Affordable LED lights with best functions

[reefinginBD]

Hey, I will either be setting up a 93 gallon cube or a 5 foot 150 gallon peninsula. So, if I set up the peninsula style tank, I want to have two islands am for the aquascape and I will mainly have soft and lps corals but also some sps corals. I was wondering what good budget lights there are. I heard Nicrew HyperReef are good. I will use two individual lights for the two islands, so which one should I get? The 100 watt one or the 150 watt ones? Does it have the ramp up and down and also dimmer controllability now? Is this a good light or should I choose something else?

 

[TheSheff]

Hey, I will either be setting up a 93 gallon cube or a 5 foot 150 gallon peninsula. So, if I set up the peninsula style tank, I want to have two islands am for the aquascape and I will mainly have soft and lps corals but also some sps corals. I was wondering what good budget lights there are. I heard Nicrew HyperReef are good. I will use two individual lights for the two islands, so which one should I get? The 100 watt one or the 150 watt ones? Does it have the ramp up and down and also dimmer controllability now? Is this a good light or should I choose something else?

If you absolutely must use cheap lights that light seems like it could work. In my opinion, on a tank that big and with the corals that you want to keep, you should go ahead and spend the extra money up front for a better light. Trust me , you won't regret it.

 

[MaxTremors]

Hey, I will either be setting up a 93 gallon cube or a 5 foot 150 gallon peninsula. So, if I set up the peninsula style tank, I want to have two islands am for the aquascape and I will mainly have soft and lps corals but also some sps corals. I was wondering what good budget lights there are. I heard Nicrew HyperReef are good. I will use two individual lights for the two islands, so which one should I get? The 100 watt one or the 150 watt ones? Does it have the ramp up and down and also dimmer controllability now? Is this a good light or should I choose something else?

A five foot tank is going to need a minimum
of three lights to have even coverage. Just two lights is going to be very noticeable. Personally, I would skip the Nicrews. They don’t have the best spectrum and lack some controllability. IMO, the best budget LED reef light on the market is the Noopsyche K7 V3 Pro. They’re currently on sale for around $200 a piece. They have excellent spectrum, spread, and intensity, and the actual quality of the lighting is every bit as good as the higher end brands, they also have a 2 year warranty.

 

[reefinginBD]

If you absolutely must use cheap lights that light seems like it could work. In my opinion, on a tank that big and with the corals that you want to keep, you should go ahead and spend the extra money up front for a better light. Trust me , you won't regret it.

what lights would you suggest I get then?

 

[reefinginBD]

A five foot tank is going to need a minimum
of three lights to have even coverage. Just two lights is going to be very noticeable. Personally, I would skip the Nicrews. They don’t have the best spectrum and lack some controllability. IMO, the best budget LED reef light on the market is the Noopsyche K7 V3 Pro. They’re currently on sale for around $200 a piece. They have excellent spectrum, spread, and intensity, and the actual quality of the lighting is every bit as good as the higher end brands, they also have a 2 year warranty.

I see, thanks a lot! Also what other lights would you suggest I can get? Let me know, thank you!

 

[Viking_Reefing]

T5’s and some cheap led-bars purely for pop. That’s will yield much better results than some poorly built led light and will most likely cost about the same.

 

[frisbike]

A five foot tank is going to need a minimum
of three lights to have even coverage. Just two lights is going to be very noticeable. Personally, I would skip the Nicrews. They don’t have the best spectrum and lack some controllability. IMO, the best budget LED reef light on the market is the Noopsyche K7 V3 Pro. They’re currently on sale for around $200 a piece. They have excellent spectrum, spread, and intensity, and the actual quality of the lighting is every bit as good as the higher end brands, they also have a 2 year warranty.

I use the Noopsyches and very pleased

 

[MaxTremors]

I see, thanks a lot! Also what other lights would you suggest I can get? Let me know, thank you!

It really depends on your budget. The next step up from the Noopsyches that I would recommend would probably be 3 AI Hydra 32s. The next step up would be 2 Neptune Skies or 3 Radion XR30s.

 

[Spare time]

Smatfarms are great for the price. I played around with one and I was impressed. They feature sunrise, sunset, individual color control, and a remote.

 

[mav3rick478]

If you're looking for bars then checkout Quanta Reef, controllable units then Noops, if you can get some used 52HDs or 26HDs and replace the pucks with some Luxdiums.

 

[Spare time]

If you're looking for bars then checkout Quanta Reef, controllable units then Noops, if you can get some used 52HDs or 26HDs and replace the pucks with some Luxdiums.

+1 on bar lights being very cost effective

 

[Crustaceon]

Hey, I will either be setting up a 93 gallon cube or a 5 foot 150 gallon peninsula. So, if I set up the peninsula style tank, I want to have two islands am for the aquascape and I will mainly have soft and lps corals but also some sps corals. I was wondering what good budget lights there are. I heard Nicrew HyperReef are good. I will use two individual lights for the two islands, so which one should I get? The 100 watt one or the 150 watt ones? Does it have the ramp up and down and also dimmer controllability now? Is this a good light or should I choose something else?

I'm running three viaparspectra "165w" led fixtures on my 5', 187 gallon acropora dominant system running at 40% white & 50% blue. They grow sps perfectly fine and are proof you don't absolutely need expensive lights to have good results. I have a thread documenting acro frag growth that i'll update today.

 

[ASWoodsy]

Hey, I will either be setting up a 93 gallon cube or a 5 foot 150 gallon peninsula. So, if I set up the peninsula style tank, I want to have two islands am for the aquascape and I will mainly have soft and lps corals but also some sps corals. I was wondering what good budget lights there are. I heard Nicrew HyperReef are good. I will use two individual lights for the two islands, so which one should I get? The 100 watt one or the 150 watt ones? Does it have the ramp up and down and also dimmer controllability now? Is this a good light or should I choose something else?

I agree with other replies on not to go cheap with lights, but if you are like me and are on a budget or just can’t spend a lot of money for the really good light, go with the SmatFarm Light on Amazon. It’s affordable, and, from what I’ve heard (I have it but don’t have coral in the tank yet), has great par readings and a great shimmer/spread.

 

[LuisJr80]

What brand(s) do you guys recommend for a 16 gallon tank? I was looking at NICREW.