Cheap lighting for a long frag tank!

Moana · 01/28/2015, 03:52 PM

Hey Guys

I'm getting a 48" by 24" by 6" frag tank. I need cheap LED lighting that can grow RBTAs! My price range is around 350 but 150 - 200 would be IDEAL! Any suggestions? DIY could work too!

Moana · 01/28/2015, 04:09 PM

If 400 would get me a lot more then I can do that

cliff1992 · 01/28/2015, 04:13 PM

Get the cheap Chinese led fixtures. Just search on google and there's a bunch. I had the old aquamana full spectrum with the 3 watt epistar leds. I raised sps to softies with it and had one gtba and 2 rbtas that all got huge under it. There not really anything fancy. There's 2 dimmers, one for blue and one for whites greens and red. ( there was uv one one of the dimmers also, I just don't remember which one) diy can be rewarding but it's a pain and unless your a little electronically experienced I wouldn't recommend it. The Chinese fixtures can grow anything, but like I said there nothing fancy and you have to manually dim each side too your liking. There about 100- 150 a piece. 2 fixtures should more than take care of that sized frag tank. Or you could just go with a t5 fixture , 4 bulb should be adequate as long as you place it close enough to the tank.

mcgyvr · 01/28/2015, 04:14 PM

http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/
t247 or S026..pick your poison..
both lights will easily fit the bill

Moana · 01/28/2015, 04:22 PM

Oh wow thanks! And do you guys think UV is necessary?

cliff1992 · 01/28/2015, 04:29 PM

It's not necessary but it also doesn't hurt and I like to have it just to know I'm covering more spectrums with more options. I run ecotech radion pros so I have alot of control over spectrum. (And also an empty wallet lol)

cliff1992 · 01/28/2015, 04:33 PM

The fixtures mcgyvr mentioned would fit the bill. I've never seen them before but there running 3 watt leds which is what I recommend to get more par. Don't buy into anything with 1watt leds. In my opinion there good for nothing except moon lights

Moana · 01/28/2015, 05:02 PM

Thanks so much, that really helped my budget!!! I'll look for one with UV too.

noj3333 · 01/28/2015, 06:25 PM

diy multichip LED

eshark · 01/28/2015, 08:14 PM

For cheap LED, go to ebay or by direct from China. But, as I have learned in the past, you often times get what you pay for. Cheap is good in the short run, but expect that there may be problems down the road.

01/28/2015, 03:52 PM	#1
Moana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 17	Cheap lighting for a long frag tank! Hey Guys I'm getting a 48" by 24" by 6" frag tank. I need cheap LED lighting that can grow RBTAs! My price range is around 350 but 150 - 200 would be IDEAL! Any suggestions? DIY could work too!

01/28/2015, 04:09 PM	#2
Moana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 17	If 400 would get me a lot more then I can do that

01/28/2015, 04:13 PM	#3
cliff1992 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 51	Get the cheap Chinese led fixtures. Just search on google and there's a bunch. I had the old aquamana full spectrum with the 3 watt epistar leds. I raised sps to softies with it and had one gtba and 2 rbtas that all got huge under it. There not really anything fancy. There's 2 dimmers, one for blue and one for whites greens and red. ( there was uv one one of the dimmers also, I just don't remember which one) diy can be rewarding but it's a pain and unless your a little electronically experienced I wouldn't recommend it. The Chinese fixtures can grow anything, but like I said there nothing fancy and you have to manually dim each side too your liking. There about 100- 150 a piece. 2 fixtures should more than take care of that sized frag tank. Or you could just go with a t5 fixture , 4 bulb should be adequate as long as you place it close enough to the tank.

01/28/2015, 04:14 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/ t247 or S026..pick your poison.. both lights will easily fit the bill

01/28/2015, 04:22 PM	#5
Moana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 17	Oh wow thanks! And do you guys think UV is necessary?

01/28/2015, 04:29 PM	#6
cliff1992 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 51	It's not necessary but it also doesn't hurt and I like to have it just to know I'm covering more spectrums with more options. I run ecotech radion pros so I have alot of control over spectrum. (And also an empty wallet lol)

01/28/2015, 04:33 PM	#7
cliff1992 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 51	The fixtures mcgyvr mentioned would fit the bill. I've never seen them before but there running 3 watt leds which is what I recommend to get more par. Don't buy into anything with 1watt leds. In my opinion there good for nothing except moon lights

01/28/2015, 05:02 PM	#8
Moana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 17	Thanks so much, that really helped my budget!!! I'll look for one with UV too.

01/28/2015, 06:25 PM	#9
noj3333 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 235	diy multichip LED

01/28/2015, 08:14 PM	#10
eshark Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 147	For cheap LED, go to ebay or by direct from China. But, as I have learned in the past, you often times get what you pay for. Cheap is good in the short run, but expect that there may be problems down the road.