53 breeder lighting

1536 Views 11 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Blackheart, Feb 2, 2017

Blackheart

Discussion Starter · Jan 30, 2017

I recently picked up an awesome tank made by Marineland called the 53 gallon. It has the same footprint of a 40b, but is 21 inches in height. So it is in between the 40b and 65 in terms of size and height. With such a tall, deep tank though, how do I light this thing? I am only really trying to do low tech, easy growing plants like Crypts, Java Ferns, Anubias, Swords, Sag, Jungle Vals, Rotala, etc. Nothing too crazy or any injected C02.

I recently purchased a Finnex Planted Plus led fixture, but I was originally going to use it on a 40b which is much shorter in height. Any ideas? I would like to ideally just use one light fixture, but that may not be possible unlike with the 40b.

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jeffkrol

· #2 · Jan 30, 2017 (Edited)

I would like to ideally just use one light fixture, but that may not be possible unlike with the 40b.

Due to the width it is arguably not the best w/ one light fixture for a 40B..
Depends on your tolerance for dead spots in the upper tank level..

Of course rasing it off its "normal" position works well..

Plenty of fixtures will do low tech at 21".................

2 cheaper lights are probably better than one moderately priced one. One expensive one may work.. if intensity is there and hung.

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Blackheart

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 30, 2017

How about something like 2 Current USA Satellite LED + Fixtures?

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jeffkrol

· #4 · Jan 30, 2017 (Edited)

Blackheart said:
How about something like 2 Current USA Satellite LED + Fixtures?

Not a personal favorite..

But we are getting into personal choices here..
36x18x21.

So I'd personally prefer something like this:
Current USA 36"-48" Satellite Plus PRO LED Light

and add a cheap 36" LED on a timer..

24-hour timer control for sunrise, sunset and moonlight

Automatic 15-minute gradual ramp and dim

Price would be close to the same well about $60 more than 2 currents..
2 Aquaticlife Halos/ (master/slave) would run $650/pr..
consider this an "ultimate" baseline..

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+10704+32269&pcatid=32269

If you just want on/off you can do it for under $100 w/ one of these and its weaker sibling
Beamswork DA FSPEC LED Aquarium Light Freshwater Full Spectrum 24 30 36 48 72
36" is $59.99..color is cool tone.
3 row is like $35...

things change all the time..
ton o light, some manual control, and cheap..
cyan (surprise), and Violet (more surprise)
https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-fw-plant-lights/21-basic-fresh-water-plant-led-light.html
https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-fw-plant-lights/34-sbox-pro-32-timer-fresh-water-plant.html

$300...

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Blackheart

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 30, 2017

Yeah 300-600 is a bit out of my price range lol

How well do you think I could do with T5HO fixtures? Namely a Coralife fixture.

I used to have a 56 gallon column tank which is 30x18x24 and had great success with a regular 2 bulb T5HO fixture.

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jeffkrol

· #6 · Jan 31, 2017

Blackheart said:
Yeah 300-600 is a bit out of my price range lol

How well do you think I could do with T5HO fixtures? Namely a Coralife fixture.

I used to have a 56 gallon column tank which is 30x18x24 and had great success with a regular 2 bulb T5HO fixture.

$100 old tech..
Aquarium Light Fixtures: Coralife Aqualight HO T-5 Dual Lamp Aquarium Light Fixture

$100 new tech..

Beamswork DA FSPEC LED Aquarium Light Freshwater Full Spectrum 24 30 36 48 72
36" is $59.99..color is cool tone.
3 row is like $35...

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Blackheart

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 31, 2017

I'm assuming with the beamswork I would need 2 fixtures?

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jeffkrol

· #8 · Jan 31, 2017 (Edited)

Blackheart said:
I'm assuming with the beamswork I would need 2 fixtures?

Maybe.. Note this one is only 5.2" wide..Same as the t5ho..
One of the smaller ones (3 row) is 3.75" wide @ 1800 lumens..
5 row:

Lumen: 5200
LEDs: 120x 0.50W
Config: 86x 10000K, 16x Actinic 460nm, 9x Red 620nm, 9x Green 520nm

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LFF07XS/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_c_x_1_w
total 7000...and 9"

$25.15 and $69.95..........

2 t5ho's are about 7000 lumens (39W per bulb)

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Blackheart

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 31, 2017

That second fixture that you posted does look a bit more promising. So the leds in are stronger in the second fixture?

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Blackheart

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 2, 2017

How about two of the cheaper beamswork fixtures like this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019YXYO0U/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1#customerReviews They seem to have great reviews, some people using them for planted tanks

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Mike16T

· #11 · Feb 2, 2017

You can check SB reef light (Freshwater)

https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-fw-plant-lights/34-sbox-pro-32-timer-fresh-water-plant.html

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Blackheart

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 2, 2017

My budget is 150 so yeah 300 is a bit out of the question lol

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