Advice wanted - Simple, Affordable, LED Set-up

[Albeez]

I have a very simple 3 year old mixed reef 30 gallon tall tank (24x24x12) that I want to keep running but don't want to sink a lot of money into. I am looking to change out my malfunctioning T5 four bulb 24 inch fixture, most likely for LED. Any advice on which LED to go with, below are some questions I'm struggling with.

1. The AI prime is almost exactly what I think I would want (low cost at $200 and controllable via my iphone without an additional controller needed). The problem here is I don't think it'll provide enough light to the bottom of the tank. Am I correct in my thinking? If so, are there any other lights similar to this that will give coverage to the bottom...

2. I noticed the Radion XR15w is basically the AI prime but with light that will go deeper. My issue here is I think I need to buy a controller for this right? Or is it just the $450 for the fixture and I'm good to go? With 450 for the controller and 99 for the link we're looking at 550 which is pretty pricey and I only get one puck.

3. The last fixture I was looking at was the AI 26, but I've read that the controller isn't very good (and not wireless) in that it often mis-functions and the lights can be left on if you go out of town. Is this accurate? If I go this option I think i'm looking at $299 for the fixture and another $99 for the controller, or $400 all in.

4. Any other fixtures that are easily controllable, affordable, and could provide good light that I'm not thinking of?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[redfishbluefish]

It looks like you're looking at branded fixtures, but I just picked up a MARS AQUA fixture, and I'm impressed. This is a $78 Ebay fixture HERE (with free shipping.) Time will tell how it holds up, but it's less than what my yearly bulb change costs were for my T5s. Although it's listed as 165 watts (that they calculate from 55 LEDS X 3 watts each), it's actually a 120 watt fixture. The controls are two channels with potentiometers. It comes with lens that easily penetrate the 22 inches in my tank......better than the Apollo fixtures I have.

 

[Albeez]

Thanks for the response. While that appears to be an affordable option, I'd prefer to go with a fixture that is fairly widely supported and has decent warranty in case anything goes wrong. I'm curious if there is anyway out there that could take a stab at my questions?

 

[Albeez]

I think I'm going to go with the AI Hydra 26 with the controller. I can keep the controller attached to my computer and control it from there right? Any objections? Is it possible to mount this without the rail?

 

[dorky]

have you ever look into getting nano box duo?

 

[spartanman22]

I've heard good things about nano box, but have no personal experience. I use a kessil a350 on my 18×18×8" frag tank and really like it. It has fantastic shimmer! It used to be on my 18×18×18" cube but I put a 250 watt halide on the display.

I've also used the OR-T247. Although not one of the top brands it is American made and the company has pretty good customer service from what I've read (wouldn't know mine never had issues). I really liked the OR-T247 as much if not more than my kessil.

 

[Albeez]

I'll check out the nanobox but I did pull the trigger on the hydra 26. Hope I like them - definitely have some concerns with the controller based on reviews!

 

[Big Larr]

Thanks for the response. While that appears to be an affordable option, I'd prefer to go with a fixture that is fairly widely supported and has decent warranty in case anything goes wrong. I'm curious if there is anyway out there that could take a stab at my questions?

Check out the chinese

 

[diablomaster9045]

Check out the chinese

+1 you can buy 4 chinese ones for the price of 1 of the 26's. IMO the hydra 26's have not yet been on the market long enough.

 

[Albeez]

Update** - love the hydras and the controller..no issues so far, the fish appear to be much much happier and my corals are definitely open. Hoping it's not too much power, currently running them at 60% at max. They sunrise from 12-4 and then at max until 8 and then sunset until midnight.

 

[Reeftech]

I use three primes on my 6ft frag tank that is 18" deep and and all zoas/palys, chalices, acans, and acro frags are growing/encrusting and coloring up very nicely. So one prime over your tank would be more than enough for your mixed reef especially with it only being 12" deep. And AI has great customer service and great warranties on there products.

 

[Albeez]

Nice! I'm 24" deep but still don't think it'll be an issue

 

[Reeftech]

It won't be with the hydra 26's. I've got two on my 120 gal display tank. Just watch your intensities though, my whites, reds, and greens only get up to 17 percent at max while the others go up to 100 percent but they take three hours to ramp up. And it took some time to get to those intensities without burning any of my acros

 

[Albeez]

So what are your %s across the Board on the colors when you're at max? I just did 60% on all at max.

 

[Reeftech]

Both blues, uv, and violet turn on at 1pm and ramp up to 100% by 3pm. White,red, and green turn on at 3pm and ramp up to 17% by 330 and stay like that until 730 and then ramp back down to 0 by 8pm while the blues, uv, violet ramp down from 100 to 0 from 8pm to 10 pm.

 

[Albeez]

Gotcha - are the whites red and green known to be stronger and that's why you only have them at 17%??

 

[Reeftech]

Whites are always stronger... try turning them up to 100 percent and taking a look at how your corals look... they'll look less colorful. The reds and greens to my understanding can lead to additional algae growth but that depends on who you ask. The numbers I listed before run the lights at around 20k. If you were looking more for a 16k look ramp the whites, reds, and greens, at 35 %