54 Corner Lights

[BGrand]

Setting up a new corner tank and have some questions.

Measurements:
Bowfront 39"
Top to bottom is 23"
Front to back is 27.25"

Plan on putting some fish in there and want the flexibility to mix up the coral. No set plans as of yet on what types but want the flexibility to mix it up. Love all types of coral and I'm excited for that part but lets be honest I'm months from that but want the right light in place ahead of time.

 

[Flippers4pups]

AI or kessil is a good choice, but you may want two fixtures for coverage.

 

[BGrand]

AI or kessil is a good choice, but you may want two fixtures for coverage.

Thank you. I called Kessil today and their tech support told me I could get away with one but would be better with two. I was a little concerned they were trying to up sell me. LOL

 

[DesertReefT4r]

2 A360X or a Hydra 52 would be better especailly if you plan for corals. A great budget LED is a Photon V2+. If you get a single light 30-36" will give you the best coverage over a 39" tank. Also 1 XR-30 Pro mounted 12-14" high would work well if you want to go all out.

 

[BGrand]

2 A360X or a Hydra 52 would be better especailly if you plan for corals. A great budget LED is a Photon V2+. If you get a single light 30-36" will give you the best coverage over a 39" tank. Also 1 XR-30 Pro mounted 12-14" high would work well if you want to go all out.

Thanks for the input. I will definitely look in to all of those.

 

[BGrand]

2 A360X or a Hydra 52 would be better especailly if you plan for corals. A great budget LED is a Photon V2+. If you get a single light 30-36" will give you the best coverage over a 39" tank. Also 1 XR-30 Pro mounted 12-14" high would work well if you want to go all out.

Since the tank is 39" wide it looks like I might need two of any of following after reviewing their coverage. What are your thoughts?

Radion XR30W G4 Pro has the following Coverage:

• Maximum Spread - 32" x 32"
• Recommended Spread - 24" x 24"

Hydra Fifty Two HD has the following Coverage:

• Maximum spread: 30" x 30"
• Recommended spread - 24" x 24"

Kessil A360X has the following coverage:

• Maximum spread: 30" x 30"

 

[BGrand]

Bump

 

[dantimdad]

Holy cow! $900+ for two lights that won't put 120 par on the sand bed of a 54 corner? That's insane. Sorry, but, it is.

You could do two AI primes and light that tank for most corals. Still wouldn't be 120 par on the sand bed but would cost less than one kessil.

Two black boxes and remove most of the lenses. Less than $200 and would grow anything, and I mean anything. You could diffuse them for under $20 and do even better.

 

[BGrand]

Holy cow! $900+ for two lights that won't put 120 par on the sand bed of a 54 corner? That's insane. Sorry, but, it is.

You could do two AI primes and light that tank for most corals. Still wouldn't be 120 par on the sand bed but would cost less than one kessil.

Two black boxes and remove most of the lenses. Less than $200 and would grow anything, and I mean anything. You could diffuse them for under $20 and do even better.

@dantimdad Thanks for the input. New to this so help me a little please. What do you mean by black boxes?

 

[dantimdad]

There are several brands that are (unfairly) lumped together and called black boxes.

SBreeflights being the best but also cost the most. Next up would be viparspectra. Then followed by mars aqua and watt shine(my favorite). Then there are brands that pop up and go away every day.

Basically, they use an inexpensive heatsink with lots of air movement. The lenses that come stock on most of them cause beaming so you want to remove most, if not all, of them.

Check out my thread for more on modding this type of light.

I even added a moon light channel.

A few of the most beautiful (IMO) reefs on this forum use black boxes.

 

[dantimdad]

As a side note: I tend to lean towards DIY or modification. So, you should take my opinions with a grain of salt. The first sentence of my build states that I am a cheapskate.

 

[BGrand]

So here is the measurements of my corner tank. I'm thinking one of the following:

• 2 Kessil A360X
• Ecotech XR30W Pro

Only a $90 difference between them. I also have two MP10WQD with a Reeflink wireless controller if that helps with your choice.

 

[Kampo]

those dimensions seem off. a 20in cube is 35 gallons. I think 54 corner is 27 on a side isn't it? i'd go with 2xblack boxes if your looking on a budget.

 

[BGrand]

those dimensions seem off. a 20in cube is 35 gallons. I think 54 corner is 27 on a side isn't it? i'd go with 2xblack boxes if your looking on a budget.

It is 27" from the back corner to the front. I am measuring from the overflow black section in the back since I won't be lighting that area and it shouldn't be considered for the lighting. Not budgeting since I can use these on an upgrade tank later.

 

[BGrand]

It is 27" from the back corner to the front. I am measuring from the overflow black section in the back since I won't be lighting that area and it shouldn't be considered for the lighting. Not budgeting since I can use these on an upgrade tank later.

Bump

 

[BGrand]

So talking with my LFS they suggested the Cobalt C-Ray 200. They feel they are better than 2 Kessil’s and are a little cheaper.

Anyone have expense with the C-Ray 200

 

[BGrand]

Bump

 

[VR28man]

Thanks for this thread. What did you do in the end?


I am thinking of a possible 54g reef ready tank, among other options. (but that's a different thread!)

One thing I am definitely thinking about it how to light it. Normally, this has much to do with aquascape and coral placement.

However, with a design light the 54 reef ready corner, it's fairly easy because there's really only one basic option: to stack higher towards the back and lower as it goes forward, leaving the forward 1/2-3/4 relatively open.

THEREFORE, it seems to me that lighting the back, where it's narrowest, is the most important. This also means we can use a smaller light. (while it also means we can put less area for rock and coral, and have more forward free space in comparison to a rectangular tank).

I am seriously considering a Hamilton Bali Sun pendant MH for the back half, and then maybe a 24 or 36" T5+LED combo for the forward half. Or maybe just a straight up 24" LED up front, simply because I don't know how much coral I'm actually going to put under it.

Hmmm.........

 

[DogsRule]

I just recently moved from a 92 corner tank ( same shape as 54, just larger dimensions) & it was lit with a single 250 watt MH in a Reefoptix II reflector (now hard to find, but hydroponic wing reflectors are a decent substitute). It gave excellent light coverage for the entire tank & I only used a low power LED up front to simulate dawn/dusk before & after MH was running. HTH

 

[BGrand]

I ended up going with the Cobalt C-Ray 200 and love it. I made an attachment point in the corner of my wall and attached the lights arm bracket to it. Unfortunately the arm bracket isn't quite long enough so I am going to hang it from the ceiling. Because the arm bracket is a little short it casts a shadow on the front of the tank. Obviously you want your coral in the front so you can enjoy them. Great light.