90 gallon lighting selection

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crash29ca

crash29ca

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I am looking for a lighting solution for my 90 gal mixed reef plan. This will be my first try with sps. I am debating between 2 AI prime hds, 2 Kessil a360w-e or 2 radion xr15w pro. Kessils have the best shimmer, radion probably the most power and AI primes the cheapest. I am a little worried 2 primes won be enough light. Long term plan on adding t5 supplements. I am also open to other suggestions.
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
I have a mixed 90. I tried the following

Kessil 160s
Ati dimmable t5s
Kessil Ap700
Two AI hydra 26 hd
Ati sunpower

I’m really happy with the sunpower. If I could go back in time I’d probably keep the dimmable ati fixture. I just hated the breakin period for dimming the bulbs. It was only two days or so of 24-7 on once a year but still.

A six bulb t5 fixture WILL give you great growth and color. An LED fixture CAN give you growth and color. In my experience the tanks I liked ran four led fixtures or more. It was just more than I was willing to do. You really can’t go wrong with T5s.
 
I think I have narrowed it down to 3 choices
1 kessil ap700, 2 kessil a360we, or 2 echotech xr15 pro's. Tank dimensions are as follows 18" by 48" by 24" deep. Also looked at 2 AI 26 hds but I am a bit scared off by some of the negative reviews with lost communication between lights an lights not working. Really want to hear your thoughts. Btw definitely starting with led's
 
None of your options listed in your posts are ideal for SPS but would be OK for LPS or softy mixed tanks. I'd suggest this if you're on a budget:
https://www.amazon.com/Agrobrite-FLT48-Fluorescent-Light-System/dp/B002TJKS8Y
It is the best T5 fixture for the money on the market...
Or the ATI 8 bulb if you can afford it. If you insist on running LEDs, than either two AP700's or Two Radion G4 Pros.
 
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My 90 gallon is the same dimensions. In my experience, even with the light 18" off the tank the Kessil AP 700 caused crazy shadowing. I even tried the major diffusion lenses but the bottom side of my SPS were bare. They looked like those trees in the tropics where the top is green and the bottom half of the tree top is leaf-less. It wasn't bad with frags but with the larger pieces shadowing was a big issue. Par at the bottom was also pretty low. The AP700 is the most natural looking of the options though, especially with major diffusion lenses however you do loose par with those on.

The AP700 is more powerful than two 360we(s) would be so see above for that.

Can't speak to the XR15 Pros, those are the only lights I haven't tried.

You'll (in my opinion) need four AI 26 HDs to adequately light that tank. One of my favorite mixed reef 90s uses five hydra 26hds. I get barely any wifi in my basement where the tank is and my Hydra HDs never lost signal. The kid's Wii U looses it sometimes though. I wonder how much of this is user error in these reports of issues with the Hydras.

I really, really wanted to like LEDs but I really think you need one per foot of tank for a mixed reef. I'd look at doing four 360wes if you really want to go LED. The shimmer won't look as natural because you'll have four point sources of light but it'll be nice. Two won't cut it on a four foot mixed reef without T5. If you're going to get the hybrid T5 fixture then I'd go for sure with the two 360s for now.
 
Deltec
While I do realize that none of the options are good for sps dominant tank but I am looking to have a mixed reef. The eventual plan is to add T5's later. The problem I have with T5's is they are double the cost of led's over a 5 year span. ( factor in bulbs). So I will run mix of both. This is a brand new tank and has nothing in it yet. I have been looking at the aquatic life hybrid fixture and may possibly add that later. Unfortunately Giesman and Ati hybrid fixtures are out of my price range. So the plan will be to start with led's and add T5's after.
 
I run 2 15w G4 pros, and love them! I have SPS and LPS and no issues at all. Tank hasn't been running long enough for long term point of view, but as of right now, I'm very happy with them.
 
I think your math is off. A three foot t5 fixture will easily light a four foot tank, even if you plan to grow corals on the side lanes of glass.

2 kessils 360s does not equal a six bulb t5 fixture.
4 Kessil 360s would equal a six bulb t5 fixture. With an ATI fixture you should be able to change bulbs once a year, especially with a mixed reef.

Factoring that in I don’t think it’s more expensive over five years. I meant the new hybrid fixtures that you can fit a Kessil or hydra into. They are t5s with brackets to fit existing LEDs into.
 
Deltec
I run two AL Prime HDs over my 65g. Not enough power or PAR. I will be supplementing with four T5s when my Aquatic Life Hybrid fixture arrives. Went the cheapo route for my smaller tank. Run the Kessil AP700 and two A160 Tuna Blues supplemented with 6 T5s 0ver my 150g. I will one day replace the AI Primes with Kessil 360s.
 
I see your point when you factor in the comparison to 4 kessil a360we. And I am thinking of that aquatic life fixture as well. That's why I am looking at these led fixtures. Unfortunately there has been some negative reviews of the aquatic life fixture as well. The cords being too short and coming from opposite ends seem to be the biggest complaint. But build quality also was questioned. Going to give it some time though and see.
 
Ecoscape Reef Rock
I have had a few people suggest a 6 bulb t5 fixture. The reasoning behind my selection is both asthetics and personal experience. I had a 50 gal reef before with mostly Lps and a couple common monti plates and was using a 4 bulb current USA fixture. I switched to the maxspect razor and the difference was night and day. Better growth colour and everything. The shimmer is what really sells me on led's. You just don't get it with t5 only. Now please bear in mind that this was a low end fixture with a single reflector and mane the change would not have been so dramatic if the t5 fixture had individual reflectors. So for those reasons I will always incorporate led's in my new tank. I want the tank to pop and sparkle.
 
Thanks everyone for all the comments. From everything you guys have said I have narrowed it down to either 2 kessil a360we or 2 echotech xr15 pro gen 4. Leaning towards the radions ATM. Both will be compatible with the aquatic life fixture later on. Thanks again and please keep the comments coming as I will have to make a final decision in the next 3 weeks.
 
I have 2 Kessil A360WE and an AI Prime HD over my mixed 90. I was going to add two T5 but I’m upgrading to a larger tank next year. You really need the T5 to cut out the shaded areas. I’m only able to use about 70% of my tank.
 
I have 2 radion xr30 pros on a 90 with the same dimenstions. I think the radion xr15 pro will be inadequate for SPS in a tank that deep. I am running them at 70%. My tank is about 95% acro and monti's and have good growth.
 
Thanks Rick. The sps will only be in the top of my tank and I would be running approximately 1/2 of the par you are running as per BSR results. Which means coral placement of the sps will be important. Lucky I have a par meter. Probably only keep the sps at the very top. Middle and bottom should be good for Lps.
 
Chewy.com
crash29ca said:
I am looking for a lighting solution for my 90 gal mixed reef plan. This will be my first try with sps. I am debating between 2 AI prime hds, 2 Kessil a360w-e or 2 radion xr15w pro. Kessils have the best shimmer, radion probably the most power and AI primes the cheapest. I am a little worried 2 primes won be enough light. Long term plan on adding t5 supplements. I am also open to other suggestions.
Click to expand...
I'd go with the radions and supplement with an Aquatic Life Hybrid T5 fixture. Because that's what I'm doing...;)
 
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