300+ gallon tank Lighting

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Jesseliu13

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jun 27, 2012
1,129
137
96
Holmdel, NJ
Im thinking about just making my own canopy and install lighting myself. Im not very good with LEDs and I know they save alot of money but considering im still a novice at this DIY stuff, I was thinking maybe 8 light strips of T12? maybe putting in 2 of these? http://www.lowes.com/pd_283285-1390...uctId=1208545&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1

and on the outside of each will just be normal white daylight lights, and the inside will be 1 red and 1 blue..

The main purpose is to get the most color out of my fish. I do have planted tanks as well but I dont think I will be doing it in this planned large tank because I do have cichlids and loaches. So any plants will be uprooted.

Now my fear is that there will be too much light.

I do have top swimmers. a Jardini and and silver.
Is this too much light?
 
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Yeah LEDs are really the way to go. They might be alittle expenceive but they last almost forever. Their are places online that will let you customize your own with different balbs and they send it to you so if you wanted to go from dim to bright and different colors. My set up is cheep but works good. Two 30 inch strips for day time and one 12 inch for night all on timers. 12-2 one lights trip on, 2-8 both strips on,8-10 one strip on and then 10-11:30 both lights off and the 12 inch night light turns on.

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That's a 210 also. If I wanted more light out of them, I just set them farther apart.
 
Light intensity is something I dont really care about as this wont be a planted tank. but I do care about the spectrum... I want the fish to be gleaming when the light is on it... i heard coloration of light can bring out the best in fish
 
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