Lighting Setup Suggestions - 500ish Gallon Tank

[tanglovers]

Hi All,

Getting ready to start a 500-600 gallon stingray tank build. Roughly 8' x 4'.

What do most of you guys use for lighting? I am looking for the most bang for your buck and efficient on electricity.

I am leaning toward the Reef Brite LED strip lights - using a few over my 520g saltwater tank but hoping to find something cheaper.

This will not be planted, just need lighting to keep the tank viewable and looking nice. Bright but not super bright. likely will be 30" deep.

Thanks!

 

[Egon]

I would just go with home depot T-8 or T-5 shop lights. Super cheap. Just turn them on when your watching the fish. The rest of the day you can keep them off. Rays like it a little darker anyway and your not growing plants.

 

[fish junkie]

http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=684
and thats my recommendation id suggest 4

 

[tanglovers]

http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=684
and thats my recommendation id suggest 4

Thanks! That is kind of the suggestion I as looking for.

Do you use any personally? Roughly how far do they spread and how high above the tank do you have them?

This tank is going to be inwall so I have the option ot mount them fairly high if needed.

 

[tanglovers]

Well same question back to the top.

I bought one of the 10w LED floods. I like it other then the color. It is very yellow.

I bought the 5000-6000k version hoping it would be more white then yellow but this is not the case.

Any suggestions that are cost effective / energy efficient besides normal output type lighting?