Questions about lighting.

[Gsharp]

So, I've been doing a lot of looking the past month and a half trying to get all of my equipment priced out and what not; and I can't seem to find a light fixture that will suit my 29g tank. Its 30" long by 12" deep and 18" high, I was leaning toward LEDs because of the efficiency and the fact that I wouldn't have to change bulbs, but their so expensive..

I really hope someone can give me some suggestions as to what lighting products I should buy, either t5 or led work for me. I want to grow some softies and eventually get into lps and sps.

-grant

 

[Sk8r]

Consider that you will have to replace mh bulbs every 6-8 months, T5s not quite so often, but you do have to change bulbs, and mh's can go 50.00 a swat. I calculated that if my LEDs lasted 5-6 years I might be within spitting distance of a reasonable cost. I'd think one lighting unit should suffice.

 

[Virtual Balboa]

I had the same problem as you. I ended up putting two AI Primes on my tank. I like them a lot too. Have a lot of control and grow softies and lps no problem. I haven't tried sps but I have plenty of room to turn the lights up more if I wanted to. My best advice is if you're planning on using a standard 29 gallon, don't. Get a 40 breeder. I wish I would have.

 

[rsain]

There are some extremely affordable LEDs. Try MarsAqua on eBay. Search here for a huge discussion on them.

I dumped my MH for them.

-ryan

 

[davehead86]

You can find a discounted AI or Radion on the selling page here which greatly increases the cost efficancy. If a standard LED lasts 50,000 hours your looking at roughly 4100 12 hour cycles before they go bad. Thats 11 years. Most of the LED's for sale here are 3-4 years old and most of them have sat in a box for 6 months to a year because the person tore the tank down or switched to T5 or MH.

30 wide tank will be fine under 1 light. If you go any bigger you need more than 1 light. Seems like the light drop off after 30 inches is standard and dramatic for most LED lights.