Lighting for a 30 gallon...

[I_Found_Nemo]

I'm looking for a setup for my 30 long, I'm doing an order from jlaquatics today and would like to get this ordered with it

LED or T5? Budget is <$300, the less the better. What would be the best route to go?

Thanks a lot

 

[I_Found_Nemo]

Also, I'll be keeping a mixed tank with bits of everything! LPS, SPS and softies as well as some reef fish, I like lots of color

Also, id like for it to come from www.jlaquatics.com so I don't need to make two separate orders

Thanks!

 

[Felixc395]

Well less than $300 will limit you significantly, but you may make something work. First off, what corals do you want to keep? This will help us make a recommendation.

The first fixtures I think that would be good would be a 4 bulb 24" ATI sunpower, that would be great. Another would be a 24" 4 bulb Tek/Tek elite. These will be less expensive, yet still work. Just know T5's don't come really in 30" so you won't cover the entire tank equally.

So based on that, I think a DIY LED would be best. I don't know of a fixture under $300 for LED's. You can make the dimensions and light the way you want with a DIY just fine.

 

[Felixc395]

I see know, that website does have Tek fixtures under the fluorescent section. A four bulb 24" would fit your budget and work well too.

 

[I_Found_Nemo]

It's a 30 gallon long so i can use 36" fixtures. I guess I should have made that clearer thank you for the recommendation

 

[Felixc395]

Oh, well that's a good thing then! You could go with a four bulb 36" Tek then. You might have to shade some softies though. It'd be perfect for SPS! You would then be able to keep whatever you want in the tank for later.

 

[I_Found_Nemo]

Awesome! Sounds like a plan how about bulbs? I was thinking the following


Antinic
Aqua blue
Aqua pink or Aqua flora, any input here?
Aqua blue

Thanks again


Two more quick questions, what bulb should I run in my refug for my chaeto and my QT (separate fixtures/systems)?

 

[Felixc395]

For bulbs, I really only like ATI, KZ and Geismann. What color do you like, leaning tirades more blue or leaning towards more white? I can help you if I know this.

Oh and by the way on jlaquatics, make sure to select the Tek fixture 4 bulb 36" not the wavepoint or sunblaze. That's a little confusing how they group them all together. And reef geek is selling that same fixture for $300 with bulbs. Save you about $45. Just a
thought, I know you want to go through the website but I thought I'd mention it.

For a fuge, any PC fixture will work to grow chaeto. On a quarantine, it depends on what you want and how big the quarantine tank is. Were you thinking fish and/or corals in the quarantine?