Help a lighting challenged fool

[YHSublime]

So the one thing I really am having trouble grasping is lighting for our tanks. From what I can gather, is the lighting is more essential for our corals. I've read a lot, but am having trouble understanding different bulbs, sizes, color spectrum, what's needed, and what's for looks. I'm building a 40 gallon breeder reef aquarium, and would be interested to hear recommendations for lights. I know that there are T5 lights, and I know that there are LED's now, and several other options. I know that there is a lot of opinions on what works the best. This thread isn't to start a discussion about what you think is best, but for explaining the difference between lighting and maybe just stating what has worked for you. I also have some questions as to "housing." I really like the way that the clamp lighting sticks to the sides of the tank and rounds over, like this.

 

I am also interested in the AI Nanos, although a little bit expensive, they seem very versatile and tiny, and I wouldn't mind having a variety of uses for them should I want to change my mind.

 

I am open to suggestions on what to do for my 40breeder, but also would like to understand why I make whatever choice I go with. I am currently interested in SPS, but would like to play with LPS as well as I grow my tank.

[Happyfeet]

LED > MH > T5 in my opinion. LED is really nice because you can really customize the spectrum you're delivering to your corals. From what I remember Corals only have chlorophyll A which is most efficient under, 430NM Violet, 640NM Red and under 2700K-3500K Warm White corals grow the best. The problem being if you set up those spectrums for your display tank. Your tank will look like someone peed in it.

 

For that reason most people forgo the violet/red and stick to the 440-460 NM range to get the blues, and then head to the 14k-20k range to eliminate the yellow. It's not optimal for coral growth, but it's a good balance of efficiency and aesthetics

 

TLDR Get a quality bulb in the 14K-20K range and get supplemental lighting in the 430-460 range you will look good and grow well.

[AlanM]

http://www.advanceda...paign=clickthru

 

Very comprehensive article about lighting for corals that explains what the different types of bulbs bring to the table including a discussion of the light absorption of zooxanthellae.

 

One interesting fact that I got from the article is that while "white" LEDs are actually a blue LED with a yellow phosphor coating, which we perceive as white, it's also possible to get something we would perceive as white from red and cyan or from green and magenta.

 

The article also talks about CCT, CRI, and lots of other light related terms.

 

Also, see this post, first one in the thread, by Milad from LEDGroupBuy which has lots of interesting graphics about the different proteins and types of chlorophyll and what wavelenghts they absorb:

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/294733-full-spectrum-led-tank-pictures/#entry3740354

Edited January 5, 2013 by AlanM

[surf&turf]

JM2C but, SPS=MH

T-5 or LED=LPS, softies, or what ever else you want to keep.

[firecrackerbob]

well... lets see... first off, its hard not to make this topic contentious. you will find that there is very much a line in the sand out there between people who like LED and those who dont( I for one think they look like crap)

.

but lets start with 1 assumption- that all these lights will generally grow most anything if set up correctly. I think that is probably fair, with the caveat that some LED will need some supplementation if the spectra is not complete. MH is the traditional approach to SPS growth, but I have had plenty of luck with T5, and have heard reasonable things with LED as well.

 

so lets approach the problem this way-

1)get out there to a lot of stores and see as many tanks as you can- or see peoples in the club. or look at tanks of the month on reef central

2)decide which looks best to you-T5, MH, or LED

3)decide what color temerature looks best to you- 14K, 20K, 10K...

4)build your settup to match that

 

or to go another way-

a 40 breeder is 36in wide I believe and 18in deep. you could go LED(which I dont know much about), you could go maybe 1x250 MH, or 2x150 MH depending on you aquascape with some additional actinic, or maybe 6x T5.

 

my biggest point being that you really first need to decide what looks best to you and work backward.

 

is there any specific questions you have?

[YHSublime]

LED > MH > T5 in my opinion. LED is really nice because you can really customize the spectrum you're delivering to your corals. From what I remember Corals only have chlorophyll A which is most efficient under, 430NM Violet, 640NM Red and under 2700K-3500K Warm White corals grow the best. The problem being if you set up those spectrums for your display tank. Your tank will look like someone peed in it.

 

For that reason most people forgo the violet/red and stick to the 440-460 NM range to get the blues, and then head to the 14k-20k range to eliminate the yellow. It's not optimal for coral growth, but it's a good balance of efficiency and aesthetics

 

TLDR Get a quality bulb in the 14K-20K range and get supplemental lighting in the 430-460 range you will look good and grow well.

Great info, thanks!

 

http://www.advanceda...paign=clickthru

 

Very comprehensive article about lighting for corals that explains what the different types of bulbs bring to the table including a discussion of the light absorption of zooxanthellae.

 

One interesting fact that I got from the article is that while "white" LEDs are actually a blue LED with a yellow phosphor coating, which we perceive as white, it's also possible to get something we would perceive as white from red and cyan or from green and magenta.

 

The article also talks about CCT, CRI, and lots of other light related terms.

 

Also, see this post, first one in the thread, by Milad from LEDGroupBuy which has lots of interesting graphics about the different proteins and types of chlorophyll and what wavelenghts they absorb:

 

http://www.nano-reef...s/#entry3740354

Great info as well, thanks for the links!

 

JM2C but, SPS=MH

T-5 or LED=LPS, softies, or what ever else you want to keep.

To the point. Thanks!

 

well... lets see... first off, its hard not to make this topic contentious. you will find that there is very much a line in the sand out there between people who like LED and those who dont( I for one think they look like crap)

.

but lets start with 1 assumption- that all these lights will generally grow most anything if set up correctly. I think that is probably fair, with the caveat that some LED will need some supplementation if the spectra is not complete. MH is the traditional approach to SPS growth, but I have had plenty of luck with T5, and have heard reasonable things with LED as well.

 

so lets approach the problem this way-

1)get out there to a lot of stores and see as many tanks as you can- or see peoples in the club. or look at tanks of the month on reef central

2)decide which looks best to you-T5, MH, or LED

3)decide what color temerature looks best to you- 14K, 20K, 10K...

4)build your settup to match that

 

or to go another way-

a 40 breeder is 36in wide I believe and 18in deep. you could go LED(which I dont know much about), you could go maybe 1x250 MH, or 2x150 MH depending on you aquascape with some additional actinic, or maybe 6x T5.

 

my biggest point being that you really first need to decide what looks best to you and work backward.

 

is there any specific questions you have?

No, I think you're right. Tarentino this, and I'll find what I'm looking for. I for one feel that the LED's don't look that bad, but again, I don't know exactly what I'm looking for. Like mentioned by HappyFeet, i don't want my tank to look like somebody peed in it. That's great advice though, look at lighting that I like, and see what people are using to figure out what I want to do.

[AlanM]

Maxspect razor 160w would look awful nice over a 40 breeder. It's so pretty.

[smallreef]

You should look at tanks/lighting in your area..see who's lighting you like and why....

I'm actually trying to make my LEDs the same colors as my Tek T5 fixture.....

[zygote2k]

Another angle to view this topic-

 

Actual size of the lighting fixture is important. MH's tend to be big reflector types or combo light types likw the MH/T5 combos that Current used to make. Both of these have external ballasts and associated cabling which need to be allowed for. Sometimes the ballasts are inside the fixture which tends to make cooling more critical. I've replaced several T5 ballasts on these fixtures because the heat from the MH cooks everything.

The next in size is the T5 or most any fluorescent fixture. These tend to be long, flat, and wide with smaller external ballasts like the MH fixtures.

Both of these systems radiate lots of heat from the bulbs which often makes the tank water higher and sometimes a chiller is needed to counteract the heat.

LED fixtures tend to be pendant types that are completely self contained and weigh a few pounds each. Depending on the actual size of the fixture and/or how the optics are arranged will determine the actual amount of pendants needed. With correct optics and placement of actual emitters, the disco-ball effect won't be an issue.

All of these systems generate heat. MH is the hottest, T5 mid to high, and LED mid to low. LED actually requires a fan to keep the emitters from disintegrating due to excessive heat. Good quality LED has good fans and good heatsinks.

All 3 of these light systems provide differently colored lights and with enough imagination and creativity, you can get any of these systems to closely replicate the look of another.

 

I personally use Cree white and blue emitters and everything grows just fine and colors are true.

 

The most important thing to remember is that consistent water quality is responsible for growing corals more than any light fixture.

[YHSublime]

The most important thing to remember is that consistent water quality is responsible for growing corals more than any light fixture.

This is important to remember. Lots of good information in there, and I certainly like firsthand how your lights work, and how your corals are thriving.

 

You should look at tanks/lighting in your area..see who's lighting you like and why....

I'm actually trying to make my LEDs the same colors as my Tek T5 fixture.....

This is what I'm doing now, just looking at tanks tanks tanks, and then finding out what kind of lighting everybody is running.

 

Maxspect razor 160w would look awful nice over a 40 breeder. It's so pretty.

I just looked up what the maxspect razor was. I like it. I like it a lot. It looks like $495 is the MSRP?