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Unread 05/28/2018, 04:24 AM   #330
Ron Reefman
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cape Coral, FL
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First, saying you have a 'standard 29g tank' really isn't very helpful. These days there are very few 'standard' sizes. I assume you mean it's roughly 30" long and 18" deep?

Of all the fixtures you listed, the only one that produces enough PAR to really do a mixed reef in an 18" deep tank is the AI. All the others use 0.5 watt leds which are OK for fish only tanks or reef tanks that are 12" deep. They can work over an 18" deep tank, but don't try any light loving corals like sps. There just isn't enough PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation).

The AI has a better PAR level. However, one fixture will only make an 18"x18" footprint and your tank is 30" wide, so you'll need two of them. So now you are way over budget.

Consider two 16" Mars Aqua fixtures at just under $100 each. These don't have all the bells & whistles that the other fixtures you asked about have, but they do make more than enough PAR for even a 24" deep tank using 3 watt leds driven at 1.9 watts so they last longer and run cooler.

You can look at other Chinese Black Box fixtures that will look similar to the Mars Aqua like the Viparspectra, Euphotica, Ocean Revive and a few others. You may find ones that are 24" or even 30" long and they may serve you even better, but they may also be a bit over your budget limit. BTW, all the other Black Box fixtures use 3 watt leds and drive them at 2.2 watts so they make even better PAR than the Mars Aqua.

Welcome to the addiction and good luck.


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