Setting up and maintaining a reef tank is no mean feat. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication but you will also likely be aware that it is also not the most affordable venture. If you’re going to take this hobby on, you need to be willing to part with some cash.
While there are some aspects, like lighting, that come in at a higher price than other things, this doesn’t mean that they have to break the bank. Lighting is probably one of the most expensive parts of your reef tank setup but it is also incredibly important and cannot be omitted.
Without light, your corals will not have the correct energy to grow and your reef tank will fail. It is a good idea to try and get your hands on the best lighting you can afford but if you are working to a budget, then there are some decent products out there. Moreover, if you aren’t running a large reef tank and are only housing soft corals, you might not need to fork out quite as much for advanced lighting systems.
In this guide, we will be looking at some of the best cheap reef lightings. We will also provide you with some top tips to ensure that, even when you’re buying budget, you get the best bang for your buck.
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Why Use Cheap Reef Lighting?
For anyone that has entered into keeping a reef tank without having first done their research, they will have quickly discovered that the cost of this hobby can be astronomical. Yes, the rewards are great as you get to have a synthetic piece of the ocean right there in your own home and you can watch the ecosystem developing and growing. But off the back of that, you must be prepared for a significant hole in your bank account.
Don’t let that put you off though because there are ways that you can lower the cost of setting up and maintaining a reef tank, although you don’t want to scrimp too much.
Lighting is one of the things that is going to set you back the most. You could literally spend hundreds of dollars and still buy more. If you have got the means to do that, then great. But if you are working to a budget, you can still set up a reef aquarium.
We would suggest using cheaper reef lighting when you are running a smaller tank. Nano reef tanks are becoming more and more popular thanks to how easy they are to manage compared to a larger setup. Typically, you would keep softer, less demanding corals in a nano reef tank and these don’t always need such advanced lighting.
When Not To Use Cheap Reef Lighting
We would always suggest that you buy the best possible lighting that you can for your budget. If you have been saving for some time to buy high quality products for your reef tank then absolutely go ahead and do this.
While there are instances that warrant the use of cheaper reef tank lighting, there are some setups that will suffer if you try to use this. For example, people who are ploughing thousands of dollars into a huge 120-gallon reef aquarium would not do well to then scrimp on lighting. For the extra few hundred dollars that you would need to spend, the health of your tank is not worth risking.
What Is The Best Cheap Reef Lighting?
Type ‘cheap reef lighting’ into any search engine and you will be presented with tons of results. Some of which can be up to ten times cheaper than the most expensive reef tank lighting but this isn’t always a good thing. As with anything, buying cheap means that you need to be on your guard and look out for products that may as well be put directly into the trash.
Thankfully, there are also a lot of reef lighting options that won’t break the bank and provide your aquarium with everything it needs to thrive. Let’s take a look at some of our top picks.
VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control Dimmable 165W 300W LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum for Grow Coral Reef Marine Fish Tank LPS/SPS
If you are looking for something that is beautifully affordable then the VIPARSPECTRA is an incredibly good choice. There aren’t many other reef tank lights that offer such great quality at such a competitive price.
Many users have reported that it also has excellent longevity and even after years of use, it still doesn’t fail. This is not something that all cheaper lighting can lay claim to. The VIPARSPECTRA has as many as 100,000 light hours. What’s more, it’s also extremely versatile and can be used with a wide range of coral types.
We also love the fact that you have some generous options in terms of light intensity and timings. It comes with a dimmer as well as a timer allowing you to create the perfect environment for your aquarium. Each bulb is 3 watts and there are 55 LEDs in total resulting in a total 165 watts. That said, there is also a larger 300-watt version of the same light which is more suitable for larger aquariums and still just as affordable.
Kessil Tuna Blue A80 LED Light KSA80-TB
When you are buying lighting for a smaller tank, perhaps a nano reef then you have several options. However, we couldn’t find many that were quite as effective as the Kessil Tuna Blue A80 which has everything you would expect from a much more expensive product, and then some!
You will be able to use this for tanks that measure up to 24 inches in width which works out to be around 15 gallons. However, you can still use this on larger tanks, you will just need to invest in more than one unit.
If you are looking for something that is going to give your aquarium a stunning aesthetic appeal then you won’t go far wrong with this lighting. It promotes a stunning water shimmer which is something that many of the Kessil lights do very well and this one is no exception.
The A80 offers a super quiet function thanks to the fact that it does not have any fans and also has an incredibly long lifespan. It is beautifully easy to operate thanks to simple control knobs that help to adjust the intensity and color.
Aquarium Lights – Aquarium LED Light 30Watts（±5%） Saltwater Lighting with Touch Control and 3W/5W LED Chips for Coral Reef Nano Fish Tank
This is another excellent choice for people who are running a smaller tank but much like our previous offering, there is the option to install more than one light. Many people may be under the impression that this will bump up the cost too much but you will find that it still works out less expensive than buying a larger light.
These reef tank lights are operated with a touch control which is great for ease of use even if the control unit is a little larger than you might expect. But that really isn’t a major issue. There are three LED lights that contain a variety of lights including white, blue, and violet. It isn’t the broadest spectrum but it’s more than enough for a basic soft coral setup that requires low light levels.
Installing the light is quick and easy as it comes with a handy bracket that can be adjusted up to 11 inches. Although you should keep in mind that it has been designed for a rimless aquarium so those with rims maybe a little more trying to install, but not impossible.
Current USA Orbit Marine LED Aquarium Light – Saltwater, Coral Reef Fish Tank – LOOP Wireless Lighting and Wave Pump Control with Timer – Adjustable Color Spectrum and Flow Mode – Sliding Docking Legs
One of the biggest draws of the Current USA Orbit is that you could be forgiven for thinking that this was a much more expensive light than it is. It features a lot of things that make this a cut above the rest. Yes, it is a little more pricey than some of the other options on our list but it still falls into the category of an affordable aquarium light.
The Current USA Orbit is a great-looking light that comes with a handy remote control and a great range of light options. You get a stunning shimmer effect as well as some beautiful colors so your choices are endless. It also comes in a choice of sizes making it suitable for a range of different aquariums. The lights have a wide 120º angle offering great coverage and there are some great modes including sunrise, storm, and sunset.
What we really liked is that it is compatible with the Current Loop system meaning that you can control the light and wavemaker at the same time.
What To Consider When Buying Cheap Reef Lighting
Looking at guides like this one will give you a great idea as to what you can expect to get for your money. But that aside, it is still incredibly important to look at various features of each potential product and weigh them up before making a decision. Take a look at our top buying tips to ensure that you don’t end up with an inferior product.
Make Sure The Lighting Is Suitable For A Reef Tank
A reef tank needs sufficient light but not all lights are made equal and so you must ensure that the product you are looking at is suitable for this kind of aquarium. This means finding the perfect combination of wavelength and light intensity which is imperative for the corals to thrive.
In order to create just the right conditions in terms of light, you may need to install more than one kind of lamp. Some of the best results are achieved by combining an actinic lamp with a selection of daylight replicating lamps.
Number Of Bulbs
The size of your reef aquarium will be the main determining factor in the number of bulbs that you need. Of course, you will need to consider their intensity and since there are so many different types of bulbs, this will also play a part in how many will be suitable for your tank.
For this reason, it is important to do some research and also be willing to experiment with lighting until you find the perfect number of bulbs that give your aquarium the perfect light coverage.
Read Reviews
When you buy cheap, there is a risk that you will get something that is not as durable, doesn’t live up to your expectations, and doesn’t provide the right level of light for your tank. For this reason, you should always check out the experiences of other users.
This is the only viable way to ensure that what you are getting is going to be reliable. Even though you aren’t spending as much as you could on your lighting, it would still be a massive waste of money to buy something that you then could not use.
Ease Of Use
A good reef tank light will offer an easy user experience. This usually comes in the form of easy-to-reach and operate controls that allow you to adjust the lighting to your needs without any messing around.
You will also want to make sure that your lighting can be mounted easily. There are some out there that work well on aquariums that are rimless but are more difficult to install on tanks with a rim, so this is something you should be mindful of when making your decision.
Conclusion
Reef tanks are a popular feature among hobby aquarists and while they are challenging to maintain, they also offer amazing rewards. However, along with the hard work of maintaining your reef tank, there is also the financial aspect to consider. Reef tanks cost A LOT to set up and also have a lot of high costs associated with their maintenance.
While lighting is one of the more costly parts of setting up a reef tank, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t some great affordable products out there. There are certain times that cheaper reef lighting might be appropriate and it is a great way to save money. However, you should always endeavor to compare products and do your research to make sure that you don’t end up with something that isn’t worth its weight in gold.
