Help with lighting up my new tank

Drud0616 · 07/30/2014, 04:18 PM

Hello everyone,
I'm new to this hobby and would love to get some expert advice from you guys. So I'm starting a new reef tank. Currently I have 55 gallon hexagonal tank. 2ft x 2ft x 2ft. The issue I'm having is choosing the proper lighting setup of this type of tank. So here's the criteria that I would like to abide by:
1) Reef Tank with Soft Corals, LPS Corals and Live Rock. (SPS is possible)
2) Price to be ideally less than $200
3) must fit in the aquarium hood which is approximately the same L xW as the tank. (Hanging the lights isn't an option).

I'd appreciate any advice that can be given. If there is any other information I'm missing out please let me know. Thanks!!!

mcgyvr · 07/30/2014, 05:57 PM

Got a budget?
Want any fancy features? dimming/color adjustment/lightning storms/clouds/wifi/phone apps? etc... (not that $200 will get any of that really)
LED? MH?

If LED..I might suggest an Ocean Revive t247 or S026 if you don't need bells/whistles but just want a decent low cost LED light
Reefbreeders makes some decent ones too..

Titans_Reef · 07/31/2014, 02:51 AM

Yeah, 1 ocean revive t247 would be great on the size of your tank. I have 3 over my 125g 6f long at 12" off the tank and my corals or doing great.

Drud0616 · 07/31/2014, 10:29 PM

Great advice. Thanks. The only problem I have is since I want to have a lid of my tank, I won't be able to have 12 inches of clearance from the lights to the water surface. At best I can obtain 6 inches if I cut a hole in the center of the lid and mount the lights through there. Do you think 6 inches is good enough clearance?

Titans_Reef · 07/31/2014, 11:38 PM

The picture as my avatar is my tank when I had my T-5 lights. What im going to do to keep the lights at 12" is make a stand for the canopy to raise it higher and mount the lights inside of it. Im making the front of the new stand open up so I do not need a chair to feed them or remove the canopy when cleaning the sand. Right now I just have my lights hanging over the top from the ceiling. You might be able to get away with it since they have a 3ft x 2ft spread but you may have some dark spots in the tank. I would see in making a new canopy or raising it like me if you dont like how the light spread is.

Drud0616 · 08/01/2014, 04:50 PM

Titan Reef can you provide me with clearer picture of your setup? I don't think I can achieve 12" of clearance between the light and water surface. Like I said, at best I can do 6". Do you think that would be alright with these lights?

Titans_Reef · 08/03/2014, 10:21 PM

Yeah you should be alright, I was having trouble uploading a picture of the lights which im going to do when I get home. They sell some hanging brackets on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Brightsky-Aqua...anging+bracket
If you decide on a temporary fix.

07/30/2014, 04:18 PM	#1
Drud0616 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 19	Help with lighting up my new tank Hello everyone, I'm new to this hobby and would love to get some expert advice from you guys. So I'm starting a new reef tank. Currently I have 55 gallon hexagonal tank. 2ft x 2ft x 2ft. The issue I'm having is choosing the proper lighting setup of this type of tank. So here's the criteria that I would like to abide by: 1) Reef Tank with Soft Corals, LPS Corals and Live Rock. (SPS is possible) 2) Price to be ideally less than $200 3) must fit in the aquarium hood which is approximately the same L xW as the tank. (Hanging the lights isn't an option). I'd appreciate any advice that can be given. If there is any other information I'm missing out please let me know. Thanks!!!

07/30/2014, 05:57 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Got a budget? Want any fancy features? dimming/color adjustment/lightning storms/clouds/wifi/phone apps? etc... (not that $200 will get any of that really) LED? MH? If LED..I might suggest an Ocean Revive t247 or S026 if you don't need bells/whistles but just want a decent low cost LED light Reefbreeders makes some decent ones too.. __________________ Who me?

07/31/2014, 02:51 AM	#3
Titans_Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 188	Yeah, 1 ocean revive t247 would be great on the size of your tank. I have 3 over my 125g 6f long at 12" off the tank and my corals or doing great.

07/31/2014, 10:29 PM	#4
Drud0616 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 19	Great advice. Thanks. The only problem I have is since I want to have a lid of my tank, I won't be able to have 12 inches of clearance from the lights to the water surface. At best I can obtain 6 inches if I cut a hole in the center of the lid and mount the lights through there. Do you think 6 inches is good enough clearance?

07/31/2014, 11:38 PM	#5
Titans_Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 188	The picture as my avatar is my tank when I had my T-5 lights. What im going to do to keep the lights at 12" is make a stand for the canopy to raise it higher and mount the lights inside of it. Im making the front of the new stand open up so I do not need a chair to feed them or remove the canopy when cleaning the sand. Right now I just have my lights hanging over the top from the ceiling. You might be able to get away with it since they have a 3ft x 2ft spread but you may have some dark spots in the tank. I would see in making a new canopy or raising it like me if you dont like how the light spread is.

08/01/2014, 04:50 PM	#6
Drud0616 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 19	Titan Reef can you provide me with clearer picture of your setup? I don't think I can achieve 12" of clearance between the light and water surface. Like I said, at best I can do 6". Do you think that would be alright with these lights?

08/03/2014, 10:21 PM	#7
Titans_Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 188	Yeah you should be alright, I was having trouble uploading a picture of the lights which im going to do when I get home. They sell some hanging brackets on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Brightsky-Aqua...anging+bracket If you decide on a temporary fix.