What's the hot setup? That will be my next larger purchase for both tanks. I don't need anything crazy expensive, but good quality and good lighting is a must. It is for freshwater only. One tank is 6 feet long and the other is 8 feet long. What do the experts recommend?
Lights...
- Thread starter ChiPerf
- Start date
I have Marineland double brights. To light up my 8 foot tank, I have 2 48inch strips($199 each). Light is sufficient and fills my 24 inch wide, 30 inch tall tank well.
Draw backs: 1) the blue led lacks its own individual power supply so auto timer for moon light does not work
2) one of the power supply failed after only a month of usage. Marinland did send a replacement for no charge.
Draw backs: 1) the blue led lacks its own individual power supply so auto timer for moon light does not work
2) one of the power supply failed after only a month of usage. Marinland did send a replacement for no charge.
No plants, fish only. 125 gallon is 6x2 roughly, and the 400 is 8x3 roughly. Sounds like these are gonna cost some dough huh?
LEDs yes. but they do save electricity...the 48 inch double brights has 24 1w leds each so you light your 8 foot tank for about a little over 50Ws.
then again, a cheap double strip flo is $110 for 48 inches...and it consumes much more power.
then again, a cheap double strip flo is $110 for 48 inches...and it consumes much more power.
I use a double t5ho 48" for the center and a few smaller strips around the perimeter of my 8'. I can never make up my mind where I want light and or shadows so this works for me.
I have a marineland double brite strip on my mbuna tank and I honestly hate it. No independent control for the lunars and if you don't like the color of the light (which I don't) you can't change it. If your looking at LEDs, I would look at some other brands IMO
I have a marineland double brite strip on my mbuna tank and I honestly hate it. No independent control for the lunars and if you don't like the color of the light (which I don't) you can't change it. If your looking at LEDs, I would look at some other brands IMO
Good info guys. Thanks. I am new to all this so I have no idea what to expect. I might be leaning towards flourescent now, based on cost of LED units and very little use seeing as I have a ton of windows right by the tanks during the day. I have heard of a few others not happy with their super expensive LED setups too. If the light is all the same, then why not go with flourescent? I might like some moon lunar lights or whatever they are called, so I'm not sure, but maybe I can add just those separately sometime. I will be building my own canopy hanging from the ceiling eventually, so the units themselves won't even be shown. I suppose cheap ass shop lights are an option too, but that would look super ghetto for the time being. Not sure how long it will take me to finish the canopy. Any other info or opinions is valued, so thanks in advance.
^^ LEDs are great don't get me wrong, but good ones can get expensive. Plus staying with a fluorescent tube of some sort gives you options. Don't like the color spectrum? Don't change the light, just change the bulb.
I also run separate lunars on most of my displays since I house loricariids. Cool for night viewing.
I also run separate lunars on most of my displays since I house loricariids. Cool for night viewing.
deep blue solar max H.E. 2ft 3ft or 4ft in any combo to match the tank length (my want to get it so it doesn't shine on the braces)