Where's The Light?

[countryboy86]

Ok im just a little overwhelmed on all the lighting choices that are out there. I am not nearly sure what fixture i should go with for my setup. I have a 135g glass tank 72x18x25 that i will be making into a FOWLR tank. Now im after a T5 or led fixture that has a bright white/blue ocean like color for day and i want lunar lights for nightime veiwing but, not sure what fixture has this type of combo. I am also not sure what bulbs to get to reach the color contrast im after. I would like to know my choices for my particular setup and HO vs VHO what is needed to give me ideal bright lighting that will help bring out my fish's colors and help the growth of Coralline algae. Any help on this matter would be just great and very appreciated thank you.

[BigCountry74]

glass top or open top? center brace i take it?

[gbru316]

You don't need bright, expensive lighting as you aren't keeping photosynthetic organisms.

You'd be just fine with a few standard fluorescent tubes.

[sucker_fish]

+1...if you're doing fish only you can use the regular fluorescent bulbs that come with most of the standard aquarium setups. Now for the disclaimer...this is an addicting hobby and you may want to eventually add corals of some type, planning ahead and purchasing a light that would be able to keep at least softies and LPS happy is definitely not a bad idea.

[countryboy86]

first off thank you for the replies so far um my tank has a Glass Canopy Top and a center brace. Now i see that in the replies so far i do not have to buy expensive lighting well the lighting i have looked at so far is the ecko dual T5 with lunar they come in SO and HO now im not sure if this particular brand would be alright or not. The lunar lights are constant running but the T5s have individual switches. any insight on this would be great thank you.

[BigCountry74]

glass tank canopy you can buy 2 cheap 36" single T8 fixtures if you like and lay them right on the glass. thats what I would do. just to get you up and running.

[countryboy86]

so i dont need dual single will work but wouldnt dual make it more brighter and light it up better than using a single?

[gbru316]

so i dont need dual single will work but wouldnt dual make it more brighter and light it up better than using a single?

Yes but this will have absolutely no impact on the inhabitants of a fowlr tank.

[jerpa]

If you want coralline algae growth I would get atleast a duel bulb T5HO. I don't know that standard fluorescent would have enough intensity for coralline. You will also need to keep up on your alk/cal/mag.

[countryboy86]

ok so two 36" Dual T5HO fixtures will be able to give me a brightly lit up tank and enhance fish color as well as help in the growth of coralline?

[BigCountry74]

yes

i would look for the fixtures on craigslist. then order the bulbs online perhaps. :d

[countryboy86]

alright thank you all for all the replies and advice. I think i got this one down: Two 36" Dual T5HO fixtures. Im gonna get em new so i dont have any problems and know for sure they will last me. On another note what white intensity K's 10,000 12,000? and what other one is there like a blue color bulb that can bring out blues like the ocean or just use all white?

[BigCountry74]

buy 2 white bulbs (10k) and 2 blue

run 1 of each in each fixture. the blues towards the back.