Lighting for 40g?

[Pittsford_Pets]

Looking for some cheap yet good lighting for a 40g. I prefer LEDs but I have 2 48” fixtures that somehow fit a 40g (T5 with 2x magenta bulbs, 24 blue LEDs, and 2x daylight bulbs) not great by any means but I’m going to switch out the daylight for ATI Bulbs.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Looking for some cheap yet good lighting for a 40g. I prefer LEDs but I have 2 48” fixtures that somehow fit a 40g (T5 with 2x magenta bulbs, 24 blue LEDs, and 2x daylight bulbs) not great by any means but I’m going to switch out the daylight for ATI Bulbs.

When you say cheap, what kind of budget are we talking. If you want to go really inexpensive the black box leds work great, but have very limited features. Or there's the higher quality black boxes such as the SB reef lights or reefbreeders.

 

[Pittsford_Pets]

When you say cheap, what kind of budget are we talking. If you want to go really inexpensive the black box leds work great, but have very limited features. Or there's the higher quality black boxes such as the SB reef lights or reefbreeders.

$200 max. Just LPS and softies, really. I have some ok lights at the moment, but I’d only use them for their magenta bulbs until I can get some ATI. Maybe a custom LED T5 hybrid? I’m think 2 ATI blue plus and 2 Other ATI in addition to the LEDs.

 

[Pittsford_Pets]

For now just a good $200 LED light. Can’t spend more than that

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

I would save your money for a better quality light later on. You’re budget seems to only be hitting the black box range (for a 40 gallon tank) and while black boxes are better than “ok”, there are better options still (in my opinion) for not a whole lot more.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The mars aqua black boxes. About 80. each. The SBs are 130.
A 300w mars is under 200.

Edit. And def look used. The after xmas upgrades should be coming this month.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I used this one for quite some time before getting my Kessil Ap700

 

[Pittsford_Pets]

I used this one for quite some time before getting my Kessil Ap700

75% off but I get paid tomorrow hahaha. I’ll look up that Kessil. You guys have a point, I should save up for a better light. This build will take a while, and in all honesty, the tank will have to cycle for a month before lights are needed. Thanks for the tips!

That being said, which should I save for? It’d be cool if you could link me a place to learn about lighting, as I’m still learning.

 

[Crabs McJones]

75% off but I get paid tomorrow hahaha. I’ll look up that Kessil. You guys have a point, I should save up for a better light. This build will take a while, and in all honesty, the tank will have to cycle for a month before lights are needed. Thanks for the tips!

That being said, which should I save for? It’d be cool if you could link me a place to learn about lighting, as I’m still learning.

If you want to watch an all around lesson on reefing, i'd strongly recommend Bulk Reef Supply's 52 Weeks of reefing. They cover literally everything you need to know to be successful. More specifically this episode on lighting.

 

[Crabs McJones]

$200 max. Just LPS and softies, really. I have some ok lights at the moment, but I’d only use them for their magenta bulbs until I can get some ATI. Maybe a custom LED T5 hybrid? I’m think 2 ATI blue plus and 2 Other ATI in addition to the LEDs.

Ryan from Bulk Reef Supply has stated before that his go to lighting option is a Kessil AP700 with some T5 bulbs

 

[Pittsford_Pets]

Thanks so much everyone! I’ve decided I’m not in the position economically to start a new tank, so I’ll just get some cooler stuff for my nano hahaha. I always almost impulse buy something when I think I can. Back to seeing what lights for my 10g! Haha

 

[danschargers21]

I went 2 hd primes on my 40 and love it.