Intro and a couple of questions

[michelleraia]

Hi. I just started my tank a few months back. I am definitely a beginner and have already had many hard knock learning experiences. I have a 215 gallon tank with cichlids. My current question is suggestions for cord safety. I currently have a few power strips mounted in my stand. Upon searching the Internet I have read a few stories of people having shorts and their strips basically melting and nearly causing a fire so i am looking into gfci protection. Should I just replace the power strips with any gfci protection strips or are their strips specially for aquariums. I can't get to the plug to replace it so that isn't an option. Also, a few cords won't reach the power strips so I have a basic extension cord in the back of the tank hanging down. Should I replace those with gfci extension cords. I have seen the loop method but this won't work especially with the cords in the back of the tank. Am I over thinking this?

My other question is I have four light fixtures - four cords :(. Should I look into replacing it with one fixture. If so, where do I begin on lighting. There are so many options. I think my tank is 72" and I have a black vinyl back on the tank.

Thank you if you made it this far :). I am happy to have found this forum.

[mnemenoi]

Welcome aboard, drip loops are usually effective and have always worked for me. Lighting is quite varied and a personnel choice, but for a larger tank LED and T5's are the most efficient manner to illuminate your tank in my opinion. There are quite a few different options that will not break the bank. I can shoot you a link to an online retailer in the Houston area that is reasonable and very fast shipping

[michelleraia]

Is there any reason not to add the GFCI protection as an insurance policy? Thank you. The link would be awesome!

[mnemenoi]

No reason in particular, it is a good practice. We just have far too many tanks (10+aquariums & 3 Vivariums). I usually buy from this Ebay seller and he is located out of Houston, shipping is quick and he has quite a variety of options for whatever light array you might need. Here is their 72" LED Array and here is their T5 setup (can be in 2 bulb or 4 bulb[quad]) Spectrum is something you'll want to know when ordering and might take some experimenting to develop what you want/like. With no plants, then lighting is completely personal taste. I'll try and cover the basics on spectrum offered by them here. Plant (soft light with pinkish hues, brings out reds), 6500K (Softer white light, for plants), 10,000K (Crisp Whites, great penetration into depths and good overall lighting), 420nm Actinic (Blue lighting, great additional bulb on a quad to make a fuller spectrum effect, mostly used for corals and salt water reef tanks). Most LEDs come in these options as well. The higher the wattage rating, the deeper the penetration into water depths and intensity. Moonlights are just a few actinics run during the night cycle to provide illumination to see the nocturnal inhabitants.

[johnnymisty]

No reason in particular, it is a good practice. We just have far too many tanks (10+aquariums & 3 Vivariums). I usually buy from this Ebay seller and he is located out of Houston, shipping is quick and he has quite a variety of options for whatever light array you might need. Here is their 72" LED Array and here is their T5 setup (can be in 2 bulb or 4 bulb[quad]) Spectrum is something you'll want to know when ordering and might take some experimenting to develop what you want/like. With no plants, then lighting is completely personal taste. I'll try and cover the basics on spectrum offered by them here. Plant (soft light with pinkish hues, brings out reds), 6500K (Softer white light, for plants), 10,000K (Crisp Whites, great penetration into depths and good overall lighting), 420nm Actinic (Blue lighting, great additional bulb on a quad to make a fuller spectrum effect, mostly used for corals and salt water reef tanks). Most LEDs come in these options as well. The higher the wattage rating, the deeper the penetration into water depths and intensity. Moonlights are just a few actinics run during the night cycle to provide illumination to see the nocturnal inhabitants.

+.......1 I just use regular power strips on my tanks mounted inside the stand never had a problem with them or any worries.... Lighting I would try to get the 72" light to reduce cords myself or condense it down to 2 36" lights at least I'm running crappy lights on my 125 but will upgrade to leds sometime in the near future

[mistahoo]

Plant (soft light with pinkish hues, brings out reds), 6500K (Softer white light, for plants), 10,000K (Crisp Whites, great penetration into depths and good overall lighting), 420nm Actinic (Blue lighting, great additional bulb on a quad to make a fuller spectrum effect, mostly used for corals and salt water reef tanks). Most LEDs come in these options as well. The higher the wattage rating, the deeper the penetration into water depths and intensity. Moonlights are just a few actinics run during the night cycle to provide illumination to see the nocturnal inhabitants.

Very informative!

I've found that plant or any red spectrum light also grows plants better regardless if they're red or not. They definitely bring out red colors very nicely that's for sure.

6,500k seems to be the standard for plants of all colors. 7,000k is often interchanged with 6,500k and 6,700k. Personally 6,700k and under is too yellow for me.

10,000k is also a well rounded spectrum. I've noticed it grows the greener plants (usually carpeted plants) best. If you look at most of the ADA carpeted/iwagumi setups, most if them have 10,000k bulbs.

420-450nm actinic doesn't have much use in a planted aquarium as the plants can get by without the blue spectrum, but it does offer nice moonlighting as Roy mentioned. 450nm LEDs look much nicer than other actinics imo.

Sent from my spaceship using Tapatalk 2.

[michelleraia]

I ordered my led lights from the eBay seller. They should arrive today. Thanks for the recommendation.

[mnemenoi]

No sweat, that's what we have this place for swapping info and helping each other out. Usually there is always someone local that has had the same problem or similar tank/fish/equipment and can offer advice based on their experience.

[troy tucker]

Welcome to the Box!

[KhmerStyle]

Welcome

[michelleraia]

I received the lights last night and Wow. They are awesome. Question(of course) Does the light just lay on top of the glass. It has two metal bracket looking things on each end but they point upwards, not down. They look more like a handle. What are their purpose? Also, where should the power box be mounted? Right now I just have it on the floor next to the tank.

[mistahoo]

They can lay on top of the glass. I think you can take the metal brackets out and place them the correct way. They might have just placed it in backwards. Their purpose is supposed to sit on the frame of the tank to get some elevation from the glass. Hot glass + cold water = disaster in the making. Power box can be mounted or not, that's up to you.

[mnemenoi]

They ship the lights that way to reduce the size of the box, just pull them out and flip them around and put them back in. The power supply can be mounted, but I never do, I just leave it underneath the tank. Get some pics, I'd love to see how it all looks, especially with those lights. Glad you enjoy them

[michelleraia]

Perfect! I love you guys. I will try to get some good camera pictures and post tonight or tomorrow. Thanks :)

[mnemenoi]

Lol, that's what we are here for! We have all been there, trust me... Glad to hear you like the lights. Did you go with T5's or LED's and what spectrums?