Lighting help

Joybird

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 4, 2016
Messages
28
Reaction score
4
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I just upgraded to a 65 gallon tank and it came with a fluorescent canopy that just sits on top of the glass top. I'm planning to buy led this week, but I have a couple questions:
I can't break the bank here, so I'm looking at Mars aqua or there's a cheap version on ebay. (I think it's called MR 120 or something like that).
---They're 16" long, but my tank is 36" long, so do I buy two? (Right now I have fish only but planning to add soft corals).
--Is there some way to mount them without hanging? I see a rail that some lights can sit in (Like this: https://fragtasticreef.com/aqua-ill...tm_source=bc&gclid=CMSr_JGP8NACFQ64wAodleMKvw) Does anyone use that or something similar or is there some other mounting thing I'm not thinking of that doesn't involve hanging?
--As I'm looking at photos online, I'm realizing that it looks like almost all of these are hanging over open tanks. I can't have an open tank with my jumpers, nor do I want one. Will the glass top plus all the condensation that's built up on the underside of them diffuse the light too much?
--Are there other inexpensive options I should be looking at?
 

mcarroll

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
15,213
Reaction score
8,968
Location
Virginia
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Do you have a spending budget in mind?

Do you have any inclination toward DIY?

There's nothing wrong with the lights sitting on the tank vs being suspended over it....depends on what you want/like/need. There are lots of ways to hang a light if that's what you'd want to do. Or even to hang a light that's low, down on the tank during normal operation, but that's on a lift (or counterweight in @Paul B 's case), for when you need to get into the tank.

A screened top is a pretty good alternative to cover glass.
 
OP
OP
Joybird

Joybird

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 4, 2016
Messages
28
Reaction score
4
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm looking to keep it under two hundred for now. I'd love to just sit the led's right on the glass, but I'm worried about them making too much heat--hence my thinking that it needs to be somehow suspended above the tank. But I don't want to hang them from the ceiling or wall behind them. I'm looking for something that will clamp on to the tank or sit on a rack or ??? above it. We can weld up pretty much anything either--I just don't really know what I'm looking for.

Can I keep my glass top though with the led's?
 

Lowstorm

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 8, 2015
Messages
627
Reaction score
409
Location
Northern MN
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Look up sb reef lights. They're in the us, having troubles atm from setting up an actual store. But they are black boxes from China still.
 

glb

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 12, 2013
Messages
8,185
Reaction score
3,301
Location
Miami
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm looking to keep it under two hundred for now. I'd love to just sit the led's right on the glass, but I'm worried about them making too much heat--hence my thinking that it needs to be somehow suspended above the tank. But I don't want to hang them from the ceiling or wall behind them. I'm looking for something that will clamp on to the tank or sit on a rack or ??? above it. We can weld up pretty much anything either--I just don't really know what I'm looking for.

Can I keep my glass top though with the led's?
LED's don't put off much heat. I have mine under a splash guard about 6" above the tank, and they don't affect the temp much.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 34 27.4%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 44 35.5%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 27 21.8%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 11 8.9%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 8 6.5%
Back
Top