4 ft by 4 ft build...lighting suggestion
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ShawnSaucier
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Will you have a canopy? You could have a lot of fun and options. I would mix with some T5's in with what ever LEDs you choose.
mcarroll
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A CurrentUSA Orbit Marine Pro setup would give you nice, even, mostly-shadowless light and a nice controller. I'm not sure if one DUAL kit (i.e. two Pro strips) would be sufficient or if you'd need two of them....I'd write to their support and get their suggestion. I suspect two would do it though.
mcarroll
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I think you're asking us whether you like apples or oranges. 
If you haven't seen it already, check out this post I made in the Can't decide whether to abandon LEDs thread and then come back here.
From the corals' point of view, most of the lights on the market are pretty equivalent. Corals aren't that picky once their minimums are taken care of, which isn't difficult. More than 10,000 lux from a predominantly blue light – they're happy.
So about the apples and oranges:
If you turn out to like Kessils (which I think are really nice lights) then I'd predict you'd like their AP700 more than the 360's. I'm not sure you'd get totally adequate coverage from two AP700's though. @jeremy.gosnell has written a good review article on the AP700 recently where he compared them with the 360's – I'd check that out for sure.
I would not recommend a hybrid system, but let us know if you're thinking of any in particular.
I would consider LED strip systems like the CurrentUSA Orbit Marine Pro and TruLumen Pro as well as GHL's LightBar2 system and Hamilton's Kona Sun LED strips....they give off light much more homogenous like T5HO, but with the benefits of LED.
One semi-unique advantage of the Orbit Marine Pro's is that they have 60º lenses....so they will be more-suited to suspending over the tank by a foot or so for better top-down viewing. Two 48" strips ought to do it. They can also be placed on the rim of the tank like the other strip solutions. (But the others are really only suitable for placement on the rim. Suspending them kills their penetration.)
(Also....Kessil has Narrow and Optics Kit options that are close to the Orbit Pro lenses, but that changes your design to even more 360's.)
Let me know what you think after this....I hope it helps!
If you haven't seen it already, check out this post I made in the Can't decide whether to abandon LEDs thread and then come back here.
From the corals' point of view, most of the lights on the market are pretty equivalent. Corals aren't that picky once their minimums are taken care of, which isn't difficult. More than 10,000 lux from a predominantly blue light – they're happy.
So about the apples and oranges:
- Do you like the look of metal halide tanks as well as AI, Ecotech and most china-box tanks? Both have significant shading due to the spotlights.
- Do you like the look of T5HO tanks? The light in these tanks looks very homogenous, with no significantly brighter or darker areas and minimal to no shimmer. Some folks think the light in these tanks looks kinda "dead".
If you turn out to like Kessils (which I think are really nice lights) then I'd predict you'd like their AP700 more than the 360's. I'm not sure you'd get totally adequate coverage from two AP700's though. @jeremy.gosnell has written a good review article on the AP700 recently where he compared them with the 360's – I'd check that out for sure.
I would not recommend a hybrid system, but let us know if you're thinking of any in particular.
I would consider LED strip systems like the CurrentUSA Orbit Marine Pro and TruLumen Pro as well as GHL's LightBar2 system and Hamilton's Kona Sun LED strips....they give off light much more homogenous like T5HO, but with the benefits of LED.
One semi-unique advantage of the Orbit Marine Pro's is that they have 60º lenses....so they will be more-suited to suspending over the tank by a foot or so for better top-down viewing. Two 48" strips ought to do it. They can also be placed on the rim of the tank like the other strip solutions. (But the others are really only suitable for placement on the rim. Suspending them kills their penetration.)
(Also....Kessil has Narrow and Optics Kit options that are close to the Orbit Pro lenses, but that changes your design to even more 360's.)
Let me know what you think after this....I hope it helps!
Pole04
Active Member
Wow I have a 4'x4' tank that I am trying to figure out lighting for as well! Mine is 18" deep.
I am on a tight budget, so I have pieced together a system with what I could get cheap. I have 2 Orbit Marine Current 48" strips and a 36" Coral Life T5x4 HO fixture. So I guess I would be doing a hybrid at the moment.
One day I would like to get switch over to 2 hybrid fixtures.
I am on a tight budget, so I have pieced together a system with what I could get cheap. I have 2 Orbit Marine Current 48" strips and a 36" Coral Life T5x4 HO fixture. So I guess I would be doing a hybrid at the moment.
One day I would like to get switch over to 2 hybrid fixtures.
mcarroll
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Also at the risk of hijacking (hope you find this interesting too @Sanj997), but to share some thinking....and remind anyone who cares that this is not a religious issue, just thinking out loud. (You asked for it!) 
To me, there's nothing wrong with halide. Or T5. Or LED's.
You could easily find a dozen beautiful tanks grown under nothing but pure instances of each form of lighting. (Let me know if you need help!)
From that point of view, it makes little sense to combine them – just decide what you like!
It's really as simple as that, but for those, like me, who have trouble with simple...keep reading.
Also from my point of view, the idea of combining them or "hybrid lighting" (ay....marketing buzzwords) comes from the old days when halides were the only lights bright enough to get the job done, but their color was pure-daylight or worse. Ugly....and not very effective. They didn't look as good without Phillips Actinic .03 T12 tubes to bring extra florescence out of the corals. (Turned out that blue light was really good for their health too!)
That's that pattern after which most of the halide fixtures were built through the 90' and a chunk of the 00's....a row of halides braced by T12's, then power compacts, then eventually T5's. Everyone made one...Coralife, Hamilton, Aqua Medic, Geiseman, you name it...some still do make them. Hamilton Technology's new Koro Sea Sun™ 3600 LED Light ($599) is an all-LED adaptation – how do you like that for an argument-buster?!
Thing is, during that timeframe, the Radium 20,000K halide bulb became popular...along with many other "blue halide" bulbs. Actinic had come to the halide bulb itself! The need ceased to exist for the "extra" side lights even if all those thousands of halide+florescent fixtures did not cease to work.
Cost usually becomes a factor with hybrids as well. If you are not on a budget, many things are different from when you are. Your feelings about hybrid lighting may be one of those things.
FYI, combining Stage lighting instrument's is normal and might be considered a parallel model for us except for one thing....they don't combine instruments because of some perceived defect in one of them, they use them deliberately for effect. Our "defect" = effect, or effects. If shadows aren't desired, a spotlight would not be used, for example.
To me, there's nothing wrong with halide. Or T5. Or LED's.
You could easily find a dozen beautiful tanks grown under nothing but pure instances of each form of lighting. (Let me know if you need help!)
From that point of view, it makes little sense to combine them – just decide what you like!
It's really as simple as that, but for those, like me, who have trouble with simple...keep reading.
Also from my point of view, the idea of combining them or "hybrid lighting" (ay....marketing buzzwords) comes from the old days when halides were the only lights bright enough to get the job done, but their color was pure-daylight or worse. Ugly....and not very effective. They didn't look as good without Phillips Actinic .03 T12 tubes to bring extra florescence out of the corals. (Turned out that blue light was really good for their health too!)
That's that pattern after which most of the halide fixtures were built through the 90' and a chunk of the 00's....a row of halides braced by T12's, then power compacts, then eventually T5's. Everyone made one...Coralife, Hamilton, Aqua Medic, Geiseman, you name it...some still do make them. Hamilton Technology's new Koro Sea Sun™ 3600 LED Light ($599) is an all-LED adaptation – how do you like that for an argument-buster?!
Thing is, during that timeframe, the Radium 20,000K halide bulb became popular...along with many other "blue halide" bulbs. Actinic had come to the halide bulb itself! The need ceased to exist for the "extra" side lights even if all those thousands of halide+florescent fixtures did not cease to work.
Cost usually becomes a factor with hybrids as well. If you are not on a budget, many things are different from when you are. Your feelings about hybrid lighting may be one of those things.
FYI, combining Stage lighting instrument's is normal and might be considered a parallel model for us except for one thing....they don't combine instruments because of some perceived defect in one of them, they use them deliberately for effect. Our "defect" = effect, or effects. If shadows aren't desired, a spotlight would not be used, for example.
Pole04
Active Member
Given a large enough budget, I would say get what you think looks the best!
My choice to mix and match low end lighting was made to allow me to buy a ton of other costly equipment. I figure I can always upgrade down the road. I am also on a power budget. I have two 15amp circuits that need to drive a large tank until the budget allows these circuits to be upgraded.
My choice to mix and match low end lighting was made to allow me to buy a ton of other costly equipment. I figure I can always upgrade down the road. I am also on a power budget. I have two 15amp circuits that need to drive a large tank until the budget allows these circuits to be upgraded.
themcnertney
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8 bulb 48" long T5 fixture from ATI would look awesome over a rimless tank.
Edit...
Oops sorry I missed the OP. (4) Kessils would suffice over your 4'x4' tank
Edit...
Oops sorry I missed the OP. (4) Kessils would suffice over your 4'x4' tank
Last edited:
OP
OP
Sanj997
Community Member
Thanks everyone...I'm really loving the suggestions. I'm trying not to spend too much...and also be energy-efficient. So I know my options will be towards led lighting. There are so many options....the prices also really vary. I just don't want to buy lights that I will end up having regrets with. Thanks again everyone....and keep your options coming.
Sure but it will light up your massive tank no problem. You want SPS? No problem. Plus word on the street is that Orphek is doing a 30% off sale right now so that beast of a light is $800 or so.
I think it would look cool hanging from your ceiling.
FirstContact
Active Member
Really like Orphek. I have a bunch of their lights.
