What length light?

[DD0513]

I have a 55 that I am going to do some beginner corals in. 48” long aquarium, I was going to go with fluval marine 3.0 LED light. Do I need the 36-48 light, or 48-60? What things should I take into account when choosing?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Uncle99]

I have a 55 that I am going to do some beginner corals in. 48” long aquarium, I was going to go with fluval marine 3.0 LED light. Do I need the 36-48 light, or 48-60? What things should I take into account when choosing?

Thanks for the help!

If your sure it’s 48”, I’d buy the 48-60 as it pushes more light and you’ll get better coverage than the next size down.

If I remember, the 36-48 uses extending mounting brackets so the actual light is not 48, its smaller.

The lights designed with a reef spectrum but is not overly powerful, meaning, high light acros and maxima clams may be off the list.

Otherwise fine.

 

[Dbichler]

At the fluval price point you could do two viparspectras for 50$ more and grow any corals you want. Many better lights are just a little more than that as well. With the cost of this hobby you don’t want to buy twice when you realize those lights just aren’t quite what you want. Just my opinion though.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Agree with both above, don't just look at the price. There are several threads on this forum discussing some of the better 'budget' lighting, use the 'search' function to find some of them. You'll notice that no one ever recommends that fluval light in any of those threads.

 

[DD0513]

Tha

If your sure it’s 48”, I’d buy the 48-60 as it pushes more light and you’ll get better coverage than the next size down.

If I remember, the 36-48 uses extending mounting brackets so the actual light is not 48, its smaller.

The lights designed with a reef spectrum but is not overly powerful, meaning, high light acros and maxima clams may be off the list.

Otherwise fine.

Thank you, I was planning on starting out with low to moderate light corals. If I need to upgrade later I can look into it. I am really more into the fish than the corals. I just want some corals to make it not so empty in the tank. Any thoughts on good starter, readily available hardy low maintenance corals that are not ugly?

 

[DD0513]

At the fluval price point you could do two viparspectras for 50$ more and grow any corals you want. Many better lights are just a little more than that as well. With the cost of this hobby you don’t want to buy twice when you realize those lights just aren’t quite what you want. Just my opinion though.

Thank you, I will research the viparspectras and may go that direction.

 

[Jmcg89]

I think people over light a lot of tanks imo. I have a 180 and 2 24 inch reef breeders and I love it, it gives me areas of different light where I can place different corals. Depends on what kind of set up you're after but I don't think every tank needs lighting covering the entire surface. I have stuff growing on the entire length of the tank.

 

[DD0513]

Agree with both above, don't just look at the price. There are several threads on this forum discussing some of the better 'budget' lighting, use the 'search' function to find some of them. You'll notice that no one ever recommends that fluval light in any of those threads.

Are there any that you know of that are user friendly? That was honestly why I was choosing them. Their app looks very simple to follow to achieve a basic light schedule:

 

[Dbichler]

I think people over light a lot of tanks imo. I have a 180 and 2 24 inch reef breeders and I love it, it gives me areas of different light where I can place different corals. Depends on what kind of set up you're after but I don't think every tank needs lighting covering the entire surface. I have stuff growing on the entire length of the tank.

I agree with this also but on 48” two vipers would be needed and fluvals also would not be enough.

 

[Uncle99]

Tha

Thank you, I was planning on starting out with low to moderate light corals. If I need to upgrade later I can look into it. I am really more into the fish than the corals. I just want some corals to make it not so empty in the tank. Any thoughts on good starter, readily available hardy low maintenance corals that are not ugly?

Wow, that be a tall list.

With tons of colour, mostly not except Zoa.

But leathers, Duncan’s, GSP, Xenia, Monti Caps, and a gazilion colours of Zoa, are some easy examples.

Now if you go GSP or Xenia, put it on a separte rock of its own so it can be easily managed through moving or in extreme cases removing.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Are there any that you know of that are user friendly? That was honestly why I was choosing them. Their app looks very simple to follow to achieve a basic light schedule:

I like the nicrew for that reason. You can grow anything with it, it has a nice shade of blue, not too blue. And it has only 2 buttons for white and blue colour and each can be pressed 4 times for 25% reduction. I bought a $10 wifi timer for it and I’m happy with it.

There are others but this is the only one I’m familiar with.

 

[DD0513]

Wo

Wow, that be a tall list.

With tons of colour, mostly not except Zoa.

But leathers, Duncan’s, GSP, Xenia, Monti Caps, and a gazilion colours of Zoa, are some easy examples.

Now if you go GSP or Xenia, put it on a separte rock of its own so it can be easily managed through moving or in extreme cases removin

Wow, that be a tall list.

With tons of colour, mostly not except Zoa.

But leathers, Duncan’s, GSP, Xenia, Monti Caps, and a gazilion colours of Zoa, are some easy examples.

Now if you go GSP or Xenia, put it on a separte rock of its own so it can be easily managed through moving or in extreme cases removing.

Thanks for all of that info! Some of those are ones that I have looked into.

 

[KrisReef]

The hobby takes its path and eventually we have the best equipment, specimens of coral, and divorce papers from our neglected spouse.

Not many are able to resist

 

[tbaum101]

I've been doing this since Christmas Day 2023. I started with the cheap LED that came with my Marineland 75. I then got a Fluval Aquasky and then got a Fluval Marine 3.0. I know people say they're limiting but I have Acro, Montys, Zoas, LPS, and Leathers of all types growing very well. Actually getting a little warfare going in a couple of places. I will say I noticed a frag of a branching monty I took off a piece I have lower in the tank that sits higher in the tank on a rack, seems to have more pronounced extension and definition. I'm planning on getting another Marine 3.0 to go with them. They are very bright and have a good spectrum range. They don't have some of the extreme color control but they do have a good bit...especially since I'm just figuring all this out. But don't let anyone say you can't grow some things with a Fluval. They heard that and don't actually know. I do. I have putchased some pieces that are more grown out...but not all. And they're all growing very well. Granted, i dont have many hard to keep frags....but im happy with my budget equipment results and im sticking with them.