Lighting for 40 gallon breeder
- Thread starter scelona
- Start date
You could do a 4 bulb T5 fixture if you're just doing a softy tank. I used to run a 6 bulb T5 on my 40b and that grew SPS very well so I think a 4 bulb would be fine for you. You'll need to look for a 36" fixture.
Wryknow
New member
Almost anything designed for reef aquariums will work for softies. The nice part about LEDs is their lower life cycle cost (less power and bulb replacement.) Are yo the type that's going to want to try LPS and SPS later on? IF so, you will want something that can be easily expanded in the future (DIY T5s or a LEDs woulds be my pick.)
scelona
New member
I am not planning on doing any other type of corals but I am sure a lot of people initially think that. I have narrowed it down to LEDs as I like the lower wattage requirements and have looked at kessils, build my led, and reef breeders. I would like to spend no more then $300 and would like dimming and timer functions but I've noticed a lot of the controllers cost $100 alone.
scelona
New member
Have you started your build yet?
Salty Cracker
New member
I run a 50 breeder with a cheap t5 light. Works fine. Tons of soft corals.
mmittlesteadt
New member
I have a 40 gallon breeder with softies and I use a single Kessil A160WE about 8" over my water. In this pic I have the intensity at about 75% and the spectrum about 1/3 above full actinic.
Tank is only 2 1/2 months old...
Tank is only 2 1/2 months old...
scelona
New member
I have a 40 gallon breeder with softies and I use a single Kessil A160WE about 8" over my water. In this pic I have the intensity at about 75% and the spectrum about 1/3 above full actinic.
Tank is only 2 1/2 months old...
Tank looks great. Is there a reason you chose the Kessil over a light bar style LED? Like yourself, I have a canopy over my tank that I really like and the kessil seems tough with a canopy (your solution is a good one though). Ive been leaning towards a reconditioned reef breeders 24" photon ($280) at the moment. It looks like a great light and I like the built in timer functions and ease of use with a canopy. But I would love to hear your reasoning for getting the kessil.
mmittlesteadt
New member
Quite a few reasons really. The biggest reason...cost. Where I work we have a large pet department with a huge saltwater section that is carrying higher end equipment now. I get everything at slightly above cost. They carry Kessil now.
Having said that, I love the Kessil so much I would have paid full retail if I had to.But, having seen the Kessils over their 220 gallon tank as well as a few friends' tanks, I LOVE the shimmer. Some don't, but I enjoyed my tank just from the shimmer alone, even before I put anything into it.
I like the round, small fixture. I'm not one to want my tank flooded with light from one end to the other. I prefer to have the light at the ends of the tank gradually fade out to eliminate the boxy look of a tank.
It's amazing how much light a fixture smaller than a pop can puts out. It takes very little to mount them because of their size.
Also they are adjustable and I can add a controller (which I will at some point). I just have mine on a cheap dial timer to turn it on and off. I typically run mine at full actinic from morning until I get home. Then I manually adjust it to my liking, and later dial it back to full actinic later at night, so it's already set to that when it shuts off (and turns on in the morning again).
Everyone has their likes and dislikes, but I love Kessils.
