Lighting a FOWLR?

bro2 · 07/01/2012, 11:57 AM

I will be setting up my 90 gal. with 20 gal sump soon it will be FOWLR. What lighting should I use? Also I have a odd size DT 55"x16"x24" so 48" fixture will not
set on the tank. Thinking of building a hanging system for a 48" What does everyone think?Thanks

rajkovich207 · 07/01/2012, 12:01 PM

48 on a 55 is just fine. If you know you wont be keeping any corals I would look into marine lands leds. Should run you about 250 but you wont ever have to replace the bulbs. Light on a fowlr is pretty much pure aesthetics so its truely up to you!

cloak · 07/01/2012, 12:17 PM

Any NO flourescent fixture would work out just fine IMO. I have a 24" fixture on my 55 gallon freshwater tank and it looks great.

MXracer52 · 07/01/2012, 01:46 PM

no need for expensive LED’s without corals in the tank. Like others have said it’s purely for aesthetic reasons so it depends what you are looking for.

Microcosmos · 07/01/2012, 07:52 PM

Definitely get bluer spectrum lighting designed for reefs so macro algae will grow to compete with the nuisance algae (which grows under just about any spectrum). I recommend full reef lighting just in case you decide to add some small and/or hardy corals that can put up with most fish abuse, and to keep whatever corals that hitchhike on your LR alive. Just my 2 cents, but IMHO money spent on cheap lighting is money down the drain because you will probably upgrade to stronger lighting in the future and you'll not be able to sell or pawn the old setup. I know because this exact thing happened to me when I upgraded from MH to LED last year.

Vince272992 · 07/01/2012, 08:01 PM

any thing that u want, since it is not going to be a reef, you do not need and certain amount of light so just get a fixture to your liking

Michigan Mike · 07/02/2012, 06:12 AM

2 bulb t5 ho fixture then you can add another one later ( when you try a some mushrooms and soft corals/leather corals ) and spread them out over the top for better coverage. People say they are going fowler all the time but then want to try that mushroom or soft coral. LoL at least then it's easy to expand.

ezerasurfr · 07/02/2012, 06:44 AM

Dont get T5 IMO. The replacement bulbs are expensive, and the LED market is getting better at the moment. Look at the Tao Tronics LEDs, I swear by them. They are about $130 for a 50/50 unit. You would need 2 on your 90g. I've grown SPS with mine with great success. I know it's over-kill. But put the extra few bucks in up front and you won't be disappointed. You'll end up paying over $100 just for decorative LEDs anyway.

inwha · 07/02/2012, 06:54 AM

I have to piggy back on the t5 comment, i have them on my 55 and they look great, not a dark spot on the tank. I have solarmax ho 248. It also has the blue leds when lights are off which looks great at night. You should be able to find around 125

ezerasurfr · 07/02/2012, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inwha

I have to piggy back on the t5 comment, i have them on my 55 and they look great, not a dark spot on the tank. I have solarmax ho 248. It also has the blue leds when lights are off which looks great at night. You should be able to find around 125

Thats $125 up front, plus $30/ bulb every 8 months. Otherwise you're adding the potential for nuisance algae and diatom growth due to bad lighting (which will add to the maintenance cost and frustration. (been there done that)

07/01/2012, 11:57 AM	#1
bro2 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Grain Valley,MO. Posts: 26	Lighting a FOWLR? I will be setting up my 90 gal. with 20 gal sump soon it will be FOWLR. What lighting should I use? Also I have a odd size DT 55"x16"x24" so 48" fixture will not set on the tank. Thinking of building a hanging system for a 48" What does everyone think?Thanks

07/01/2012, 12:01 PM	#2
rajkovich207 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 177	48 on a 55 is just fine. If you know you wont be keeping any corals I would look into marine lands leds. Should run you about 250 but you wont ever have to replace the bulbs. Light on a fowlr is pretty much pure aesthetics so its truely up to you! __________________ There are three things you can't rush in life. 1) Reef keeping, 2) Fine art, And 3) A good poo. Now that I've figured this out, I need to decipher how Ive gone from a simple fish tank to a box of salty water containing colorful animals, with more electrical components than an ICU patient. Current Tank Info: 20G long (Drop) it may be just a drop of the ocean but its my drop and I love it!

07/01/2012, 12:17 PM	#3
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Any NO flourescent fixture would work out just fine IMO. I have a 24" fixture on my 55 gallon freshwater tank and it looks great.

07/01/2012, 01:46 PM	#4
MXracer52 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 80	no need for expensive LED’s without corals in the tank. Like others have said it’s purely for aesthetic reasons so it depends what you are looking for.

07/01/2012, 07:52 PM	#5
Microcosmos Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Hagerstown, MD, USA Posts: 328	Definitely get bluer spectrum lighting designed for reefs so macro algae will grow to compete with the nuisance algae (which grows under just about any spectrum). I recommend full reef lighting just in case you decide to add some small and/or hardy corals that can put up with most fish abuse, and to keep whatever corals that hitchhike on your LR alive. Just my 2 cents, but IMHO money spent on cheap lighting is money down the drain because you will probably upgrade to stronger lighting in the future and you'll not be able to sell or pawn the old setup. I know because this exact thing happened to me when I upgraded from MH to LED last year.

07/01/2012, 08:01 PM	#6
Vince272992 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 651	any thing that u want, since it is not going to be a reef, you do not need and certain amount of light so just get a fixture to your liking

07/02/2012, 06:12 AM	#7
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	2 bulb t5 ho fixture then you can add another one later ( when you try a some mushrooms and soft corals/leather corals ) and spread them out over the top for better coverage. People say they are going fowler all the time but then want to try that mushroom or soft coral. LoL at least then it's easy to expand.

07/02/2012, 06:44 AM	#8
ezerasurfr Moved On Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 663	Dont get T5 IMO. The replacement bulbs are expensive, and the LED market is getting better at the moment. Look at the Tao Tronics LEDs, I swear by them. They are about $130 for a 50/50 unit. You would need 2 on your 90g. I've grown SPS with mine with great success. I know it's over-kill. But put the extra few bucks in up front and you won't be disappointed. You'll end up paying over $100 just for decorative LEDs anyway.

07/02/2012, 06:54 AM	#9
inwha Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Columbia, TN Posts: 136	I have to piggy back on the t5 comment, i have them on my 55 and they look great, not a dark spot on the tank. I have solarmax ho 248. It also has the blue leds when lights are off which looks great at night. You should be able to find around 125