Proper lighting for 29 gallon

swmacint · 09/15/2011, 07:03 PM

Hey everyone,

It seems everyone has differing opinions as far as what's best when lighting is concerned, so I wanted to ask you guys directly. I'm planning on my tank (29g) having a few softies, mostly LPS, and maybe down the road a while an SPS or two. I've heard "3-5 watts per gallon" often, but I've heard to disregard that thinking at the same time.

So what lighting systems would you all recommend? I have a friend who wants to sell his Marineland Reef Capable LED System for fairly cheap, does anyone have experience with it?

Thanks a ton, guys.

TucanSam007 · 09/15/2011, 07:41 PM

I have a 37 gallon, same dimensions just a few inches deeper. After a few weeks I realized 30" tanks are the hardest to light properly. I am now going the led route but I've been using the 30" cora life 4 bulb t5 fixture putting me at 3.45 watts. The wpg rule doesn't really apply anymore like you probably have heard. With the coralife I've been able to keep lps and softies mid to high up on the rock work and non photosynthetic corals on the bottom. Oh and the marine land fixtures probably don't give you enough par for hard corals. Yet probably get some growth with softies up on top though where the highest par levels are.

swmacint · 09/15/2011, 08:40 PM

What type of LED are you going to now? In your opinion/experience would I be able to keep a Bubble Tip Anemone in with either the coralife or the marineland?

Saltwatercoral2 · 09/15/2011, 08:42 PM

go with a tek or an ati light, you wont have to question yourself about, will it grow this, will it grow that. These lights are awesome. IMO stay away from coralife.

jkf1983 · 09/15/2011, 08:49 PM

DIY cree XPEs at reefledlights.com get the drilled and tapped heat sink and you can always add more leds in the future. The ceiling mounts are awesome too.

This is my build...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2064428

09/15/2011, 07:03 PM	#1
swmacint Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 6	Proper lighting for 29 gallon Hey everyone, It seems everyone has differing opinions as far as what's best when lighting is concerned, so I wanted to ask you guys directly. I'm planning on my tank (29g) having a few softies, mostly LPS, and maybe down the road a while an SPS or two. I've heard "3-5 watts per gallon" often, but I've heard to disregard that thinking at the same time. So what lighting systems would you all recommend? I have a friend who wants to sell his Marineland Reef Capable LED System for fairly cheap, does anyone have experience with it? Thanks a ton, guys.

09/15/2011, 08:49 PM	#5
jkf1983 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oswego, IL Posts: 1,049	DIY cree XPEs at reefledlights.com get the drilled and tapped heat sink and you can always add more leds in the future. The ceiling mounts are awesome too. This is my build... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2064428 __________________ . Current Tank Info: 120 Gal Rimless Starphire, ATB 840 v2.0 Skimmer, reefledlights.com DIY LED's, 2 Tunze 6105's, 40B sump.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
29 Gallon Aquascaping Ideas?	Alunai	Reef Discussion	26	11/06/2013 11:44 AM
N. Wennerae/ Damselfish- 14 Gallon vs 29 Gallon	finkjor123	Nano Reefs	6	01/27/2012 01:27 AM
N. Wennerae/ Damselfish- 14 Gallon vs 29 Gallon	finkjor123	Mantis Shrimp	1	07/03/2011 12:38 PM
My 29 gallon reef up and running for 2 years pics	ziggyboy3d	Reef Discussion	2	06/27/2011 09:32 PM
29 Gallon Build	keifer_unit	Nano Reefs	26	05/09/2011 11:45 PM

09/15/2011, 07:41 PM	#2
TucanSam007 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Suffolk, Long Island Posts: 652	I have a 37 gallon, same dimensions just a few inches deeper. After a few weeks I realized 30" tanks are the hardest to light properly. I am now going the led route but I've been using the 30" cora life 4 bulb t5 fixture putting me at 3.45 watts. The wpg rule doesn't really apply anymore like you probably have heard. With the coralife I've been able to keep lps and softies mid to high up on the rock work and non photosynthetic corals on the bottom. Oh and the marine land fixtures probably don't give you enough par for hard corals. Yet probably get some growth with softies up on top though where the highest par levels are.

09/15/2011, 08:40 PM	#3
swmacint Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 6	What type of LED are you going to now? In your opinion/experience would I be able to keep a Bubble Tip Anemone in with either the coralife or the marineland?

09/15/2011, 08:42 PM	#4
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	go with a tek or an ati light, you wont have to question yourself about, will it grow this, will it grow that. These lights are awesome. IMO stay away from coralife.