24x24x6 frag tank light
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Ron Reefman
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If you don't have the tank yet, maybe stay away from the 2'x2' tank as they are more difficult to light with leds. Now if you are OK with a MH light, then that size tank is fine.
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I chose a 24X24 with this light, I’m using XHO blue strip instead of round Kessel.
https://reefbuilders.com/2017/10/12/get-best-worlds-aquaticlife-t5ho-hybrid-fixture/
I’m hoping the width allows lower par on the outsides so I can grow sticks in the center and LPS on the outsides.
Ron Reefman
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With the spread of the fluorescent bulbs, that's a really good fixture for a 2'x2' tank.
I prefer to light a frag tank with the same lights are my display, but they frags are for me (mostly) and I only sell/trade surplus. If you are growing to sell, then get the best light possible for fastest growth.
I have a 24x24x10 frag tank and I light it with a single 250w MH and 2x 24" T5s in a fixture that is 22" wide... spread is good and I only run the MH 4-5 hours a day and let a pair of T5s in the fixture run for 12 hours. Great spread and growth, but I also use MH over my display so this works for me.
6-8 bulb T5 is fine.
Like Ron said, lighting 24x24 with LED and trying to illuminate the whole area is tough and you need a few different panels or else the corals on the outside can get shadows and lesser color on the areas not facing the bulbs. The hybrid is a good idea. I have a friend with a 24x48x12 tank and he runs 2x reefbreeders - one in the back and one in the front - and a few T5s in the middle since he wants to cover the whole area.
If you plan on keeping the outsides mostly vacant, or with softies that can grow/point towards the light, then it does not matter as much. For true/hard coral, then this is where you shadowing and duller colored sides.
What you will find in your frag tank is that even what some people think are lower light corals (like LPS and softies) will thrive even more, grow even faster and most of the time look better with more light. I grow OG Bounces, Jawbreakers and some more rare LPS under 500-750+ PAR of MH and they grow like crazy. They don't NEED it, but they sure can use it.
I have a 24x24x10 frag tank and I light it with a single 250w MH and 2x 24" T5s in a fixture that is 22" wide... spread is good and I only run the MH 4-5 hours a day and let a pair of T5s in the fixture run for 12 hours. Great spread and growth, but I also use MH over my display so this works for me.
6-8 bulb T5 is fine.
Like Ron said, lighting 24x24 with LED and trying to illuminate the whole area is tough and you need a few different panels or else the corals on the outside can get shadows and lesser color on the areas not facing the bulbs. The hybrid is a good idea. I have a friend with a 24x48x12 tank and he runs 2x reefbreeders - one in the back and one in the front - and a few T5s in the middle since he wants to cover the whole area.
If you plan on keeping the outsides mostly vacant, or with softies that can grow/point towards the light, then it does not matter as much. For true/hard coral, then this is where you shadowing and duller colored sides.
What you will find in your frag tank is that even what some people think are lower light corals (like LPS and softies) will thrive even more, grow even faster and most of the time look better with more light. I grow OG Bounces, Jawbreakers and some more rare LPS under 500-750+ PAR of MH and they grow like crazy. They don't NEED it, but they sure can use it.
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