55 gallon bow front LED lighting

EchoShots · 12/04/2013, 10:15 AM

I am in the market for some new lighting for my 55 gallon bow front tank. I currently have an LED setup that I purchased off of a person on CL. It has done fine for about a year, but I am pretty sure I need some stronger lights. My corals (soft) thrive under my light that I currently have, but that is because they are right under my light. If I slide my light back 3” or so then the light is completely off of the corals. There is also dark spots (if the light is at the front of the tank then the back is not well lit and so forth). I would like to stay with LED, but I am a complete idiot when it comes to this lighting stuff. It is VERY confusing to me. Everything I read tells me that I need 4W-5W per gallon, so between 220W-275W. I cant find ANYTHING that high when it comes to LED. My tank dimensions are as follows 18”H, 36W, and back to middle of bow is 16” (D). Can anyone give me some understandable knowledge on LED’s, and what I would need to get? I would really like to keep it under $300 if possible, but all suggestions are welcome!

MrIcky · 12/04/2013, 01:41 PM

Wattage doesn't really matter in led's unless you are comparing roughly similar products (for instance, if you are looking at more than 1 fixture that uses the same cree emitter).

For that price, I think most people will point you toward reefbreeder or similar evergrow fixture (lots of threads on reefcentral). It will be over $300, but in your ballpark and bright enough to grow anything. In fact, it's bright enough to cook all your corals if you don't acclimate them correctly. There are quite a few great units that will do well for you, but you have named a specific price so I'll work with that.

spider1218 · 12/04/2013, 04:31 PM

Definitely look for lights on eBay or reef breeder they cost about 130 to 170 each you need two. Make sure to get full spectrum not white blue

zachts · 12/05/2013, 07:07 PM

A single Buildmyleds.com strip would probably be enough added to what you already have. get it with the dimmer so you can acclimate your tank. But will come in under 300 shipped.

Reefbreeders are good also though you'd need two of the value fixtures for coverage but would run them dimmed down a ways.

Stay away from EBAY! if you are not totaly familiar with what you are buying and how to tell the junk from the decent fixtures. Reefbreeders are the same cost as anything you'll find on Ebay and are a proven quality fixture for the price.

12/04/2013, 10:15 AM	#1
EchoShots Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7	55 gallon bow front LED lighting I am in the market for some new lighting for my 55 gallon bow front tank. I currently have an LED setup that I purchased off of a person on CL. It has done fine for about a year, but I am pretty sure I need some stronger lights. My corals (soft) thrive under my light that I currently have, but that is because they are right under my light. If I slide my light back 3” or so then the light is completely off of the corals. There is also dark spots (if the light is at the front of the tank then the back is not well lit and so forth). I would like to stay with LED, but I am a complete idiot when it comes to this lighting stuff. It is VERY confusing to me. Everything I read tells me that I need 4W-5W per gallon, so between 220W-275W. I cant find ANYTHING that high when it comes to LED. My tank dimensions are as follows 18”H, 36W, and back to middle of bow is 16” (D). Can anyone give me some understandable knowledge on LED’s, and what I would need to get? I would really like to keep it under $300 if possible, but all suggestions are welcome!

12/04/2013, 01:41 PM	#2
MrIcky Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 296	Wattage doesn't really matter in led's unless you are comparing roughly similar products (for instance, if you are looking at more than 1 fixture that uses the same cree emitter). For that price, I think most people will point you toward reefbreeder or similar evergrow fixture (lots of threads on reefcentral). It will be over $300, but in your ballpark and bright enough to grow anything. In fact, it's bright enough to cook all your corals if you don't acclimate them correctly. There are quite a few great units that will do well for you, but you have named a specific price so I'll work with that.

12/04/2013, 04:31 PM	#3
spider1218 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: mesa arizona Posts: 71	Definitely look for lights on eBay or reef breeder they cost about 130 to 170 each you need two. Make sure to get full spectrum not white blue

12/05/2013, 07:07 PM	#4
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	A single Buildmyleds.com strip would probably be enough added to what you already have. get it with the dimmer so you can acclimate your tank. But will come in under 300 shipped. Reefbreeders are good also though you'd need two of the value fixtures for coverage but would run them dimmed down a ways. Stay away from EBAY! if you are not totaly familiar with what you are buying and how to tell the junk from the decent fixtures. Reefbreeders are the same cost as anything you'll find on Ebay and are a proven quality fixture for the price.