Which lighting for softies, lps, and anemone that is less than$ 200

Martini5788 · 03/13/2015, 11:00 PM

I have decided that I want to upgrade my lighting to be able to keep some soft corals. The fixture needs to be 48" long. My current setup is HO T5 with 2 bulbs. The tank is deep though, about 2.5 feet. I don't want to spend more money than I need to, and LEDs are looking pretty expensive. Can I add another t5 fixture? Ideally, what should I do in order to grow softies, etc. any help is appreciated because as far as lighting goes, I am completely lost.

PeterHall · 03/13/2015, 11:18 PM

You can get the cheap $100 led. I had two on my 55 gallon that grew things great and put them on my 150. They easily grow everything.

urbanrat84 · 03/14/2015, 12:07 AM

You can add more T5s if thats what you want to do.

With the depth of your tank, as long as you select corals with placement and lighting needs in mind, you will get some lovely results. Choose some of the larger growing softies like leathers to become centre pieces. Start them high in the tank and as they get taller, keep moving them down. Over the next few years they will end up with their crowns still basking in the brightest light near the surface of the water. In the lower parts of the tank morphs will do well and are bright/colourful.

There are also a few LPS coral you can place in the lower areas - such as Acans and Elegance corals.

I have my bubble tip anemones 1 1/2 feet below my lighting currently but for the last 4 years they've been in a basket a few inches from the light. They do well under both conditions.

Martini5788 · 03/14/2015, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterHall

You can get the cheap $100 led. I had two on my 55 gallon that grew things great and put them on my 150. They easily grow everything.

Which led system are you referring to? All the ones I have seen are like 400-500

And if I were to order more t5s how many more should I get?

jbvdhp · 03/14/2015, 12:31 AM

The eBay ones for $100 are great for the money, or U can buy a "branded" reef breeders LED, which is the same as the ebay ones. There are programmable ones now too.

Martini5788 · 03/14/2015, 01:37 AM

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=301144442873
I don't know if I am typing it in wrong or what but I'm only coming up with freshwater leds, and they are over 100. I might start with this. Thoughts?

Frankotje · 03/14/2015, 01:52 AM

Here you go:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Best-Dimmabl...item27f4aeb03f

Martini5788 · 03/14/2015, 10:38 AM

Thanks! How many of those should I get?

Big Dog · 03/14/2015, 10:46 AM

2 for a 4 foot tank

PeterHall · 03/14/2015, 10:51 AM

Two would be perfect. These are the ones I bought last year since they had good reviews but I think all the Chinese ones are similar.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0092LXQRM

Martini5788 · 03/14/2015, 12:40 PM

Those are out of stock. I found this a little while ago

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=151558757231

PeterHall · 03/14/2015, 12:43 PM

Those leds don't put out enough wattage.

Martini5788 · 03/14/2015, 12:55 PM

Oh ok. What kind of wattage should I be looking for?

Uncle Luke · 03/14/2015, 01:28 PM

http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=18

I would get these for sure. Too bad they're out of stock right now.

zachts · 03/14/2015, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martini5788

Thanks! How many of those should I get?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankotje

Here you go:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Best-Dimmabl...item27f4aeb03f

If you go with these or similar, I'd keep the T5 as spectrum infill. You will get much better results overall that way (from an aesthetic standpoint anyway). The cheap ebay panels also have a good track record of failing after a year or two, so keep that in mind. They grow coral but the construction quality is very low, you get what you pay for with LEDs (at least up to a point, then it's just name brands and bells and whistles)

I would suggest you look into Buildmyled.com a 48" strip will be over your budget however adding it to your existing lighting would be perfect and you will never need to buy new bulbs for it so factor that in when you consider purchase cost. The 20k spectrum seems to be the most popular right now. Adding a second one latter and you could ditch the t5 all together and be set on light untill you decide you wan't to start keeping SPS (then just add another strip). The quality is 100 times better than those inexpensive ebay led panels.

zachts · 03/14/2015, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martini5788

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=301144442873
I don't know if I am typing it in wrong or what but I'm only coming up with freshwater leds, and they are over 100. I might start with this. Thoughts?

Steer clear of any t5 units that don't use individual reflectors on the bulbs, much of the light is wasted on these type units and with a deep tank you need all the light you can get being directed down into the tank where it is needed.

cidbozek · 03/14/2015, 07:02 PM

Don't have a recommendation for a tank of that depth, but remember tho you get what you pay for. Just be careful of the really cheap fixtures, some are known fire hazards.

Good luck in your search

Martini5788 · 03/15/2015, 07:21 PM

I will keep that in mind. The fire hazard thing is very concerning. And I don't want to waste my money :/. A lot of lights want you to mount them atleast 9 inches above the water, could I get away with a lower strength light if I mounted them closer?

03/13/2015, 11:00 PM	#1
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	Which lighting for softies, lps, and anemone that is less than$ 200 I have decided that I want to upgrade my lighting to be able to keep some soft corals. The fixture needs to be 48" long. My current setup is HO T5 with 2 bulbs. The tank is deep though, about 2.5 feet. I don't want to spend more money than I need to, and LEDs are looking pretty expensive. Can I add another t5 fixture? Ideally, what should I do in order to grow softies, etc. any help is appreciated because as far as lighting goes, I am completely lost.

03/14/2015, 12:07 AM	#3
urbanrat84 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 246	You can add more T5s if thats what you want to do. With the depth of your tank, as long as you select corals with placement and lighting needs in mind, you will get some lovely results. Choose some of the larger growing softies like leathers to become centre pieces. Start them high in the tank and as they get taller, keep moving them down. Over the next few years they will end up with their crowns still basking in the brightest light near the surface of the water. In the lower parts of the tank morphs will do well and are bright/colourful. There are also a few LPS coral you can place in the lower areas - such as Acans and Elegance corals. I have my bubble tip anemones 1 1/2 feet below my lighting currently but for the last 4 years they've been in a basket a few inches from the light. They do well under both conditions. __________________ Megan Current Tank Info: Dedicated BTA tank - been in the hobby since Jan 07

03/14/2015, 12:31 AM	#5
jbvdhp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,131	The eBay ones for $100 are great for the money, or U can buy a "branded" reef breeders LED, which is the same as the ebay ones. There are programmable ones now too. __________________ This hobby = no more money Current Tank Info: 8' 240 gallons of headache

03/14/2015, 07:02 PM	#17
cidbozek Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 274	Don't have a recommendation for a tank of that depth, but remember tho you get what you pay for. Just be careful of the really cheap fixtures, some are known fire hazards. Good luck in your search __________________ Cid Current Tank Info: 90 Mixed reef,Radion xp30w pro,RO Diablo,MP40,MP10s,Sump with fuge,40 breeder frag tank

03/13/2015, 11:18 PM	#2
PeterHall Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Pacific Palisades, CA Posts: 199	You can get the cheap $100 led. I had two on my 55 gallon that grew things great and put them on my 150. They easily grow everything.

03/14/2015, 01:37 AM	#6
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=301144442873 I don't know if I am typing it in wrong or what but I'm only coming up with freshwater leds, and they are over 100. I might start with this. Thoughts?

03/14/2015, 01:52 AM	#7
Frankotje Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Barendrecht , the Netherlands Posts: 17	Here you go: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Best-Dimmabl...item27f4aeb03f

03/14/2015, 10:38 AM	#8
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	Thanks! How many of those should I get?

03/14/2015, 10:46 AM	#9
Big Dog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kittanning, PA Posts: 226	2 for a 4 foot tank

03/14/2015, 10:51 AM	#10
PeterHall Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Pacific Palisades, CA Posts: 199	Two would be perfect. These are the ones I bought last year since they had good reviews but I think all the Chinese ones are similar. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0092LXQRM

03/14/2015, 12:40 PM	#11
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	Those are out of stock. I found this a little while ago http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=151558757231

03/14/2015, 12:43 PM	#12
PeterHall Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Pacific Palisades, CA Posts: 199	Those leds don't put out enough wattage.

03/14/2015, 12:55 PM	#13
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	Oh ok. What kind of wattage should I be looking for?

03/14/2015, 01:28 PM	#14
Uncle Luke Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,011	http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=18 I would get these for sure. Too bad they're out of stock right now.

03/15/2015, 07:21 PM	#18
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	I will keep that in mind. The fire hazard thing is very concerning. And I don't want to waste my money :/. A lot of lights want you to mount them atleast 9 inches above the water, could I get away with a lower strength light if I mounted them closer?