Reefinmamma
New member
Hello. My tank is still cycling, so I am really new to all this!! I am learning a lot from this site and was hoping to get some advice in lighting.
I have a 65 gallon tall (48x24x13) tank (with a gorgeous wood stand and canopy) with 60+ lbs of live rock, 20lbs of live sand and crushed pukka shells on top. I want to do reef, but not hard core as I don't have much front to back space. I had freshwater for 15 years and love the fish but think the soft corals and leathers, etc are amazing. I have a used T5 currently (4bulbs) and it is simply too big to put my canopy on for the completed look and is SUPER hot!! Let me just say, I have been looking into LEDs and can't afford $400+ on lighting. I'm getting conflicting information as to whether or not 1 ecoxotic panorama marine 48" 12000k/445NM with whites and blues will be sufficient without adding anything else (or having to buy 2)? Many people don't realize the 40 LEDs on the strip although only 1 watt have the power of a 3 watt (they are Cree LEDs). I also love this light because of the amazing flexibly with the programmable module you can buy to replicate basically any day/night light condition. I know someone posted on this site who has a 320 gallon reef tank using 4 of these lights (plus an additional blue actinic) and according to my calculations, I should be ok or at least close with just one strip?
Please help! I just want to know that I'm making a smart decision of this the first time around (well second).
I have a 65 gallon tall (48x24x13) tank (with a gorgeous wood stand and canopy) with 60+ lbs of live rock, 20lbs of live sand and crushed pukka shells on top. I want to do reef, but not hard core as I don't have much front to back space. I had freshwater for 15 years and love the fish but think the soft corals and leathers, etc are amazing. I have a used T5 currently (4bulbs) and it is simply too big to put my canopy on for the completed look and is SUPER hot!! Let me just say, I have been looking into LEDs and can't afford $400+ on lighting. I'm getting conflicting information as to whether or not 1 ecoxotic panorama marine 48" 12000k/445NM with whites and blues will be sufficient without adding anything else (or having to buy 2)? Many people don't realize the 40 LEDs on the strip although only 1 watt have the power of a 3 watt (they are Cree LEDs). I also love this light because of the amazing flexibly with the programmable module you can buy to replicate basically any day/night light condition. I know someone posted on this site who has a 320 gallon reef tank using 4 of these lights (plus an additional blue actinic) and according to my calculations, I should be ok or at least close with just one strip?
Please help! I just want to know that I'm making a smart decision of this the first time around (well second).
