Long LED lights for a six foot tank

[ShinySideUp]

Further to a previous post regarding the above matter I have finally found a solution to failing T5 tubes; I have bought two Fluval Aquasky LED lights. Aquasky Lights
They are long enough to cope with a long tank (ok the corners don't have much light but hey ho), the ones I bought are £117 each (I bought two of the longest they sell) and take about a minute to install if you are replacing T5 or T8 lights as they can use the same fittings (they can also be suspended over the tank or fastened to the cover). They are bluetooth controlled by an app (Android or Apple) and work very well (so far); lots of effects and the timings and colour temperatures are infinitely variable.

I'm very pleased I found a replacement for my very hot, very expensive-to-run, flourescent lights.

 

[Retired Viking]

The different light effects sound cool. I am still using T-8 in my aquarium hoods

 

[Stan510]

How well do they grow plants? Fluval is probably mass produced top of the line LED' at $150 in the states for the 48" give or take size,not inexpensive. But reasonable for what we invest in plants and set up. Other brands can go double the cost of Fluval (ADA and others) so hard to say what the best can do over a Fluval.
I know so far as I have posted,the brands that sell for $50 or so all over the internet are too cool in spectrum for my taste. The type of algaes they grow sort of prove my eyeballs as spectrum detectors. So,my conclusion is,if you want good strong color rendition for less,a good fluorescent grow bulb in doubles or quadruples is the way to go. After that, the line blurs as 2 Fluvals for my 240 gallon would be actually be more cost effective over at least the 4 and maybe 6, 4' fixtures I would need.
Why I moved that big tank under a window!...I can always shade too much light.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I can't really answer that question fully as firstly, I've only just got the lights and secondly, the only plants I can grow in my tank are Vallisnaria as the Clown loaches will eat everything else. Vallisnaria grow long fronds (mine are pushing six feet long) and they float so are very near the lights and most probably get plenty of light for their requirements. Whether in a two-foot-deep tank bottom-growing plants would get enough light is for someone else to discover, the lights work very well for my environment.

"Why I moved that big tank under a window!...I can always shade too much light. "

PS I can never move my tank. At 800 kgs fully loaded and 140kg empty it is as irremovable as a supporting wall and when, eventually, I get a new carpet fitted they will have to fit it around the tank.

 

[Stan510]

I understand. My beams under the floor are perpendicular to the tank..gives most strength than where I had it. And,I'm not advocating window light to anybody.. I know all the problems that come with that..but so far,I've figured out enough to make it work well enough.