemo light on a 20L I like it wounder if it has the par to keep everthing happy on dbl the volume guess I could get another one...
also have the RB photon V2 on my 90 that i like...

so what you all using?

here are my thoughts:
2x AI prime HD $450
rb 24" v2 $400
2x AI hydera 52 $600 out of my budget
aquamax neno light 36" $170
black box- kinda bulky not my fav. but an option.

I know alot of ppl run the 40br so what are you lighting them with?

jmags080307 · Jul 18, 2017

I have a 24" 6 bulb ATI dimmable with 1 reefbrite actinic blue.

Devaji · Jul 18, 2017

I thought about T5 but just not sure there for me. dont want to deal with replaying the bulbs every year. 120+ in bulbs every year does not sound fun.
but its a thought for sure.
thanks for posting!

glb · Jul 18, 2017

T-5's do come in 36" length. I'm trying to decide how to light my 40g breeder too.

glb · Jul 18, 2017

glb said:
T-5's do come in 36" length. I'm trying to decide how to light my 40g breeder too.

Plus you could get by with a 4 bulb fixture if you only need low light.

Devaji · Jul 18, 2017

glb said:
Plus you could get by with a 4 bulb fixture if you only need low light.

yeah I have thought about it some..maybe i'll spend some time really thinking about it.
so many bulb choices ahhh and once you buy them there yours with LED yu can play around to find the spectrum you and your corals like.

glb · Jul 18, 2017

Devaji said:
yeah I have thought about it some..maybe i'll spend some time really thinking about it.
so many bulb choices ahhh and once you buy them there yours with LED yu can play around to find the spectrum you and your corals like.

I had CF on my nano and changed to LED's. I never could get them dialed in just right. I know a ton of people who run LED's and have great tanks. I'm just not one of them. Lol

Coastie Reefer · Jul 18, 2017

I wanna know where you found 2 Hydra 52s for 600!! Lol. The hydra 26 is 350

Coastie Reefer · Jul 18, 2017

I'm going through the same thing. I need a decent light that looks good. The wife doesn't want something that looks all bulky or have wires everywhere. I considered 2 primes but I'm not sure they'd be enough as I want more demanding corals. 2 AI 26's would work but that would be around $700 also out of my allowable light budget... I been looking at the SBReeflight 32 wifi at $450. There the 32" Mars Aqua for around $200 but I don't think it has legs or a mounting option other than wires. Would be great if you had a canopy but I don't think I'm going with a canopy.

Catchemall · Jul 18, 2017

Check out the ocean revive a lot of great tanks with this cheap light. I've saw them in person real nice light looks built well too. Thinner than a black box too

Seanb1 · Jul 18, 2017

32 inch sb pro timer

Coastie Reefer · Jul 18, 2017

Seanndenise said:
32 inch sb pro timer

How tall are the legs?

Devaji · Jul 18, 2017

Catchemall said:
Check out the ocean revive a lot of great tanks with this cheap light. I've saw them in person real nice light looks built well too. Thinner than a black box too

yeah thats the one I was thinking of to. could not quite remember the name of them...i'll add that to the list.
man I really with BML was still around there MC 20K would be perfect. the spread, punch cast and flexibility I am looking for.
oh well guess I should have kept it when I had it.

Devaji · Jul 18, 2017

Coastie Reefer said:
I wanna know where you found 2 Hydra 52s for 600!! Lol. The hydra 26 is 350

what you dont know? ....well then I guess i'll keep it a secret

erk · Jul 18, 2017

I'm using a home built light. A DIY LED fixture with two CREE Lumia 5.2 pucks and six T5 HO lights. Fixture is one of those cheap 24inch grow light fixtures you see on Amazon. It was originally an eight bulb fixture and I removed the two center bulbs to fit the DIY LED fixture. I have the light suspended about a foot off the water and I still have to be careful not to burn the corals. Sadly, I killed a fist sized birdsnest colony when I first powered it on. That is why I raised it up so high.

Luna · Jul 18, 2017

I have a Fluval Aquasky on my 40br. Really like the low key look to it. I have softies: hammers, Zoa, leathers, anemones & a favia in my tank. That seem to be doing just peachy with it.

Seanb1 · Jul 18, 2017

Coastie Reefer said:
How tall are the legs?

You can have them anywhere from right off the water to I believe 13-14 inches.
I have mine up high and turned down to 65 blue and 30 white, it's got a lot of power for a 40 breeder, coverage is good from end to end.

Seanb1 · Jul 18, 2017

If you did decide on this light I'd suggest you get the alloy feet for it to avoid rusting.
No matter what you do salt creep gets to the regular feet and rusts them.

bluedevils6653 · Jul 18, 2017

i have a 250 watt mh pendant over my 40 breeder. Its not led's but it works great for me.

jmags080307 · Jul 18, 2017

Coastie Reefer said:
I'm going through the same thing. I need a decent light that looks good. The wife doesn't want something that looks all bulky or have wires everywhere. I considered 2 primes but I'm not sure they'd be enough as I want more demanding corals. 2 AI 26's would work but that would be around $700 also out of my allowable light budget... I been looking at the SBReeflight 32 wifi at $450. There the 32" Mars Aqua for around $200 but I don't think it has legs or a mounting option other than wires. Would be great if you had a canopy but I don't think I'm going with a canopy.

I had a mars aqua 300w in my 40B buy I didn't the way the tank looked. If I was going to do a grow out tank I would use that again. Cheap and strong light.