Starting a new tank - need help with lighting.

[cro117]

hi, so i was going to set up a 240 i have as a freshwater planted tank with maybe turtles or freshwater rays, but i'm kind of into the whole macro thing right now and thought i might go with a macro tank with some cortez rays and maybe a coral catshark.

anyway, i need to now figure out lighting. i was thinking maybe 4x http://www.ebay.com/itm/E27-18LED-C...968204?hash=item27ffc72e8c:g:HekAAOSwhwdVVF4X

the tank is 8'x2'x2'

or should i maybe go with something more of the red spectrum?

 

[Subsea]

It depends on the macro that you select. Some are photo adaptable to differrent spectrum and some or not.

It is difficult to evaluate differrent LED manufactures spectrum output without having a spectrum analysis chart available to compare. I have not found Chinese LED manufactures to take this step in their quality control of product. In looking at the manufactures details for the white LED, it is described as cool white at 12,000 Kelvin color rendition.
I think that you need more red in your light spectrum. For a planted tank. I would mix 5000 Kelvin with blue. Also, imo, your light intensity is too low. You can start out with a bulb every 2' to see if it enough. I think a bulb every foot instead of every 2' would grow macro better.

 

[cro117]

thanks for the reply. i found a place that will let me customize the bulbs. so what do you think - 2 reds, 4 blues, and 12 whites? or maybe something more like 3 reds, 6 blue, and 9 white? or maybe just and even split of 6 of each?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/E27-54W-12w...955207?hash=item419f16f187:g:1TUAAOSwYHxWMY-t

 

[Subsea]

thanks for the reply. i found a place that will let me customize the bulbs. so what do you think - 2 reds, 4 blues, and 12 whites? or maybe something more like 3 reds, 6 blue, and 9 white? or maybe just and even split of 6 of each?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/E27-54W-12w...955207?hash=item419f16f187:g:1TUAAOSwYHxWMY-t

For eye apeal, I like a mix heavy on the blue, between 50-75%. Unfortunately, most Chinese manufactures don't standardize. Get four bulbs with slight differrenceis in spectrum and compare them in your tank. See what you like best for your viewing. Many macro will photo adapt to manure changes.

I suggest 3 blue, 3 royal blue, 1 red, 1 far red, 2 cool white, 2 white.