Lighting for 40 gallon breeder

scelona · 07/13/2015, 10:46 PM

I am new to reefing and am looking into lighting for my 40 gallon breeder tank. I am planning on just keeping easy soft corals and fish so my light needs are pretty minimal. I have done a ton of reading of lighting but am curious for specific recommendations, thanks guys!

Sugar Magnolia · 07/14/2015, 05:18 AM

You could do a 4 bulb T5 fixture if you're just doing a softy tank. I used to run a 6 bulb T5 on my 40b and that grew SPS very well so I think a 4 bulb would be fine for you. You'll need to look for a 36" fixture.

Yonp11 · 07/14/2015, 07:12 AM

I have a 36" AquaticLife 4bulb T5 over my 40b and have been happy with it. Growing softies and a couple of SPS just fine.

Genera · 07/14/2015, 09:32 AM

I had a DIY LED fixture made from LEDs and a gutter, and a commercial LED fixture that I modified that had 10k white, 420nm blue, around 650nm red, and 14k white.

scelona · 07/14/2015, 09:48 AM

Thanks for the info, I have been looking at both 4 bulb t5 fixtures and LED's from buildmyled. I definitely see the perks of both approaches so I guess it's just a matter of cost and personal preference at this point.

Wryknow · 07/14/2015, 01:39 PM

Almost anything designed for reef aquariums will work for softies. The nice part about LEDs is their lower life cycle cost (less power and bulb replacement.) Are yo the type that's going to want to try LPS and SPS later on? IF so, you will want something that can be easily expanded in the future (DIY T5s or a LEDs woulds be my pick.)

scelona · 07/14/2015, 03:22 PM

I am not planning on doing any other type of corals but I am sure a lot of people initially think that. I have narrowed it down to LEDs as I like the lower wattage requirements and have looked at kessils, build my led, and reef breeders. I would like to spend no more then $300 and would like dimming and timer functions but I've noticed a lot of the controllers cost $100 alone.

wbwhale · 07/14/2015, 05:36 PM

I'm interested in your progress as I am looking at lighting for a 40B as well and hope to keep some LPS eventually. Hoping to build an LED solution that will be expandable.

scelona · 07/14/2015, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbwhale

I'm interested in your progress as I am looking at lighting for a 40B as well and hope to keep some LPS eventually. Hoping to build an LED solution that will be expandable.

Have you started your build yet?

wbwhale · 07/14/2015, 05:47 PM

No, I am still researching and spreading purchases out over 6 or 8 months, alas

scelona · 07/14/2015, 05:59 PM

Sounds like a good call I'm running my bank account dry and having a great time doing it haha

Salty Cracker · 07/14/2015, 09:19 PM

I run a 50 breeder with a cheap t5 light. Works fine. Tons of soft corals.

mmittlesteadt · 07/15/2015, 09:27 AM

I have a 40 gallon breeder with softies and I use a single Kessil A160WE about 8" over my water. In this pic I have the intensity at about 75% and the spectrum about 1/3 above full actinic.

Tank is only 2 1/2 months old...

scelona · 07/15/2015, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmittlesteadt

I have a 40 gallon breeder with softies and I use a single Kessil A160WE about 8" over my water. In this pic I have the intensity at about 75% and the spectrum about 1/3 above full actinic.

Tank is only 2 1/2 months old...

Tank looks great. Is there a reason you chose the Kessil over a light bar style LED? Like yourself, I have a canopy over my tank that I really like and the kessil seems tough with a canopy (your solution is a good one though). Ive been leaning towards a reconditioned reef breeders 24" photon ($280) at the moment. It looks like a great light and I like the built in timer functions and ease of use with a canopy. But I would love to hear your reasoning for getting the kessil.

mmittlesteadt · 07/15/2015, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scelona

Tank looks great. Is there a reason you chose the Kessil over a light bar style LED? Like yourself, I have a canopy over my tank that I really like and the kessil seems tough with a canopy (your solution is a good one though). Ive been leaning towards a reconditioned reef breeders 24" photon ($280) at the moment. It looks like a great light and I like the built in timer functions and ease of use with a canopy. But I would love to hear your reasoning for getting the kessil.

Quite a few reasons really. The biggest reason...cost. Where I work we have a large pet department with a huge saltwater section that is carrying higher end equipment now. I get everything at slightly above cost. They carry Kessil now.

Having said that, I love the Kessil so much I would have paid full retail if I had to.

But, having seen the Kessils over their 220 gallon tank as well as a few friends' tanks, I LOVE the shimmer. Some don't, but I enjoyed my tank just from the shimmer alone, even before I put anything into it.

I like the round, small fixture. I'm not one to want my tank flooded with light from one end to the other. I prefer to have the light at the ends of the tank gradually fade out to eliminate the boxy look of a tank.

It's amazing how much light a fixture smaller than a pop can puts out. It takes very little to mount them because of their size.

Also they are adjustable and I can add a controller (which I will at some point). I just have mine on a cheap dial timer to turn it on and off. I typically run mine at full actinic from morning until I get home. Then I manually adjust it to my liking, and later dial it back to full actinic later at night, so it's already set to that when it shuts off (and turns on in the morning again).

Everyone has their likes and dislikes, but I love Kessils.

cloak · 07/15/2015, 11:26 AM

For a 40 gallon breeder, I would just put a 250 watt Radium bulb over it and call it a day. (with the proper ballast and reflector of course)

07/13/2015, 10:46 PM	#1
scelona Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 204	Lighting for 40 gallon breeder I am new to reefing and am looking into lighting for my 40 gallon breeder tank. I am planning on just keeping easy soft corals and fish so my light needs are pretty minimal. I have done a ton of reading of lighting but am curious for specific recommendations, thanks guys!

07/14/2015, 05:18 AM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	You could do a 4 bulb T5 fixture if you're just doing a softy tank. I used to run a 6 bulb T5 on my 40b and that grew SPS very well so I think a 4 bulb would be fine for you. You'll need to look for a 36" fixture. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

07/14/2015, 09:32 AM	#4
Genera Blink and you're dead. Join Date: May 2015 Location: MN Posts: 531	I had a DIY LED fixture made from LEDs and a gutter, and a commercial LED fixture that I modified that had 10k white, 420nm blue, around 650nm red, and 14k white. __________________ Ah, Minnesota, The Land of 10,000 Lakes (Actually, there are 11,842 that are 10+ acres) Current Tank Info: n/a

07/14/2015, 01:39 PM	#6
Wryknow Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,203	Almost anything designed for reef aquariums will work for softies. The nice part about LEDs is their lower life cycle cost (less power and bulb replacement.) Are yo the type that's going to want to try LPS and SPS later on? IF so, you will want something that can be easily expanded in the future (DIY T5s or a LEDs woulds be my pick.) __________________ You cannot use reason to change the opinion of a person that did not use reason to form their opinion in the first place. Current Tank Info: 65 G RR, w/ 50 G sump/refugium, DIY LED lighting, AquaMaxx CO-1 skimmer, Tunze 1073.050 return

07/15/2015, 09:27 AM	#13
mmittlesteadt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rothschild, WI Posts: 1,209	I have a 40 gallon breeder with softies and I use a single Kessil A160WE about 8" over my water. In this pic I have the intensity at about 75% and the spectrum about 1/3 above full actinic. Tank is only 2 1/2 months old... __________________ Every life on this planet deserve respect, no matter how small or insignificant it may appear at first glance. 40 Gallon Build Thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2486801 Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder, Eshopps PSK-100, Kessil A160WE, 70 lbs. rock, 65 gallon sump, 27 gallon refugium

07/14/2015, 07:12 AM	#3
Yonp11 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 260	I have a 36" AquaticLife 4bulb T5 over my 40b and have been happy with it. Growing softies and a couple of SPS just fine.

07/14/2015, 09:48 AM	#5
scelona Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 204	Thanks for the info, I have been looking at both 4 bulb t5 fixtures and LED's from buildmyled. I definitely see the perks of both approaches so I guess it's just a matter of cost and personal preference at this point.

07/14/2015, 03:22 PM	#7
scelona Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 204	I am not planning on doing any other type of corals but I am sure a lot of people initially think that. I have narrowed it down to LEDs as I like the lower wattage requirements and have looked at kessils, build my led, and reef breeders. I would like to spend no more then $300 and would like dimming and timer functions but I've noticed a lot of the controllers cost $100 alone.

07/14/2015, 05:36 PM	#8
wbwhale Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Western PA Posts: 36	I'm interested in your progress as I am looking at lighting for a 40B as well and hope to keep some LPS eventually. Hoping to build an LED solution that will be expandable.

07/14/2015, 05:47 PM	#10
wbwhale Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Western PA Posts: 36	No, I am still researching and spreading purchases out over 6 or 8 months, alas

07/14/2015, 05:59 PM	#11
scelona Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 204	Sounds like a good call I'm running my bank account dry and having a great time doing it haha

07/14/2015, 09:19 PM	#12
Salty Cracker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 218	I run a 50 breeder with a cheap t5 light. Works fine. Tons of soft corals.

07/15/2015, 11:26 AM	#16
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	For a 40 gallon breeder, I would just put a 250 watt Radium bulb over it and call it a day. (with the proper ballast and reflector of course)