Starting a 40 gallon breeder tank, I need some help here. Im looking for a low cost, easy to opperate, non-programmable, LED fixture that either sits on or hangs above my tank. All I will be growing are low light corals such as shrooms and acans. Gimme a shove in the right direction. Ive noticed that a lot of reefers out there have 40 galloon Bs, so first hand experience and knowledge will be highly appreciated. Ive done a lot of research much on the web but Im sure there are some things Ive missed. Thanks to all.
Lighting Choices
- Thread starter bobo33
- Start date
I replaced my T5s with the Marineland reef ready LEDs. At first I didnt like them because ven with the blue LEDs built in they were too white, so I had to add a blue LED light strip to make it look good. The second and most important.... They are very intense. Especially on such a shallow tank. In just a week, they completely melted too of my favorite yumas. Even though I caught it early and moved them to a shady spot it was too late. They couldnt recover and they are gone now. So, Im not happy about the yumas but Im looking forward to trying some SPS corals that I didnt think my T5s would be powerful enough for. Hard lesson learned.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Those LEDs won't be keeping any sps. That's a major down grade in my opinion. Your T5s were the much better choice.
Sent from my Galaxy S3
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
I've never used them but the reef breeders LEDs get awesome reviews. I ditched my LEDs about 3 months ago. Best choice I've ever made.
Sent from my Galaxy S3
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
I don't know what T5 fixture you have been using or what bulbs you had in it. I think a 6x24w ATI Sunpower or TEK is hard to beat for a mixed reef over a 40b.
For soft corals in a 40breeder you have a multitude of different lighting options...but-
the marineland LEDS will grow soft coral in a shallow tank like a 40breeder.
NO DOUBT...
Most of us really dislike the Marineland LEDs, if you can return it- you should. They will grow most corals in a shallow tank like a 40b but keep SPS (& most high demanding coral) near the top & directly under the fixture, its not a great fixture but it can grow coral in a shallow tank.
You can do much better though.
I may be wrong but I think Apollo has a LED designed for the 40breeder.
I highly recommend a light that hangs above your tank regardless of what type it is.
For soft corals in a 40breeder you have a multitude of different lighting options...but-
the marineland LEDS will grow soft coral in a shallow tank like a 40breeder.
NO DOUBT...
Most of us really dislike the Marineland LEDs, if you can return it- you should. They will grow most corals in a shallow tank like a 40b but keep SPS (& most high demanding coral) near the top & directly under the fixture, its not a great fixture but it can grow coral in a shallow tank.
You can do much better though.
I may be wrong but I think Apollo has a LED designed for the 40breeder.
I highly recommend a light that hangs above your tank regardless of what type it is.
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nystang
New member
I'm speaking from experience. I used to have Marineland Reef Capable LEDs 24-36". If you keep some corals high in the tank you have to be aware of real spot lights of those lights and finding the right place will be a nightmare. You will need to take a few factors under consideration, flow, aquascape, height and then the spot light. I was happy I was able to sell them used.
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
One thing is - I've seen videos of this led compared to halides etc. & the leds always look better on video/camera to the untrained eye...video & cameras don't portray lighting well at all.
You really need to see them for yourself, I still take pics for people on T5/halide bulb combos but you have to understand the camera won't pic up blue spectrum light well, @ LEDs are very focused so they don't disturb the image as much, I see marineland LEDs on video & think they look better on video compared to halides...
Finally I'm going for a walk, its sunny for once!
You really need to see them for yourself, I still take pics for people on T5/halide bulb combos but you have to understand the camera won't pic up blue spectrum light well, @ LEDs are very focused so they don't disturb the image as much, I see marineland LEDs on video & think they look better on video compared to halides...
Finally I'm going for a walk, its sunny for once!
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The T5s I replaced were not high out put. They were some cheap four bulb set up I got off of ebay. They were keeping my corals alive but I was getting zero growth. I wanted something that wouldnt make much extra heat so hallides were out of the question. And I didnt want to replace bulbs every 6 months so I decided Id go with the LEDs. Marineland were the cheapest so Ididnt lose much money. I think I will go with a new T5 H/O set up. Hopefully I can sell the LEDs and get some money towards a new set up.
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
Ahh, you ad coralife T5 (Normal Output) or something close, not T-8?
They were T5s but there was no ballast, they were crap. The ones that everybody said would catch on fire! I ran two 10,000k and two actinics but never got any growth. They stayed alive. For example. I bought a bunch of frags... star polys, a frogspawn, a rock with about 6 blue shrooms on it and two different acan frags, one with 4 heads and the other with 3 heads. That was two years ago and they all look like I just brought them home a week ago. They all feed well and I spot feed my acans and frogspawn twice a week. My params are ok and stable, I do weekly water changes and my temp stays pretty stable being in Florida. It had to be the lights, right?
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
I should have said white LEDs, sorry. Blue light of any source looks bad on camera or video. The marineland LEDs always look crisp & clear on videos because they are so white.
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Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
The best thing I ever did was get a good T5HO fixture, but if you can't afford one then good ATI,KZ,or Giesseman bulbs, thats your best bet. I found swapping my stock bulbs for ATI bulbs help a lot, but getting a ATI Sunpower helped a lot more, ha!
