963024h Lighting Options

ReefChef19 · Aug 23, 2020

Good evening fellow reefers! I am now starting the build preparation for my new tank. It is going to be an acrylic 96*30*24 300 gallon with external overflow. I would like to know your opinions and thoughts on lighting, any feedback would be appreciated positive preferred. I ran 6 xr15's and t5's on my red sea. I am leaning toward xr 30 blues, but don't want to spend that type money on lighting. I have also looked at the orphek atlantiks, Kessil's ap9x, noopsysche, and of course the xr15 general 5 blues! I am also thinking of not using t5's and going with orphek or3 strips as supplemental lighting. Please also tell me how many you would run if it were you setting up the tank and why. I plan to run a mixed reef, with long term success in mind. I would greatly apprecaite any feedback you have, thanks and have a great weekend.

FlexingFishSticks · Aug 23, 2020

Congrats on the new build! @vetteguy53081 has the ocean in his living room so he will probably have great advice on lighting

vetteguy53081 · Aug 23, 2020

Im all atlantik and Light bars. Cant get a better blend.
My second choice would be the larger Kessil units (700 ans the newest one) , followed by Radion G4 (too many issues with the g5)

vetteguy53081 · Aug 23, 2020

ReefChef19 said:
Good evening fellow reefers! I am now starting the build preparation for my new tank. It is going to be an acrylic 96*30*24 300 gallon with external overflow. I would like to know your opinions and thoughts on lighting, any feedback would be appreciated positive preferred. I ran 6 xr15's and t5's on my red sea. I am leaning toward xr 30 blues, but don't want to spend that type money on lighting. I have also looked at the orphek atlantiks, Kessil's ap9x, noopsysche, and of course the xr15 general 5 blues! I am also thinking of not using t5's and going with orphek or3 strips as supplemental lighting. Please also tell me how many you would run if it were you setting up the tank and why. I plan to run a mixed reef, with long term success in mind. I would greatly apprecaite any feedback you have, thanks and have a great weekend.

If T5, run two 48" hybrid with Kessil or Hydra 52 inserted in center . Comment also above

Hydrored · Aug 24, 2020

Running 6 G5 XR30 Blues all perpendicular, actually get higher PAR with diffusers. Also check out ReeFi’s if you want to look at all LED

Sdot · Aug 24, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Im all atlantik and Light bars. Cant get a better blend.
My second choice would be the larger Kessil units (700 ans the newest one) , followed by Radion G4 (too many issues with the g5)

mitch91175 · Aug 24, 2020

ReefChef19 said:
Good evening fellow reefers! I am now starting the build preparation for my new tank. It is going to be an acrylic 96*30*24 300 gallon with external overflow. I would like to know your opinions and thoughts on lighting, any feedback would be appreciated positive preferred. I ran 6 xr15's and t5's on my red sea. I am leaning toward xr 30 blues, but don't want to spend that type money on lighting. I have also looked at the orphek atlantiks, Kessil's ap9x, noopsysche, and of course the xr15 general 5 blues! I am also thinking of not using t5's and going with orphek or3 strips as supplemental lighting. Please also tell me how many you would run if it were you setting up the tank and why. I plan to run a mixed reef, with long term success in mind. I would greatly apprecaite any feedback you have, thanks and have a great weekend.

Canopy or open design? Make a difference.

ReefChef19 · Aug 24, 2020

mitch91175 said:
Canopy or open design? Make a difference.

That info would help! I plan to run a canopy.

mitch91175 · Aug 24, 2020

ReefChef19 said:
That info would help! I plan to run a canopy.

Do you care about heat? If not you open more options. At 96" if you want full coverage you'll definitely have to either:

1. Buy a lot of LED fixtured
2. Buy LED/T5
3. Go all T5
4. Consider MH

96" is a lot of tank to light specially if you are going for a reef.

YankeeTankee · Aug 24, 2020

Reefbreeders if you low on cash, Reefi duo extreme otherwise. If you're limited to your poll list - orpheks.

Better yet, 250w radiums driven by m80 or hqi electronic ballast in cozumel sun fixture from hamilton.

ReefChef19 · Aug 24, 2020

mitch91175 said:
Do you care about heat? If not you open more options. At 96" if you want full coverage you'll definitely have to either:

1. Buy a lot of LED fixtured
2. Buy LED/T5
3. Go all T5
4. Consider MH

96" is a lot of tank to light specially if you are going for a reef.

I don't think heat should be a huge issue either way, but i think the halides may be too much for me.

I have a friend with the same tank, he runs 5 xr30's blue right now. Ecotech said i could get away with only 3 but I wouldn't feel comfortable with only 3.

I wouldn't be opposed to led/t5, I had that on my last tank. I was just trying to stick with the led's this time.

mitch91175 · Aug 24, 2020

ReefChef19 said:
I don't think heat should be a huge issue either way, but i think the halides may be too much for me.

I have a friend with the same tank, he runs 5 xr30's blue right now. Ecotech said i could get away with only 3 but I wouldn't feel comfortable with only 3.

I wouldn't be opposed to led/t5, I had that on my last tank. I was just trying to stick with the led's this time.

Wow 3 really? I'd imagine you'll have obvious shadows with only 3. What do you plan to keep in the tank?

Poochaku · Aug 24, 2020

Coralcare Gen 2 is coming out soon

ReefChef19 · Aug 24, 2020

Montis, scollys, torches, sticks, just about everything that I can.

jda · Aug 24, 2020

Reflectors are your friend on larger tanks. A pair of 6x T5s with some LED strips on each side. Run the bulbs for 2 years. Pure performance.

150w Halides also with some LED strips on each side will cover pretty well and have the same output, or more, than 4x Radion xr30s with about the same wattage.

If you need to use LEDs, then look a a pair of Photon V2s with some T5s on each side.

mitch91175 · Aug 24, 2020

These would work in a canopy:

Hydroplanet™ T5 4ft 4lamp Fluorescent HO Bulbs Included for Indoor Horticulture Gardening T5 Grow Lights Fixtures (4 Lamp, 4ft)

With some of these:

Reef Brite XHO 72" Blue / White LED light Strip

Utilizing only 3 watt LED’s for maximum performance and output, our LED strip lights produce the same amount of light as a T5 or VHO Fluorescent lamp. These versatile units can be used to replace any standard strip light or to create a custom lighting system. Because of their unique and...

premiumaquatics.com

jda · Aug 24, 2020

Those Chinese T5 fixtures are not high power nor built well. I use one over a fuge and it is fine, but the fuge is only about 8-10" deep. They are less output than ATI. It is also starting to rust, but it was not made for aquarium use or saltwater.

For a 25 inch deep tank, those fixtures would likely be very underpowered.