Hygger Lights?

[FearlessBeatle]

looking to set up a 20-40 gallon tank (undecided between a 15g cube, 20g tall, 20g long, or a 40 breeder), would this light be sufficient to grow LPS/some SPS in these size tanks and would I need two of them for the longer tanks (20g long or 40 breeder)? the light in question -> hygger 36w

 

[Tahoe61]

IMO no.

Look at Smatfarm, Nicrew, Popbloom. Viperspectra.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

36 watts is not strong. To give you some perspective, I use 55 watts on my 15 gallon, 100 watts on my 32 gallon, and 150 watts on my 40 gallon.

 

[Fish Fan]

Maybe take a look at Noopsyche - funny name, but seems to be good budget lights

In my opinion, you can light a 15 cube and maybe even a 20 cube with a single pendant style light, but once you get into 20L and certainly a 40B, you may do best with two pendant lights. Having the two lights on a wider tank minimizes dark ends and weird shadowing, especially if you're taking about a standard 40B that has a center brace that makes having one light in the center problematic

 

[FearlessBeatle]

Maybe take a look at Noopsyche - funny name, but seems to be good budget lights

In my opinion, you can light a 15 cube and maybe even a 20 cube with a single pendant style light, but once you get into 20L and certainly a 40B, you may do best with two pendant lights. Having the two lights on a wider tank minimizes dark ends and weird shadowing, especially if you're taking about a standard 40B that has a center brace that makes having one light in the center problematic

kinda related, kinda not, would you recommend something like a the IM AIO 15G cube (15x15x15), or should i get something like a standard 29 gallon (30x12x18). Naturally having a wider tank is ideal i feel like, but on the same time 12 inches isnt very much room front to back so everything would kinda have to be stretched out side to side as opposed to being able to go side to side AND front to back. The higher water volume would be better too for stability id assume as well. I also found that IM makes a 25G AIO that is 24x20x12, which would give me 8 more inches front to back but cut off some of the length. Do you think its worth it to get the 25g aio for the ease of not having to find and buy an ugly hang on filter for the 29g? As well as sacrificing some length to get some room front to back? Mostly debating between the 29g and the 25g AIO more so than the 15g cube, as im not too sure 15" in length is gonna be enough for what I want

 

[Fish Fan]

kinda related, kinda not, would you recommend something like a the IM AIO 15G cube (15x15x15), or should i get something like a standard 29 gallon (30x12x18). Naturally having a wider tank is ideal i feel like, but on the same time 12 inches isnt very much room front to back so everything would kinda have to be stretched out side to side as opposed to being able to go side to side AND front to back. The higher water volume would be better too for stability id assume as well. I also found that IM makes a 25G AIO that is 24x20x12, which would give me 8 more inches front to back but cut off some of the length. Do you think its worth it to get the 25g aio for the ease of not having to find and buy an ugly hang on filter for the 29g? As well as sacrificing some length to get some room front to back? Mostly debating between the 29g and the 25g AIO more so than the 15g cube, as im not too sure 15" in length is gonna be enough for what I want

Just my initial thoughts, but you can run a standard 29 gallon tank (likely the cheapest option) with hang on back gear, and it most definitely does not have to be ugly You can use HOB overflows to a sump, or in a lot of cases you can drill a standard 29 for an external overflow. You can run a 29 gallon with nothing but circulation pumps inside the tank, and routine water changes/dosing as needed.

But, if you're just getting started and can swing the initial investment, I very much recommend the largest Innovative Marine AIO you can afford and is practical for you. I have had their AIO 10 gallons, 15 gallons, the AIO 25 gallon lagoon, and even a 40 gallon non AIO tank. The IM stuff is a very good value, most everyone likes them. You'll appreciate the crystal clear glass, modern look, and the AIO provides a visually clean and easy way to manage your tank. The dimensions of the 25 lagoon AIO are excellent, in my opinion

Again, I'd get the largest IM AIO you can swing, but keep in mind my initial comment that any tank wider than about 20" is necessarily going to need two smaller pendant style lights, or you need to look into strip lights or other options. In my humble opinion, you can't really light a tank that's 20"-24"+ wide with just one light in the center. You'll get weird shadowing and dark ends, no matter how powerful the one light is. Two smaller lights is a better way to go once you get past about 18"-20" or so in width.

I hope that helps