29G LPS Tank Lighting Ideas

[jml1149]

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Right now, I'm working on my first 29g tank build. It's FO at the moment, with a purple pseudo and a CUC hacking away at the algae and diatoms. Been running since October 2014.

Currently, for lighting, I'm using a couple of these 6500k CFL's from Lowe's:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_7741-75774-LBP7T10_4294801209__?productId=1100833&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1%26page%3D2&facetInfo=#BVRRWidgetID

For me, for now, for fish only, I believe this is good enough. But I'm getting ready for my first corals, which I would like to be from the genus Euphyllia. At this time, I don't believe I want to keep SPS in this tank.

So I'm thinking a Super Actinic 30" Build My LED fixture, combined with a couple of these Lowe's 6500k CFLs in pendants for the whites and to provide some non-linear lighting. Build My LED link here:

http://www.buildmyled.com/super-actinic-reef-spectrum/

Does this seem like a reasonable plan? I'll manually dim the BML fixture, and control the on/off everything with timers.

Or, would I be better off with a 14k fixture?

As always, any advice tips or help appreciated!!! Thanks!!! :dance:

 

[herostar]

I've been using the Reef Breeders Value Fixture for a couple years now and it has been awesome!

I grow LPS, SPS, softies, everything with a single fixture above my 58g. I originally bought it for my 30g cube as a replacement for my 175w Metal Halide fixture. It is dimmable (built-in), so I bought it knowing that in the future I could turn it up or use it on a bigger tank. One of my friends has also run the same fixture for a couple years... highly recommended great value. On a side note... my tank temps and power bills dropped immediately upon switching

 

[jml1149]

Ah, I see the unit is manually dimmable with the two knobs, I didn't see that previously. I like that the other units interface with the APEX system, that would be my major holdup with this. But, really, can't argue with the price. Plus the guy is local, I live a couple miles from him.