Lighting setups

[Debow]

Hello fellow members I thought I should start a section where we all can post are lighting setups as my self and others frequently ask what lights are being using when we see these great pictures of there tanks. Lets post what kind of lights they are LED, compact florescent, What brand and model they are and where you bought them from (links would be helpful) and what the cost was, or if they are a DIY light where you bought the supplies. Think of this as a short cut for all your lighting information. And don't forget post a picture !

My lighting system consists of 3 165w dimmable full spectrum programmable LED fixtures that I found on eBay for $145 each made by Aqua Star (they have many names but are all the same.) They are normally reef lights but I don't use the blue channel vary much only 1-2%. The hangers are made out of steel conduit bent with a bender and threaded eyelets to attach the light hanging kit to the pole. I could not find hangers large enough to fit the tank.

Hope this will help others :thumbsup:

89136

[Debow]

Come on guys I keep seeing posts about lights let see what you got and what it is! I added a better picture with less cloudiness.
92292

[Filip]

I use T5- HO neon tube lights in my 65 gallon tank .
They have been reccomendet to me as a good lights for growing plants and cheaper then their LED grow light counterpart. And from my experience they did their job growing plants very well..

I got 3 T5-HO neons x 54 watts each so it makes a total of 162 watts.This is very strong light and right now i use mostly only two of them - 108 watts.
I got reflectors for each tube and they do make lights stronger by at least 30% .

The 3 tubes are different Kelvins 3000-yellow, 6500 -daylight and 8500- strong daylight -strong white colours , and the diversity of Kelvins and tube colours really make discus look bright and natural .

They cost me about 50 dollars with the whole electrical backup and the reflectors and i mount them my self on the tank lid.

i will post pictures of tank in another post tommorow becouse they are stored on my P.C.

[Floridianman]

anyone else know where to buy GroBeam 1500 Ultima. this light fixture is from the UK. found one site here in the USA that sells it. looking if there are other people selling them.

[cedar]

97783 I just purchased 2 4' led pod lights for my 125g. I am really pleased with how it creates light and dark spaces in the tank. specific blues are on a dimmer so you can create different looks. now to find a timer for them. :)

[melita]

I have been looking for. Led light for my 90. Gallon hard to find here in Canada for reasonable price . My tank is deep so I needed to find one that will reach plants on floor any sugestions ?

[LizStreithorst]

I just bought a cheap Aquaneat Led. I'm absolutely delighted with it. I'll buy more over time. There are several different types. I got this one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/AQUANEAT-LED-Aquarium-Light-Multi-Color-Full-Spec-Marine-FOWLR-12-20-24-30-36-48/263407917157?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SI M%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D5f587b4 8fa4a47829e819fb49b0f32e2%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D4% 26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D252134861925%26itm% 3D263407917157&_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598

[dagray]

I use Fluval plant LEDs. a 48 inch on my 75 gallon tank and 24 inch on my 20 gallon tank.

[brewmaster15]

I'm really cheap... I make my own from LED strips off ebay .. maybe the strip and power adapter cost me $5-10 . The fish don't seem to care.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/50CM-U-Aluminium-shell-DC-12V-36-SMD-5630-LED-Hard-Rigid-LED-Strip-Bar/332644356624?hash=item4d73261210:m:mCzqjdNwG5X2q4K 4GFsG0Dg


al

[LizStreithorst]

I'm not cheap, just poor. I will spend money on a good light that enhances the color of the fish. The the blue and white lights don't do a good job, IMO. What I bought looks to be a knock of of the Finnex lights. It has blue, white, green and red/pink. Makes the tank look good.

[brewmaster15]

I'm not cheap, just poor. I will spend money on a good light that enhances the color of the fish. The the blue and white lights don't do a good job, IMO. What I bought looks to be a knock of of the Finnex lights. It has blue, white, green and red/pink. Makes the tank look good.

Lol... i won't tell my Fish Liz that I am not doing them justice. Lucky for me they don't know. I usually use warm whites on them and I think they look pretty good.When I get fancy I string a blue and warm white together which gives me a look I like. To each is own. But hey you are talking to a guy that makes the tank hoods out of foam board when he can or cheap plexy. I only have one show tank in my livingroom, the rest are function over form.


120147

looks ok?
al


down and dirty.. copper wire coil keeps the light off the glass.

120148

ugly I know.. but it works very well.

[LizStreithorst]

Looks dang good. If you tell me that that fish is the parent of the babies I have coming from you I will be overjoyed. It reminds me very much of my sterile home grown male, but your fish is better.

[brewmaster15]

Looks dang good. If you tell me that that fish is the parent of the babies I have coming from you I will be overjoyed. It reminds me very much of my sterile home grown male, but your fish is better.

Then you my friend will be very overjoyed.:)

[LizStreithorst]

Oh, be still my heart. The good lighting shows him more clearly than the other pics I've seen. You, sir have a show fish. I'll do my very best to do the kids justice.

[nc0gnet0]

I'm really cheap... I make my own from LED strips off ebay .. maybe the strip and power adapter cost me $5-10 . The fish don't seem to care.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/50CM-U-Aluminium-shell-DC-12V-36-SMD-5630-LED-Hard-Rigid-LED-Strip-Bar/332644356624?hash=item4d73261210:m:mCzqjdNwG5X2q4K 4GFsG0Dg


al

:)

[Paul Sabucchi]

On the subject of lighting, I really like systems where you can control the duration, intensity and hue of the light.
TC420 controllers work really well and are inexpensive (you can get them for about $20 from China or about $30 on Amazon). The issue I have is finding quality waterproof LED bars to use with it. I use the only sort I can find ready made that is kind of made on the cheap, 1 meter sealed aluminum bars with 7020 12v diodes for cold white (6000k) and warm white (3000k) and even lesser quality RGB bars with 5050 diodes. For a discus tank or even a reasinably ambitious low tech tank they do good enough a job, it would be nice though to be able to purchase similar individual type of LED bars, just better quality: better diodes (cree, philips, epistar) even of the newer Chip On Board type.
Anyone come across any?

[forceyboy]

Hi Guys,

New to the forum and just starting to put my tank together.

I'm looking for advice on lighting - my tank is a rimless 60x60x60cm tank and I've been looking at the following lights:

https://aquariumstoredepot.com/products/current-usa-satellite-freshwater-led-lights-1

https://aquariumstoredepot.com/products/aquaticlife-edge-led-lights

https://www.completeaquatics.co.uk/aquarium-accessories/aquarium-lighting/high-output-led-lighting-for-aquariums/twinstar-600sa

Budget wise looking to spend between £150-250 and would appreciate any feedback.

Cheers,

Paul

[Iminit]

Those are some expensive lights. Look at the hygger 957 the finnex HLC and the vivagrow 24/7. These lights will do the same and are a lot cheaper.

[forceyboy]

Thanks Tom - so if you had to pick the from that list for a 2ft wide by 2ft deep tank what would you go with?

[Iminit]

There all good and I use all of them. My tanks are 24”deep and I use 2 on my tanks for plants. But one would be fine just for color. Finnex is the best and thinnest. Hygger is a great option and cheaper and easily set up.

[pablos]

2 x Dymax spaceX freshwater.
130420

Currently lights are working on 45% power, as I have some issue with algae.

[Iminit]

Great looking tank pablos! Lights show the discus nicely! Funny the lily leaf looks like a coral growing on the wood.

[forceyboy]

2 x Dymax spaceX freshwater.
130420

Currently lights are working on 45% power, as I have some issue with algae.

wow that looks a great tank - what kind of Discus have you in there? And is one the prized possesion?

Really like the lights - if you dont mind me asking how much are they?

[pablos]

Thanks. It was along journey to make this tank ready, but finally it’s almost there.

Light is very good from the quality point of view as well as light spectrum. Price is also reasonable - 140$ each. You can program switch on/off time as well as add night/blue.

I initially thought about Aqua Medic - Qube 30/50 but I found Dymex better, as you don’t need additional controller etc. Moreover qube 50 is very bulky comparing to Dymex.

One small issue with that light is that clock is not super accurate as it adds ~ a minute per week. But I don’t mind that light would switch on at 9:05am instead sharp 9.

Regarding fish itself I have 15 Stendker. Some bigger grown from 2” when I bought them to 4-4.5”, another batch is 3” only. I’m background 30 black neon tetra

[forceyboy]

$140 a piece is a good price.

Here in the UK they cost about £160 each.

With regards to the fish, has any of the Discus started to breed yet or are they still too young?

[pablos]

$140 a piece is a good price.

Here in the UK they cost about £160 each.

With regards to the fish, has any of the Discus started to breed yet or are they still too young?

You know ... we pay a lot for good quality discus, so why not to spend some $$ for a light which would greatly expose their colours?

They are still too young to be parents. In different tanks I have two breeding pairs and two batches of fry ~150 plus next on the way.

[EddyRockSteddy]

Hi All - first post on this board. Experienced fishkeeper returning to the hobby after a while so am at a loss as to the best lighting requirements for a lightly planted Discus tank. I these times of LED's and the like I am at an absolute loss as to what to purchase that will firstly do my Discus-Children justice and secondly, provide adequate lighting for the plants I currently have with them (swords, java fern and the like).

Price is no issue, obviously within reason. I just want a dual-band setup to simulate moonlight (I am assuming blue light for moonlight). With the sheer amount of contradictory text you find on the internet this is my last hope of finding some decent advice.

At present I have a 72 inch LED bar which is, as luck would have it, not the one I originally ordered (distribution center fail) which only has blue and white LED's. I read somewhere that green and reds are necessary to enhance colours (RGB setup) so will be returning this unit for as refund.

Question is what to get in return?

Some pics of my setup at present:

131507

131508

Any assistance appreciated

Kind regards

G

[EddyRockSteddy]

Settled on Current USA Serene Aquarium Visual and Audio Aquatic Experience Kit (72") with mounting brackets. Will see how it goes.