I'm back & I'm guess lets also say I am new.

bobme · 07/30/2017, 02:42 PM

So I have been out of the game for a while. Forgot a lot of the stuff, and things have changed a lot I see as well. Euro Reef gone? Well, after being married 10 years and no plan on kids we both have come to the conclusion of lets buy a huge tank and have a tank room and not a baby room. We are thinking a shallow (maybe 18") 300 gallon tank for SPS and just go all out. I remember a lot about care and water quality but the lighting market has changed a lot. Any suggestions for lighting a 18"-20" deep 8' tank? Thanks guys.
bobme

Valentini89 · 07/30/2017, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobme

So I have been out of the game for a while. Forgot a lot of the stuff, and things have changed a lot I see as well. Euro Reef gone? Well, after being married 10 years and no plan on kids we both have come to the conclusion of lets buy a huge tank and have a tank room and not a baby room. We are thinking a shallow (maybe 18") 300 gallon tank for SPS and just go all out. I remember a lot about care and water quality but the lighting market has changed a lot. Any suggestions for lighting a 18"-20" deep 8' tank? Thanks guys.
bobme

Welcome! And I would recommend LED lighting. The choices are multiple, you have to find what you like.

bobme · 07/31/2017, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valentini89

Welcome! And I would recommend LED lighting. The choices are multiple, you have to find what you like.

I have been looking at LEDs and that was what I really wanted to get. I am a little unsure on the light spread / area covered. I remember when LEDS systems first really started coming out, current usa I think where the high price systems. But that's right when I stopped with reef and went overboard with freshwater systems. I was reading the LED information on some sites and I hate to say this but, most of it goes right over my head.

Sk8r · 07/31/2017, 10:11 AM

Depth matters with LEDs, and so does 'spread'. Just any old LED is not equal to the job if you are keeping coral: you want 'reef-capable' LEDs. You want to ask how far the particular light spreads (width) because LED is highly directional. You want to ask about depth: how deep will this light penetrate. I have a 36" deep tank, which is unusual, so I had about one choice for a light that would do the job. You'll note we have a sticky particularly on lighting.

bobme · 07/31/2017, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Depth matters with LEDs, and so does 'spread'. Just any old LED is not equal to the job if you are keeping coral: you want 'reef-capable' LEDs. You want to ask how far the particular light spreads (width) because LED is highly directional. You want to ask about depth: how deep will this light penetrate. I have a 36" deep tank, which is unusual, so I had about one choice for a light that would do the job. You'll note we have a sticky particularly on lighting.

My old friend had a 8'x4'x18"h tank and I really loved it. Now as an adult 10+ years later I have the money to do that; and I really think now that I have a fish room that's what I will do.

nereefpat · 07/31/2017, 11:21 AM

Just doing some quick/dirty math... the tank will be a little over 3' wide, correct?

It's going to take a lot of lights, no matter how you do it. I would look into something like Mars aqua, get about 6-8 of them, and turn them sideways if you want LEDs.

Look into 8-10 bulb T5 fixtures too, as they would provide good coverage.

bobme · 07/31/2017, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

Just doing some quick/dirty math... the tank will be a little over 3' wide, correct?

It's going to take a lot of lights, no matter how you do it. I would look into something like Mars aqua, get about 6-8 of them, and turn them sideways if you want LEDs.

Look into 8-10 bulb T5 fixtures too, as they would provide good coverage.

The tank is 96"l x 48"w x 18d. I know its a lot of lights - and the idea of using LEDs sounds great, but the ones I saw where around $750 each and I thought I would need like 5 or more. Then I thought the best idea is to come here and learn again

nereefpat · 07/31/2017, 02:17 PM

In that case, I would suggest 8 fixtures. Each would cover a 2'x2' area. You don't have to spend $700 a piece though. There are black box type fixtures that supposedly work just fine. They just have less bells and whistles, like lighting storms and similar crap.

I'm not an LED guy, so hopefully someone else will chime in.

07/30/2017, 02:42 PM	#1
bobme Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 9	I'm back & I'm guess lets also say I am new. So I have been out of the game for a while. Forgot a lot of the stuff, and things have changed a lot I see as well. Euro Reef gone? Well, after being married 10 years and no plan on kids we both have come to the conclusion of lets buy a huge tank and have a tank room and not a baby room. We are thinking a shallow (maybe 18") 300 gallon tank for SPS and just go all out. I remember a lot about care and water quality but the lighting market has changed a lot. Any suggestions for lighting a 18"-20" deep 8' tank? Thanks guys. bobme

07/31/2017, 10:11 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Depth matters with LEDs, and so does 'spread'. Just any old LED is not equal to the job if you are keeping coral: you want 'reef-capable' LEDs. You want to ask how far the particular light spreads (width) because LED is highly directional. You want to ask about depth: how deep will this light penetrate. I have a 36" deep tank, which is unusual, so I had about one choice for a light that would do the job. You'll note we have a sticky particularly on lighting. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/31/2017, 11:21 AM	#6
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Just doing some quick/dirty math... the tank will be a little over 3' wide, correct? It's going to take a lot of lights, no matter how you do it. I would look into something like Mars aqua, get about 6-8 of them, and turn them sideways if you want LEDs. Look into 8-10 bulb T5 fixtures too, as they would provide good coverage. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

07/31/2017, 02:17 PM	#8
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	In that case, I would suggest 8 fixtures. Each would cover a 2'x2' area. You don't have to spend $700 a piece though. There are black box type fixtures that supposedly work just fine. They just have less bells and whistles, like lighting storms and similar crap. I'm not an LED guy, so hopefully someone else will chime in. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers