Led Light Advice

[Squidward]

I am after some advice.
 
The lights in my tank aren't very good.
It's 5ft x 2ft x 2ft (550L)
With a black background, and the lights that it came with, it is very gloomy.
 
So I am thinking of replacing the lights.
I want something brighter
 
Was thinking of getting LED
Will they be powerful enough for a 2ft deep tank?
Anything else I need to think about?
 
Thanks

 

[Mads]

You can use some of the very good (and expensive) LED lights as Ada Aquasky but they wont be enough if you want very light demanding "lawn"-plants in your tank. But they will be enough if you elevate your plants a little closer to the surface og have less demanding plants.
 
I have good experience with Aquaray mini 400 tiles but I have a very low aquarium.
 
Regards 
Mads

 

[Zante]

I have your same aquarium, but with a reef in it.
 
I use two radion units and they work just fine. Despite being primarily reef lighting, they also have a freshwater setting and i'm planning to get them for my discus tank too at some time in the future.
 
You link them to a computer and program the lights to do exactly what you want. Dawn and sunrise, overall power level, storms and lightning, cloudy days, power curve over the day, etc...
 
They are pricey, but well worth it.

 

[bricko]

I just bought 2 of these for my 6ft planted tank and so far I am very imperessed with them (they overlap in the middle of the tank giving more light to the centre)
 
http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/wavepoint-led-strip-light-6500k-48-p-6699.html
 
Will let you know how my plants fair in due course, but I would say there is a lot more light reaching the bottom of the tank than I had with my T5 i bar

 

[Squidward]

The tank is for Discus
There are no plants at the moment. But I may add a few low maint plants some time in the future.

 

[DrRob]

Trying to break down your question, yes, LEDs will punch light down through 2 feet of water, but it depends, like anything, on how they're set up. The more powerful lights, with a narrow lens, will light a huge depth, but will create a more spotlight type effect and you'll need more of them to cover the same area, wider lenses will cover bigger areas with the same light, but won't penetrate so well. Discus may well do well in the first sort of set up, as it'll create areas of shade for them.
 
The reason that the carpet plants struggle with lighting isn't that they need a lot of light per se, just that they need it to reach them, which doesn't always happen so easily. Naturally they tend to be the marginals that live near the surface and at the edges of the water, so depth isn't normally an issue for them.

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

I have your same aquarium, but with a reef in it.
 
I use two radion units and they work just fine. Despite being primarily reef lighting, they also have a freshwater setting and i'm planning to get them for my discus tank too at some time in the future.
 
You link them to a computer and program the lights to do exactly what you want. Dawn and sunrise, overall power level, storms and lightning, cloudy days, power curve over the day, etc...
 
They are pricey, but well worth it.

 I know this has no point, but my orthodontist has this tank (he has been fishkeeping for 10 years, and knows what he is doing)
 
THEY ARE THE COOLEST THINGS EVER! You say 30% storms, and it will "storm" for 30% of the day. He also has it set up with the filters so they take in and push out more water, making the "ocean" rougher during the storms. I am just so amazed by it
 
I would splurge and get the radions. The holidays are coming up, maybe a little present asking? lol. Only use fish people would want aquarium lights.

 

[IonaMcCluskey]

i've got a just under 3ft Betta LED light unit on my 54"x18"x24" and it is brilliant. the whole tank is very well lit. it did cost 90quid but definately worth every penny.