My T5 hood is dying and I have decided to go with LED for its replacement.
I presently have a FOWLR tank now and want to add some softies and leathers to upgrade its look. I have LOTS of rock. Tank is a 65g high. I have both a hang-on and a cannister filter + a skimmer, no sump/refugeum. My budget is limited (seriously, I can't afford the cost of the fancy brand name lights talked about on these forums). I am jealous of those who are able to spend thousands on their tanks.
I have read that too much light can bleach out and kill corals. How much is too much? Are they talking about lumen production? PAR? Some LED units list the lumen output but none list the PAR.
I have read that a mixture of white and actinic is the best. Most LEDs seem to have white running from 8K to 12K with most around 10K. (My T5 bulbs are/were 10Ks). While I have read that true actinic is around 420nm, most LEDs seem to be between 445 to 460nm. Is that range sufficient for softies and leathers?
So....what should I look for (spec wise) in an inexpensive 36" unit?
All you help and comment is appreciated.
I presently have a FOWLR tank now and want to add some softies and leathers to upgrade its look. I have LOTS of rock. Tank is a 65g high. I have both a hang-on and a cannister filter + a skimmer, no sump/refugeum. My budget is limited (seriously, I can't afford the cost of the fancy brand name lights talked about on these forums). I am jealous of those who are able to spend thousands on their tanks.
I have read that too much light can bleach out and kill corals. How much is too much? Are they talking about lumen production? PAR? Some LED units list the lumen output but none list the PAR.
I have read that a mixture of white and actinic is the best. Most LEDs seem to have white running from 8K to 12K with most around 10K. (My T5 bulbs are/were 10Ks). While I have read that true actinic is around 420nm, most LEDs seem to be between 445 to 460nm. Is that range sufficient for softies and leathers?
So....what should I look for (spec wise) in an inexpensive 36" unit?
All you help and comment is appreciated.
