What kind of lighting is good for a 29gal reef tank?
Sparks asked:
Im starting i 29 gallon reef tank and i want to start keeping some begginer soft corals, what is the cheapest but still effective lighting?
Im starting i 29 gallon reef tank and i want to start keeping some begginer soft corals, what is the cheapest but still effective lighting?
fluro 12 watts [who] courtney :p
Sure, you start with *some begginer soft corals*, but is that all you’re every going to keep? Trust me, this get addicting after a while. I also started with *just some easy soft corals* but now am doing some of the small polyped stony corals too. Unless you want to have to replace the first light you get, get the best you can afford now.
I bought 1 of these in April for my own 29 gallon reef. I upgraded to this HO T-5 from a compact fluorescent. I bought a 24 inch model [the company wasn't making a 30 inch at the time which is what fits a 20 long/29 gallon] and that was $239.99. The same size in a compact fluorescent is $142. Yes, that’s more, but my corals [even the softies] are doing much better with the new light. Also consider that you should replce the tubes in a CF at least once each year, but you can go 2 years before you have to change the tubes in a T-5. So in the long run, it can save you money and let you try more types of corals in the future.
Some other points from my experiences with reef lighting…
CF tubes heat up at the base, and it’s hard to get them out without breaking off the pins. I had thought at 1 time of using the year-old bulbs on other tanks [10,000K on planted tanks, actinic on a tank with nocturnal cats] but it’s nearly impossible to get the tubes out in 1 piece. If you try to use the stuff that keeps the pins from sticking, you ruin the ballast. So you end up throwing away tubes that would stil be good on tanks that aren’t reef tanks. Or you have to rotate the entire fixtures.
The Aquatic Life light has a built in timer and all the lights [white, actinic, and moonlight] can be set to come on or go off independently, yet the entire light uses only 1 electrical plug. On other systems, there’s a plug for each light, and you have to buy the 3 timers. And 3 timers takes up a lot of space on a power strip.
So if you’re looking for the cheapest right now, a dual tube [1 10,000K and 1 actinic] compact fluorescent would cost the least. But if you want something that is more cost effective, and will let you expand your coral choices in the future, get a T-5. [who] Black Kat