Finnex RAY II & FugeRAY PAR Data

[PlantedTankRookie]

Originally Posted by AnniePN

I cant find any data on there being a 30 inch Ray2. Is this true that it comes in a 30 inch?

30" is available. I have two. They are available on Amazon for less than the 24". Be warned that the 30" has the exact same LED strip as the 24" (about 22.5" of LEDs).

[PlantedTankRookie]

Originally Posted by shadetreeme

I appreciate all the work and data put in this thread. I just wish I understood it all
What I am trying to figure out is.....
I have a 6' 125 gallon tank that has an older halide fixture. 300 Watts of halide and 90 of florescent.
it is time to replace that fixture.
I was going to do a 4 bulb 320 watt t5ho fixture.
In looking at these.... I got to thinking about 2 of the 32 inch fixtures.
I have looked at the numbers, but am still confused. I am using co2 and would like to continue.
I was thinking that the ray 2s may be the answer, but don't wasn't to order them and be disappointed.
Any help/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

I'm using two 30" and one 24" on my 72" 125 gallon tank but it is way too soon to determine if the lighting is acceptable for my plants.
Three 24s may have been a better choice but I was impatient and could only find 30s (and at a lower price than the 24s).
They are only 3" in depth so it is easy to stagger/overlap.
The 48" has two of the 22.5" LED strips so I have a difficult time understanding the drastic PAR difference between the 24" and 48" Ray 2 fixtures.

I think you can determine the width of the LED strip by dividing the number of LEDs by 8. Number of LEDs is usually listed, strip width usually isn't.
Strips I have owned: 48" (contains 45" of LED). 24" (contains 22.5" of LED). 30" (contains 22.5" of LED). 16" (contains 10.5" of LED).

[PlantedTankRookie]

Originally Posted by CorallineAlgae

Hey shadetreeme, I think that, while these are excellent lights for many tanks, your tank is a bit outside of what these lights are designed to be used for. They certainly don't make a six foot model. Perhaps 4 three foot Ray 2s would work but they aren't designed to be mounted partway over a tank, and in the center where the light fixtures would meet, your tank would have a dark area. I recommend T5s or some other LED system.

I do use a Finnex Ray, and I plan on getting another one for my next build. I'm very impressed with it.

Based on the PAR charts, I don't think there will be any dark areas.
The 48" version has two 24" LED strips yet the PAR on the 48" is significantly above the PAR on the 24." Since they use the same LEDs, the only way this is possible is if there is a decent spread of light off the ends of the fixture.
24" has 192 HO LEDs, 20 watts.
48" has 384 HO LEDs, 39 watts.
I've seen both of these fixtures, the 48" has two 22.5" LED strips and the 24" has one 22.5" LED strip.
If the charts are correct then there is significant light off the ends. There isn't any other way to explain the PAR difference between the two fixtures.

Ditto on the 18" (144 LED, 15w) and 36" (384 LED, 29w). 36" contains 2 of the LED strips that come in the 18" version yet the PAR under center is higher for the 36."

FWIW, I use two 30" and one 24" on my 72" wide 125 gallon. They sit nicely on the glass canopy and they are only about 3" in depth so they are easy to stagger. The unlit 3" at each end of the 30" is a perfect spot to attach moon light LEDs.
Finnex recommends that you do not place the fixture flush on the glass canopy (put the mounting clamps on and then rest the fixture on the canopy).

[Aquaticz]

I have an Aqua Japan -45 cm tank



I am told the bulb is not replaceable which is OK By me since I want a brighter tank. I'm trying to decide which of the finnex light fixtures to go with the 16 inch fuge ray clip light with red boost or the slim LED. my goal is a med light / no C02 on this one. Any opinions or folks that bought for a similar situation? It is about 12 inches tall. Appreciate your opinion especially if you have experience with their clip on fixtures
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Aquaticz]

Originally Posted by Aquaticz

I have an Aqua Japan -45 cm tank



I am told the bulb is not replaceable which is OK By me since I want a brighter tank. I'm trying to decide which of the finnex light fixtures to go with the 16 inch fuge ray clip light with red boost or the slim LED. my goal is a med light / no C02 on this one. Any opinions or folks that bought for a similar situation? It is about 12 inches tall. Appreciate your opinion especially if you have experience with their clip on fixtures
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

well due to overwhelming replies iI went with the fuge ray....to much light
so I am experimenting with some floaters to lessen light

[Aquaticz]

Originally Posted by PlantedTankRookie

snopped

Finnex recommends that you do not place the fixture flush on the glass canopy (put the mounting clamps on and then rest the fixture on the canopy).

Did Finnex say why?

[PlantedTankRookie]

Originally Posted by Aquaticz

Did Finnex say why?

They cited a potential for over heating due to a lack of airflow between the aquarium glass canopy and the ray2 splash shield, which isn't water proof.

I rest my ray2 fixtures on the glass canopy so I didn't want to bother with the "slide on" fixtures for clamping the light to the tank.
After contacting Finnex, I decided to slide them on to be safe.

[madness]

The Fugeray should be a pretty good option for you...if you can find the correct length. I don't know for sure if a 20" fixture can move the legs in far enough to fit the 18" tank that you have.