60x36x24 What Lights? How many?

[MounteeFrag]

I am planning out a 60x36x24 build. I am trying to make up my mind about lights. Right now I am thinking I can do 2 Aqua Illumination Hydra or 2 Kessil 360W or maybe save my money a little longer and go with Radions????? Need suggestions......

 

[Shadow1]

I run 6 Radions on my 72x36x27 I would also consider Pacific Sun led T5 combos, they seem like a very good idea. Finances are always a decision to consider.

 

[MounteeFrag]

Finances are a concern. I beleive both the AI's and Kessil will do 36x36 that is why I'm considering them.

 

[prsnlty]

I have 2 sol blues on a 6' × 18" and 2- 24" pc's inbetween. Not enough spread for 36". You need atleast 3 units IMO. I have 70° lenses on them. They are also 10" lens to water surface on a 22" depth.

Jackie
125g mixed reef peninsula now Free

 

[Ron Reefman]

Finances are a concern. I beleive both the AI's and Kessil will do 36x36 that is why I'm considering them.

If finances are a concern, check out the OceanRevive sponsor forum here on R2R. Either 2 OR-Arctic S026's or 2 OR-IT2040's would give you more than enough light. If you don't need the sunrise and sunset stuff so you can go with dimmers, the Arctic S026's are great. I have them over my frag tank and 55g local tank. I have the IT2080's over my 180g sps & lps tank. They aren't Eco Tech Radions, but then they do make good quality light and cost 20% of what a radion does.

 

[Connie]

AI's cover a 24 x 24 area per fixture. You will need 3 fixtures. I have 4 running on my 180g that is 72 x 24 x 24.

 

[MounteeFrag]

What if I raised them above the aquarium? And raised the %

 

[WesF]

I have a 60x35x27

It's a tough size for lighting with LEDs. You will probably find yourself needing 4 fixtures. 2 raised up higher will most likely give you shading problems, even if you use radions.

On my tank I use 2 x 250w halides raised up pretty high in large lumenbright reflectors and Ecoxotic LED actinics. The spread is much better than LEDs but even then, I get some shadowing in certain areas.

If your tank doesn't have a center brace and you don't plan on growing any coral in the front 6" and back 6", you could get away with 3 fixtures across the middle

 

[MounteeFrag]

Would it matter how the are placed on the tank? Meaning long ways facing front to back or right to left?

 

[prsnlty]

I have mine longways and 3 would be better. You still wondering get a 36" spread and will get shadowing with only 2. Raising them up higher also means less par.

Jackie
125g mixed reef peninsula now Free

 

[EcoFrags]

well i havn't started the build thread yet bc i have just been lazy but the kessil LED goosenecks are awesome for radions OR the kessil lights that they are designed to go with...i used the goosenecks on my 80gallon low tank i just set up and the 2 necks hold 1 radion over that tank no problem...as far as how this solves ur problem, i would recommend to you that kessils if u choose LED's as 1 radion wont light your tank but for the same money 2 kessils will/can depending on your lighting requirements and how you aquascape your tank

 

[MounteeFrag]

So I contacted Ecotech for information on the Radions. They informed me of new wide lenses coming later the year. That would work on my tank. We shall see

 

[1.0reef]

DIY, Maxspect, and Reefbreeders and good options.

 

[indyjaco]

T5 might be a cheaper option. A 48" or 60" ATI with 8 bulbs would be cheaper and give you great coverage.

 

[MounteeFrag]

Indyjco I checked out the ATI 60". I am trying to stay away from changing bulbs every year. I figured $160 in bulbs a year plus the increase in electric. Learning towards LEDs

 

[MounteeFrag]

Anybody running a Aquatic Life XS was thinking a 46 might do.

 

[MounteeFrag]

I leaning towards the Kessils. Anybody running them? Anyone using a Neptune Systems Apex with them?

 

[ShawnSaucier]

I have a 60x30x24 build going on right now. I've chosen the ATI LED Powermodule (3x75w LED clusters and 4x54w T5 all controlable and dimmable).. The LEDs will be a main part of the lighting. Maybe able to get an extra half life out of T5's..

 

[MounteeFrag]

Thanks Shawn, this is getting harder to choose.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Thanks Shawn, this is getting harder to choose.

So now that you've been looking and asking questions for awhile, I have 2 questions for you that may be helpful to others:

1) What are the criteria that you are currently using to make your decision? led colors? led blue to white ratio? dimmers vs controller vs reef control? number of fixtures? leds bunched together or spread out over the fixture?

2) How about a list of your top 3 contenders as of right now?