Help me find lighting option for a 12G long pleaseeeed!!!

[DrewBrees713]

I've been searching online for the last couple of days and cant seem to find a whole lot of info on lighting for my set up. I plan on keeping mostly softies and maybe 2-3 sps frags. My budget for lighting is somewhat limited Thanks

 

[leahfiish]

What is your budget? That will help us find something that will work for you.
Since that tank is shallow, a lot of strip fixtures might be a good fit, such as Reefbreeder photons and current marine LEDs

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

What about a 24" 24Wx2 Sun Blaze T5 HO fixture? At $100 + $50 or so for bulbs it's affordable. I guess it would be a little bulky looking over it but it's affordable. You might end up with some shadowing if you have the lights very close to the water though. And I'm not sure how that would work for SPS. Just a thought :)

 

[Katrina71]

@WV Reefer

 

[DrewBrees713]

My budget is about $150 or so. Cant believe we're shelling out lot so much $$$ just for .....lights :) The companies that make them are ripping us off, thats for sure. I bet they dont cost that much to make but not much we can do about it unless its DIY.

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

IMO it's a lower volume industry and lights especially are low demand as they typically are a one-time purchase (the general public isn't popping out to buy AI Hydras). Not much for economies of scale :(

You also have to include the R&D (which may be puffed up by manufacturers but w/e) and the design efforts to make a usable product that makes sense to the user.

All that said, I'm surprised there aren't more affordable options out there except for T5 fixtures. Not counting counterfeit/black box products.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You could do a couple par38s. A black box with no lenses set low %. The marinelamd fixtures actually are pretty good. I see a lot more sucess with those than most would think. There are a couple Chinese Radion clones out there with timers.
There are a lot of choices out there.

 

[DrewBrees713]

There are a lot of choices out there but not for the dimension im looking for. Either theyre too long or too short. Too many bulbs. Too expensive :)

 

[DrewBrees713]

Oops

 

[WVNed]

A long shallow tank. You are a target customer for Current Orbit lighting.

 

[DrewBrees713]

I found this light fixture on Fleabay :) It t5HO x2 for fish and marine but at the bottom of the page it says for fish and corals. Come with bulbs too .Thought?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-T5-Dual...c0:m:mraVQjJjyeBZDMTKCl0hBbw&var=552495973932

 

[DrewBrees713]

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

Seems like one of those things where you could get lucky and it'll work or you'll be out the $50 because you wanted to upgrade. If you want T5 it seems like the cheapest approved option is Sun Blaze or DIY .

I wonder how good the bulbs it comes with are, like if they produce the correct Spectra for corals

 

[WV Reefer]

I've been searching online for the last couple of days and cant seem to find a whole lot of info on lighting for my set up. I plan on keeping mostly softies and maybe 2-3 sps frags. My budget for lighting is somewhat limited Thanks

I use the 36” Marine Orbit Pro on my 12 Gallon long.

 

[Katrina71]

@siggy is this the light you have?

 

[DrewBrees713]

I use the 36” Marine Orbit Pro on my 12 Gallon long.

Is yours the full 36" -48 inch fixture or the 24"-36"? If im not mistaken only come in 90 degree lens .And from my experience they cast shadow whereas the 120 degree lens do not.

@ Bankruptcy i think the Sunblaze is for grow out?Not sure how theyd do with corals.

 

[WV Reefer]

Is yours the full 36" -48 inch fixture or the 24"-36"? If im not mistaken only come in 90 degree lens .And from my experience they cast shadow whereas the 120 degree lens do not.

@ Bankruptcy i think the Sunblaze is for grow out?Not sure how theyd do with corals.

Mine is the 36” fixture over a mixed reef with a majority of hard Corals.

 

[Smite]

I believe the sun blaze is just the fixture, load it with blue+/purple+ and youll be good for coral

 

[DrewBrees713]

I believe the sun blaze is just the fixture, load it with blue+/purple+ and youll be good for coral

Can the same thing the done with t5 ho light fixtures sold at Homedepot work? I mean not on the 12G of course but rather on a larger tank. Can i just add bulbs that are made for coral on said fixtures? Thanks

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

Can the same thing the done with t5 ho light fixtures sold at Homedepot work? I mean not on the 12G of course but rather on a larger tank. Can i just add bulbs that are made for coral on said fixtures? Thanks

I was just reading about that. A couple things to consider:

The ballasts probably are not the same quality
They are typically not water proof / saltwater proof. This will reduce the lifespan and potentially cause serious issues.