Another lighting question, help me not waste $

[cemmerts]

Hey guys, I’ve searched and read and searched and I think I reached the point where I am simply overloaded with new info and I am having difficulty finding an answer. I have a 40 breeder as my first aquarium ever. I started a couple months ago and I have made several changes as I’ve learned. Due to the importance and cost of lighting, I’d rather just get it right the first time.

Question: would a 36” current USA PRO Dual be sufficient for any coral/anemone? I don’t want to be limited by my lighting. Preferably the lighting would be enough for complete photosynthetic sustenance so that additional feeding isn’t needed. I don’t plan to have any clams, but some SPS are likely. If this doesn’t work, any Other suggestions? I need something very low profile (1.5” max from tank rim) and can’t hang. I also want LED and would like to be reasonable with the price, but realize that not buying the right stuff the first time can often cost more money. I would like WiFi/Bluetooth controllability as well. My water level to substrate depth is about 13-14” and I have rockwork that comes to about 7” from the surface With a small peak that comes up 2” from the top.

Sorry for redundancy with the question, I just haven’t found a straight forward answer and I’m getting info overload. Here is what I’m working with and would need to be able to open the cabinets or my wife will veto:

 

[Snoopy 67]

My Reefbreeder's lights are only about an inch thick.
BUT--they are not made to be that close to the water.
I would contact them for advice.

 

[cemmerts]

My Reefbreeder's lights are only about an inch thick.
BUT--they are not made to be that close to the water.
I would contact them for advice.

I’m really liking that reefbreeder light. Looks like it’s sufficiently powered to handle anything, including SPS at the bottom. I’m going to get ahold of them and ask about placement. The mounts look similar to the current USA mount, which works well. Is the reef breeder website itself the only place you can order? I see the 32” photon v2+ for 590, which is absolutely doable, but didn’t know if there was a 3rd party selling cheaper?

 

[Snoopy 67]

They are only sold @ Reefbreeder's unless you get one used.

 

[Paratrooper Lutz]

The 36” current USA PRO Dual are sufficient and Irecommend purchasing the Mounting arms and Bluetooth Controller, by getting the Bluetooth Controller you will be able to easily control your lights and Pumps through your phone. Very easy to setup and use verses the IR LOOP Controls you can even link a DC Sump Pump and with everything linked when you hit feed all the pumps will decrease to 30% for about 15 minutes then resume. And let me say this is the Most Quet Pump I've owned, uses very little electricity and will adjust from 20% up to 100%. As far as the lights go they are sufficient to grow all corals but you must have 2 lights on most Aquariums if growing Corals. They will make your corals and fish pop in color. You can adjust your White, Blue, Green, and Reds which I Love so I can control bothersome Algae growth by Reducing the red and white. Also the Bluetooth Controller comes with a Plugin Thermometer. The nice thing is it allows you to set Random Weather Events and Sunrise and Sunset Ramps and as Mentioned before hit a button for feeding times. I want to recreate Natures Lighting as close as possible and ensure both fish and corals are happy and thrive. I have 2 wave pumps, my sump return pump, and 2 IC lamps all setup, I also have 2 Shorter Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Lights that I ran on my 29 Gal Biocube and honestly they were great, only difference from what I could see and have read with the IC Lighting the Leds have a Special Lens that Magnifies the Penetration Depth of the Lights for deeper tanks. They worked fine on My 29 gallon with all my corals loving the light. I spent hours researching Currents Lights. I even inherited an old version of the IC 4 ft light and bought a new one, the difference is that the technology has gotten much better. My new IC Light is half the thicknesses, has one cord instead of 2, is much lighter, and runs significantly cooler. That said all the lights come with a thin metal adjustable width wire leg on either side, but I've found that by adding the Arms it seems as though my tanks are better Illuminated. The Current USA Pump and Lights are an Affordable, Reliable,Easy to Use All-In-One answer to Reefing. I know the hard core Hobbyist will say Kessel lights are the best, but times they are a changing as technology advances are made, but that's just my 2 cent's.
Good Luck and Reefing,
ParatrooperLUTZ or just Dean