Lighting change

yakfishin · 07/29/2019, 08:52 AM

I started an aquarium about 12 years ago with a Power Compact light fixture. It is now time to change, the light fixture itself has seen it's last days as well as the technology. I am thinking about going with a LED setup, but I don't know a whole lot about it and my time now prevents me from doing a bunch of research. I don't have corals, but I like growing coralline algae on my rocks. The aquarium is 220 gallons 72" long. I have a budget of about $1000for a new light fixture(s). I want a nice setup, but obviously since I am not doing corals I don't need anything real intense, but enough to grow good coralline. I have been looking around at some of the options, but I am sure there are some that I am missing. I am trying to get enough light, without paying for anymore than I need. Anyone have any suggestions for me? Would be much appreciated. Thanks.

yakfishin · 07/29/2019, 11:41 AM

When I first started out 12 years ago, everything about how much light was needed was reduced to 'watts'. But with the LEDs, I don't read as much as about how many watts are needed for various setups. If I were to go with the Red Sea Reefled products, what would I need? Remember I am not growing corals, but would like to have coralline growing, and want the fish to look good. Would four Reefled 50 work? Would three Reefled 90 bet better? I am just at a lost as to how much light I need to cover the full 72" at a depth of 30". I feel safer with going with too much as vs ending up with too little, but don't really want to pay for much more than I need. Any suggestions?

alton · 07/29/2019, 12:06 PM

It is better to run led at 50% versus 100%, so more lighting turned down is better than less turned way up

yakfishin · 07/30/2019, 11:58 AM

Thanks for the reply. I went with the Current Orbit IC Pro dual. It should give me more than enough light for what I need, and was cheaper than some of the other alternatives.

07/29/2019, 08:52 AM	#1
yakfishin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 696	Lighting change I started an aquarium about 12 years ago with a Power Compact light fixture. It is now time to change, the light fixture itself has seen it's last days as well as the technology. I am thinking about going with a LED setup, but I don't know a whole lot about it and my time now prevents me from doing a bunch of research. I don't have corals, but I like growing coralline algae on my rocks. The aquarium is 220 gallons 72" long. I have a budget of about $1000for a new light fixture(s). I want a nice setup, but obviously since I am not doing corals I don't need anything real intense, but enough to grow good coralline. I have been looking around at some of the options, but I am sure there are some that I am missing. I am trying to get enough light, without paying for anymore than I need. Anyone have any suggestions for me? Would be much appreciated. Thanks.

07/29/2019, 11:41 AM	#2
yakfishin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 696	When I first started out 12 years ago, everything about how much light was needed was reduced to 'watts'. But with the LEDs, I don't read as much as about how many watts are needed for various setups. If I were to go with the Red Sea Reefled products, what would I need? Remember I am not growing corals, but would like to have coralline growing, and want the fish to look good. Would four Reefled 50 work? Would three Reefled 90 bet better? I am just at a lost as to how much light I need to cover the full 72" at a depth of 30". I feel safer with going with too much as vs ending up with too little, but don't really want to pay for much more than I need. Any suggestions?

07/29/2019, 12:06 PM	#3
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	It is better to run led at 50% versus 100%, so more lighting turned down is better than less turned way up

07/30/2019, 11:58 AM	#4
yakfishin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 696	Thanks for the reply. I went with the Current Orbit IC Pro dual. It should give me more than enough light for what I need, and was cheaper than some of the other alternatives.