Frag tank lighting... What's the best for growth?

[gobytron]

2 400w halides.

bang for buck, there is no better.

[Jeff000]

Originally Posted by Nano

I personally think you'd need quite a few 4-6 par 30's for a 40" tank 9could be wrong) if your looking into LED why not DIY or something?

Diy is fine, just can't figure out how many. Or what colors.

Was hoping the par30 bulbs would be quick and easy and work good.

Originally Posted by gobytron

2 400w halides.

bang for buck, there is no better.

12" deep tank, frags will be 5-6 inches down at most.
2 400w mh would fry everything.

[bling_bling466]

I lime the par bulbs I went withthe Orpheks. It all depends what u wanna keep also. I've got sps right under the bulbs then zoas around the lightly shaded areas.

[gobytron]

Originally Posted by Jeff000

Diy is fine, just can't figure out how many. Or what colors.

Was hoping the par30 bulbs would be quick and easy and work good.



12" deep tank, frags will be 5-6 inches down at most.
2 400w mh would fry everything.

okay...lol
ypu can put them high up over the waterline or use 150 or 250 watt.

either way, this will work the best for growth and cost you the least in time and $$

[Jeff000]

My biggest reason to avoid mh is the heat issues, then power usage. But it's so hard to find what leds grow the best.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Jeff000

12" deep tank, frags will be 5-6 inches down at most.
2 400w mh would fry everything.

I run 400w Radiums over my frag tank, same depth, no issues.

[MarkoD]

Solatubes or put the tank in a greenhouse

[gobytron]

MAYBE in alberta sloatubes MIGHT work.
Calgary is the 2nd sunniest city in Canada.


even then, it's doubtful there is enough annual sun to make solatubes work for a reef aquarium....especially a frag tank.


Do a little research into it and you'll see that a significant number of solatube tanks actually need supplemental lighting.

[Seriak]

Originally Posted by gobytron

MAYBE in alberta sloatubes MIGHT work.
Calgary is the 2nd sunniest city in Canada.

I would say Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada. You can't really call Manyberries a city. Either way, I would still stick with LED's of some sort to save on cost and heat over time, even if it is still up in the air on growth. I have a birdsnest that grows like a weed under my led's and my darth mauls have double the number of polyps since I got them.

[gobytron]

Originally Posted by Seriak

I would say Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada. You can't really call Manyberries a city. Either way, I would still stick with LED's of some sort to save on cost and heat over time, even if it is still up in the air on growth. I have a birdsnest that grows like a weed under my led's and my darth mauls have double the number of polyps since I got them.

Doesnt change the fact that solatubes, even in the SECOND sunniest city in Canada, will not work.

LED's have not really even been proven to save on cost...especially with halides being so much cheaper than when the LED/Halide debate started.

If even one small thing goes wrong with your led fixture, unless your a technically savvy individual your costs will rise significantly.