Lighting a FOWLR
- Thread starter E.intheC
- Start date
GoingPostal
Active member
135 gallon, I have a 3 x 250 watt halide fixture over it although usually only run the side two bulbs, it was going to be a reef tank but decided to go fowlr instead, light was cheap and used so no point in reselling it and I left a few lps and softies in there.
DoubleM 10
Active member
i have a 55 gallon lit by a 4 bulb t-5 ho. i also have a 46 bow lit by a 4 bulb t-5 HO.
SaltyMember
Premium Member
On my 125g I have 2 36inch, double bulb T5 HO fixtures.
geaux xman
New member
i have a 5ft 180g with 2x150w MH. however most of the time, i just use the room flourscent lights and would go for days without turning on the MH.
stangd1909
GO NOLES!
I have a 100 gallon with 1 36 inch florescent power compact. I am thinking of switching to a Aqua Illuminations SOL Super Blue Modular LED Lighting System.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
I'm switching all my tanks to LEDs. No bulbs to buy, hardly any heat, very low elec use, shimmer like MHs, and not as expensive as you'd think. I love my 1st one, a Marineland reef capable on a 240 FOWLR. My other tanks will use retrofits. http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=22443
stangd1909
GO NOLES!
MrTuskfish
Team RC
I don't do pics, I'll learn some day. kirkaz had a thread on his not long ago.
stangd1909
GO NOLES!
OK I will do a search and see if I can find anything....are they more blue or white?
MrTuskfish
Team RC
IMO; they'r almost the same as any fluorescent fixture that uses an equal combination of 10000K & Actinic blue lamps, plus the shimmer of MH's.
Here's Kirkaz's thread & video of his great tank, you have to get about 1/2 way through before all the lights are on.:http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2008888
E.intheC
Active member
do you think 2x of these
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21973
over my 90 would support softies? I might be interested in keeping some easy softy type corals.. still kicking that idea around.
I like the Double Bright rather than the reef version because of the ratio of white to blue bulbs.
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21973
over my 90 would support softies? I might be interested in keeping some easy softy type corals.. still kicking that idea around.
I like the Double Bright rather than the reef version because of the ratio of white to blue bulbs.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
As to te corals;I'd call F&S and ask for a light tech, they usually have great tech support.
Actually, the "reef capable" units use different and more powerful bulbs. The product description says "25% boost in blue light' So it isn't just the number of bulbs. There was thread, a while back, on these lights. A RC member ordered the "double bright" and thought they were too yellowish. he exchanged them for the "reef capable". Obviously, the difference in price is considerable. Search the forum for LED lights, I'm sure you'll find it. It won't be long before LEDs can be customized & changed, like any fixture. I'll bet the price keeps dropping too. I think LEDs will be the standard soon, the technology for them is just starting to reach our hobby.
SaltyMember
Premium Member
I have seen the double bright lights in person and they are definitely on the yellowish side. I was considering them until I saw them. I have not seen the reef capable light.
Josh_Canada
New member
i would use t5's with lots of acintics or just LED's to save on power bills and bulb replacement.
Recty
New member
I searched around online quite a bit looking at reviews for those Marineland LEDs. Basically, all the real hardcore reefers say they are crap, then they recommend a LED that puts out more lumens and only costs $1200 more...
For those on a budget, like most of us, the Marineland Reef Ready lights seem to be the way to go, even for a FOWLR. The Double Bright setup from what everyone says is just real yellow looking and they dont like the color of their fish with it. I've been trying out different lights, I just recently bought a T5 setup on my tank that has a 460nm actinic and a 10K and I still dont like the look, I'm hoping this Marineland LED will be better. I liked the video Kirkaz took of his tank, if mine ends up looking like that for light coloration I'll be happy. Plus... 50,000 hours lifetime on the LEDs? That's nuts. I wont have to buy bulbs for 5 years, worst case scenario. By then, LEDs will have come so far and so much lower in price I'll get a different system, most likely.
For those on a budget, like most of us, the Marineland Reef Ready lights seem to be the way to go, even for a FOWLR. The Double Bright setup from what everyone says is just real yellow looking and they dont like the color of their fish with it. I've been trying out different lights, I just recently bought a T5 setup on my tank that has a 460nm actinic and a 10K and I still dont like the look, I'm hoping this Marineland LED will be better. I liked the video Kirkaz took of his tank, if mine ends up looking like that for light coloration I'll be happy. Plus... 50,000 hours lifetime on the LEDs? That's nuts. I wont have to buy bulbs for 5 years, worst case scenario. By then, LEDs will have come so far and so much lower in price I'll get a different system, most likely.
rachenbrazil
Member
In my 210 G , I am using 4 par 38 reefdevil LED . They are 1 ft above the aquarium so looks like MH sensation, close to 2000K lamps, a little bit less intense, but much cooler as well . I have some mush and leathers in the middle of some rock under 2 PAR 38 focus.
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