AI Primes or Red Sea LEDs?

[One Reefing Boi]

Looking for lighting recommendations. Anyone like one over the other? Any pros/cons with them that you know of? It will be a Waterbox 50.3 (50gal) and will get 2 so either 2 AI Prime 16HDs or 2 Red Sea LED 50s. What mounting set up do you like more? Do you care that you have more control over individual light Chanels on the AIs?

 

[Dolphins18]

Primes are incredible lights from an outstanding company. I have 6 total right now, only one has ever had a problem and they replaced it free of charge even though it was out of warranty.
Also one hydra puts out quite a lot of light, unless you are going for a sps dominated tank one would probably do.
The only downside to AI is the accessories are way over priced.

 

[Everything Aquatics]

I love the ai prime

 

[jazzfisher]

I love my AI primes although I have not had the Red Sea to compare.

 

[Acros]

I upgraded from the AI Prime 16HD to AI Hydra 32HD. I love the 32HD a lot more. It runs much cooler and quite. You might want to consider 2 90w light fixtures for that tank, if you want it to be a SPS dominant tank.

 

[Dolphins18]

I apologize OP, my lights are Hydras as well. I was incorrect saying one prime would be enough, two would indeed be the correct number.

 

[One Reefing Boi]

Primes are incredible lights from an outstanding company. I have 6 total right now, only one has ever had a problem and they replaced it free of charge even though it was out of warranty.
Also one hydra puts out quite a lot of light, unless you are going for a sps dominated tank one would probably do.
The only downside to AI is the accessories are way over priced.

waterbox recommends 2 AI Prime 16HDs for the tank, not the hydra

Oops just saw your edit lol

 

[One Reefing Boi]

I upgraded from the AI Prime 16HD to AI Hydra 32HD. I love the 32HD a lot more. It runs much cooler and quite. You might want to consider 2 90w light fixtures for that tank, if you want it to be a SPS dominant tank.

my goal is mostly LPS with maybe some SPS middle/top of the tank. How big is your tank?

 

[Acros]

my goal is mostly LPS with maybe some SPS middle/top of the tank. How big is your tank?

Mine is a standard 29g tank. 30"x12"X19". I have one AI Hydra 32HD over it now. I am going for an SPS dominant tank. I had a single AI Prime 16HD over it and I was not happy with the coverage. The very edges of the tank looked visibly darker. You will be fine with 2 AI Primes over the tank if you are planning for a mixed reef.

You could always add more of them in the future.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Looking for lighting recommendations. Anyone like one over the other? Any pros/cons with them that you know of? It will be a Waterbox 50.3 (50gal) and will get 2 so either 2 AI Prime 16HDs or 2 Red Sea LED 50s. What mounting set up do you like more? Do you care that you have more control over individual light Chanels on the AIs?

I have never used the Red Sea lights, but am both a Red Sea and a AI fan. I had two AI Prime HD on my reefer 250, and now have three Hydra 32HDs on my 525xl. I have loved all my AI lights but may be someone with some experience with the Redsea lights can give us some information about them.

 

[Dolphins18]

Red Sea did just come out with a new 160S light that looks cool - but I’m sure it comes with a hefty price tag.

 

[Difrano]

I have 2 A primes 16HD and can't be happier with them. Its a Red Sea 250, 65 gallons

 

[cshouston]

I’d just like to chime in another vote for the AI Primes. I upgraded to Radions on my tank because I’m planning to go SPS dominant, but the Primes I had before worked nicely. The app is practically the same as EcoTech’s because they are sister companies and it’s very easy to control. Some of the presets on AI’s website are quite nice too.

 

[One Reefing Boi]

thanks everyone! Looks like AI is the way to go

 

[DeniableArc]

thanks everyone! Looks like AI is the way to go

Hi, I started with 2 primes over my 55g but ended up with 4. Not for more power just less shadows and so I didn’t have to run them above 80%. Great lights very happy but I find them very noisy when you run them at max

 

[Devaji]

yup another vote for the Primes such sweet lights. from what I hear arount the reef the red sea lights sometimes have issues driving ppl nuts. but the AI prime is solid great bank for the buck light and will do more that would will need for your tank.

I like the flex arms and deff. get the 3D printed diffuser worth every penny.

 

[Funston07]

I have 2 AI primes on my 65gal and they work good. I did see a video comparing the AI prime to the Red Sea and they were pretty close in comparison. I will say the one pro the AI has over the Red Sea is that it uses less energy to get the same par readings at identical depths so technically the Red Sea uses more energy which im assuming would also run hotter.

 

[Kfactor]

Primes are incredible lights from an outstanding company. I have 6 total right now, only one has ever had a problem and they replaced it free of charge even though it was out of warranty.
Also one hydra puts out quite a lot of light, unless you are going for a sps dominated tank one would probably do.
The only downside to AI is the accessories are way over priced.

I would have to disagree with this I (liked) the lights but regret buy them now . I switched out my prime HDs for the 16s and regret it % lights don’t match colour at all the 2 new 16 reefs I got I will not ever buy another ai light again

 

[vetteguy53081]

Prime
Red Sea has been letting many reefers down especially with Hot power adapters

 

[Devaji]

oh and dont go crazy changing for AI profile pick one you light that growing great corlas and stick to it. dont change it every 3rd day.
i have been using the BRS ab+ on my RFA nano.