LED light coverage, how many do I need? 300DD

glarior · 01/02/2017, 04:25 PM

Wanting to buy LED full spectrum lights for my 300g tank (72"x36"x28") I see many lights say 24x24 coverage but never water depth. I have looked at AI's 52's, AI Prime HD's, Kessel and reefbreeders.

Currently I will have softies I will transfer from the 120g tank too the 300. Eventually I may add SPS corals.

How many lights will I need to buy for a good coverage? 1.5k for budget. Always prefer less money... function over form. I do not need fancy programming, wifi and all that.

mcgyvr · 01/02/2017, 05:28 PM

With just softies 4 x Chinese black box fixtures would be plenty IMO and set you back around $400.. You can add a few more if needed if you need to if you go SPS in the future..

Vinny Kreyling · 01/02/2017, 05:36 PM

I would talk to Logan @ Reefbreeders about 3-4 24" units run the width of the tank.
Possibly even 18" if corals are in the center.

Ron Reefman · 01/03/2017, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

With just softies 4 x Chinese black box fixtures would be plenty IMO and set you back around $400.. You can add a few more if needed if you need to if you go SPS in the future..

+1

And I seriously doubt that you would need to add more... although the MarsAqua do have a slightly lower PAR ability than other Chinese black boxes. They don't drive the leds at 2.2 watts like everybody else does. They are at 1.8 or 1.9 watts and that's about a 20% drop. And your tank is 28" deep, so deeper than most (24" being kind of the norm). So I'd look at other than MarsAqua for your particular tank and coral situation.

ca1ore · 01/03/2017, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

I would talk to Logan @ Reefbreeders about 3-4 24" units run the width of the tank.
Possibly even 18" if corals are in the center.

Buddy of mine runs four RB Photon 24 (at least, I think that's what they are)units oriented back to front. More than enough to grow just about anything.

glarior · 01/03/2017, 12:12 PM

Good information. Ive contemplated buying one light and test it on one side of the tank. Slowly narrowing down which one

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01/02/2017, 04:25 PM	#1
glarior Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South TX Posts: 145	LED light coverage, how many do I need? 300DD Wanting to buy LED full spectrum lights for my 300g tank (72"x36"x28") I see many lights say 24x24 coverage but never water depth. I have looked at AI's 52's, AI Prime HD's, Kessel and reefbreeders. Currently I will have softies I will transfer from the 120g tank too the 300. Eventually I may add SPS corals. How many lights will I need to buy for a good coverage? 1.5k for budget. Always prefer less money... function over form. I do not need fancy programming, wifi and all that. __________________ 300g SW - 120g SW Reef;

01/02/2017, 05:28 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	With just softies 4 x Chinese black box fixtures would be plenty IMO and set you back around $400.. You can add a few more if needed if you need to if you go SPS in the future.. __________________ Who me?

01/02/2017, 05:36 PM	#3
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	I would talk to Logan @ Reefbreeders about 3-4 24" units run the width of the tank. Possibly even 18" if corals are in the center. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

01/03/2017, 12:12 PM	#6
glarior Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South TX Posts: 145	Good information. Ive contemplated buying one light and test it on one side of the tank. Slowly narrowing down which one Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk __________________ 300g SW - 120g SW Reef;