Trying to determine best way to light my new 265 (84x24x30). With it being kind of awkward length I’m looking for recommendations on how to get full coverage lighting.
Lighting Recommendations
- Thread starter gatormfk
- Start date
There's are many options based on how your tank is built for mouting, if you're open to multiple light assemblies or just one main bracket with separate light assemblies.
You should consider how much you want to spend and if aesthetics are important to you. Some of the lights can get pricey anf not worth it based on ehat you need.
You should consider how much you want to spend and if aesthetics are important to you. Some of the lights can get pricey anf not worth it based on ehat you need.
I'm pretty much open to anything. The lighting will be hidden by a canopy, so aesthetics are not overly important to me. The tank will have three equal sized sections and I will be enclosing each of them with glass (and probably sandbags or something) to keep my damn Arowana from jumping out. Mostly concerned with the best way to get full coverage lighting without completely breaking the bank.
If it's going to be covered up you have endless possibilities. I'd go LED to run cooler. You could even do shop lights or all the relatively inexpensive options and go front to back in three sections. Do a search on this site as there are many threads on brands from folks that have used them.
Hadn't thought about going front to back, so thanks, was trying to figure out the length run. That said if I go front to back they will be much smaller LED panels. Will those have enough power to light the full depth of the tank @ 30"?
king of DIY makes a good youtube video on the led strip lights in gutter strips with PVC pipe. On my 180 gal I run 4 rolls in 2 sections of 6 foot strips of gutter and its perfect so I'd say you could probably use at least 6 or probably 8 rolls depending on how bright you prefer. You can make them to whatever length you like and mount them any way you like. I also recommend using the mirror ducktape instead of the aluminum tape he uses. It seems to reflect better.
It's cool because you can adjust the color on the individual lights and fine tune them to match your landscape and fish colors. I got 2 roll packs off amazon for 30 bucks and they are waterproof and connect to your phone for color adjustment and timers. I dont think they are bright enough for plant growth but for plant less tanks I really prefer them over anything I've ever used before.
You could probably use a single or double shop light then run the strip lighting for highlights to add more blue and red since the stoplights tend to be very yellow and will make your fish look colorless.
It's cool because you can adjust the color on the individual lights and fine tune them to match your landscape and fish colors. I got 2 roll packs off amazon for 30 bucks and they are waterproof and connect to your phone for color adjustment and timers. I dont think they are bright enough for plant growth but for plant less tanks I really prefer them over anything I've ever used before.
You could probably use a single or double shop light then run the strip lighting for highlights to add more blue and red since the stoplights tend to be very yellow and will make your fish look colorless.