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rattler739
Guest
Now I would rather have more light than not enough so what about getting a 6 bulb T5 but a 24" vs a 36" that way I still have a lot of light for whatever needs it but I still have the low light areas for the lower light corals.
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rattler739
Guest
Ok either I'm a little slow or it might be cause it's late lol but I'm confused should I have more lighting with I guess not enough coverage but areas with lower light or should have have full coverage but with less light overall. Sry if you have to spell it out like I said apparently its been a longer day than I thought
1guydude
Well-Known Member
well theyre talking about lower light spots and higher lighted spots. Basically its gonna be higher lighted right under ur light at the top of the tank but at the lower sections of the tank u will have less light for soft corals and such. Im saying that the light u are suggesting will prob leave u with dark shadow areas on the sides of the tank! So by raising it up u will spread the light out. U want a 30" fixture at the least imo... raise it up a 2-6in off the tank and ull be good me thinks....
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rattler739
Guest
Or should I just go with a MH I just have read that u have to replace the bulbs more often and don't want to worry about the tank getting to hot or evaping to quickly cause I already have to top off every other day or so
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rattler739
Guest
well theyre talking about lower light spots and higher lighted spots. Basically its gonna be higher lighted right under ur light at the top of the tank but at the lower sections of the tank u will have less light for soft corals and such. Im saying that the light u are suggesting will prob leave u with dark shadow areas on the sides of the tank! So by raising it up u will spread the light out. U want a 30" fixture at the least imo... raise it up a 2-6in off the tank and ull be good me thinks....
Ok now I get it thanks
tur4k
Member
You should be fine with a 4 bulb T5 in a 30G. I have 48" 4 bulb T5's in a 90G with clams and SPS. Make sure your fixture has individual reflectors. For bulbs I'm using 2 x ATI blue plus, UVL Aquasun 10K and UVL Super Actinic. I have some cheap LED's that I originally bought for my fuge. I didn't think they would work in my fuge. So I use them for shimmer. My tank doesn't shimmer as much as pure LED would, but it's better than pure T5. I don't think they really contribute anything to the corals though.
My Blue Maxima clam and SPS are placed high in the tank. On the bottom I have a large Torch, a Hammer, a Derasa clam, Zoa's, Leathers, yellow polyps, acans...
My Blue Maxima clam and SPS are placed high in the tank. On the bottom I have a large Torch, a Hammer, a Derasa clam, Zoa's, Leathers, yellow polyps, acans...
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rattler739
Guest
Does anyone have any specific suggestions for best for the least?
mr. limpid
Active Member
My opinion LED is the way to go, MH about $150 to $200 for fixture, pendant type plus bulb $65 to $75 250w, maintenance replace bulb every year in 12 years cost is about $1000.00 the Sol Modular LED fixture is $399.00 will last 50,000 hours about 12 years, plus runs cooler and less electricity. Just my two cents.
P.S also so a web site that had do it yourself LED kits starting at $170.00 cree LED.
P.S also so a web site that had do it yourself LED kits starting at $170.00 cree LED.
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rattler739
Guest
Mr limpid
Great point ok I think you just made up my mind. So I'll go with the led even though it will be more expensive up front, will save so much in the long run. Now the only question is the best for the least amount for a 36"x12" area.
I read into the SOL modular LED fixture and it looks like I would need at lest 2-3 units cause it said that you need 1 unit per 12" of tank width ( but it does look pretty sweet though that would be awesome if there was one for that much for a 36" fixture)
Great point ok I think you just made up my mind. So I'll go with the led even though it will be more expensive up front, will save so much in the long run. Now the only question is the best for the least amount for a 36"x12" area.
I read into the SOL modular LED fixture and it looks like I would need at lest 2-3 units cause it said that you need 1 unit per 12" of tank width ( but it does look pretty sweet though that would be awesome if there was one for that much for a 36" fixture)
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rattler739
Guest
Ok so did a little bit of searching and found a nice kit for $99.00 but would need two of them to fit my tank
Wanted to know if this sounds good or not this is a list of what it comes with
Bridgelux LED:
White 10000K
Royal Blue 452-455nm
Kit includes:
1 x Heatsink 12cm(W) x 3cm(H) x 40cm(L) (4.7"W x 1.2"H x 15.8"L)
24 x 3 watts Bridgelux LED
24 x 60 degree optics
2 x constant current dimmable LED driver (100V-240V)
2 x potentiometer (control dimming)
2 x heatsink plaster
1 meter wire
4 x wire connector
2 x power cord
1 x fans
1 x DC12V fans driver
And also really hope it comes with directions lol
Wanted to know if this sounds good or not this is a list of what it comes with
Bridgelux LED:
White 10000K
Royal Blue 452-455nm
Kit includes:
1 x Heatsink 12cm(W) x 3cm(H) x 40cm(L) (4.7"W x 1.2"H x 15.8"L)
24 x 3 watts Bridgelux LED
24 x 60 degree optics
2 x constant current dimmable LED driver (100V-240V)
2 x potentiometer (control dimming)
2 x heatsink plaster
1 meter wire
4 x wire connector
2 x power cord
1 x fans
1 x DC12V fans driver
And also really hope it comes with directions lol
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rattler739
Guest
The 24 lights consist of 12 white 10 blue 2 violet /UV
Any input would be great. I don't want to do anything wrong if I'm going to DIY
Any input would be great. I don't want to do anything wrong if I'm going to DIY
2quills
Well-Known Member
I've been considering one of those cheap led kits to build a refugium light out of. Not an all bad price. I do think the bridgelux chips that they carry would do just fine for your size tank. But I would be looking for a 36 led count in your case. 3 rows of twelve. Rapidled sells cree led kits with meanwells drivers. Much higher output and efficiency rating for about twice the cost of those kits your looking at over on aquastyle I assume.
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rattler739
Guest
I'd want to have cree LED's and not sure that 24 LED's will be enough.
Check out the AquaIlluminations SOL fixture. For 400 bux it's a pretty sweet deal.
I would get two units so 48 total and I looked up the sol lights and It said that I would need 1 unit per foot of my tank so that would be three so not just $400 but $1200 (but they would be awesome for a smaller tank) do you think these DIY kits will work cause that will be $200 for 32" fixture with 48 LEDs
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rattler739
Guest
I've been considering one of those cheap led kits to build a refugium light out of. Not an all bad price. I do think the bridgelux chips that they carry would do just fine for your size tank. But I would be looking for a 36 led count in your case. 3 rows of twelve. Rapidled sells cree led kits with meanwells drivers. Much higher output and efficiency rating for about twice the cost of those kits your looking at over on aquastyle I assume.
I had already looked at those and they are nice but a little pricey and the kit doesn't even come with a heatsink. If I get a kit I want everything cause I don't want any room for me to mess anything up or order the wrong thing.
I had already looked at those and they are nice but a little pricey and the kit doesn't even come with a heatsink. If I get a kit I want everything cause I don't want any room for me to mess anything up or order the wrong thing.