Any 6 foot lights on the market?

Courtney Dudoussat · Jan 24, 2019

Looking for a 72 inch light... all I can find is the orbit marine lights but the reviews are bad. I’m looking to keep a mixed reef Trying to stay under $400 cause I could just get some black boxes but they are a pita

Shooter6 · Jan 24, 2019

Not 6ft, but i run a 5ft ledzeal s400 over my 6ft 180 gal.

crusso1993 · Jan 24, 2019

Courtney Dudoussat said:
Looking for a 72 inch light... all I can find is the orbit marine lights but the reviews are bad. I’m looking to keep a mixed reef Trying to stay under $400 cause I could just get some black boxes but they are a pita

Hi... lighting a mixed reef for under $400, without going BB, is going to be awfully tough, if not impossible. Even if you go the BB route it might still prove to be tough to stay under $400. Here is a study being conducted by @Manose . I recommend you check it out as it may give you some good insight and info about BB's.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-real-black-box-light-study.503052/

Also, @Sarah24! has had very good results and is quite thrilled with her Current lights on her 265g. Perhaps she will chime in here and offer you some good pointers.

lancesmith1 · Jan 24, 2019

NEW!! ULTRA 57"

i saw where SB Reef has this one now.

Sarah24! · Jan 24, 2019

Hello,

I have three of the current usa model 4117 Over my 240 gallon. Even with my tank being 34 inches tall, I get plenty of par on the sand bed. I also have a mixed reef and a Maximus clam that is 24 inches down.

These are the 60 degree lens and 72 inches long. I have extremely good luck growing softies, lps and sps and Maximus clams under them. They are equally in the range as power wise as the g4 radions and hydra 5200s the kessills . They probably do not have enough to go against the new mitras ghl 7200, but not many leds do. As far as spread and coverage go I have very little shading because they are strip lights. I used the critical angel to space them equally apart,
Which is a lot of math, but easier with a par meter. Using a ly-cor 1500 meter I was averaging close to 200 par on the sand bed. (Which I need to retest as soon as the local aquarium gives mine back lol). I have recently added a 3rd but as blues only and run the cool whites at 41% (but have changed that for a day or two once a week or every two). My tank is about 14 months old and has had extremely growth.

These lights are discontinued atm. However the 72 inch you can still find some places. Some have them half off which is a tad over 400 but they are normally 809 each so pretty good deal. Here are some pics from beginning to mid to now.

crusso1993 · Jan 24, 2019

Sarah24! said:
Hello,

I have three of the current usa model 4117 Over my 240 gallon.

I used the critical angel to space them equally apart,

265... 240... whatever it takes. ;Wacky

"Critical angel"... I do not recall helping you space your lights! LOL!

Seriously, though, thanks for jumping in with your feedback!

Sarah24! · Jan 24, 2019

crusso1993 said:
265... 240... whatever it takes. ;Wacky

"Critical angel"... I do not recall helping you space your lights! LOL!

Seriously, though, thanks for jumping in with your feedback!

Hello,

@crusso1993 what lol seriously you don’t know how to find the critical angel lol. Here are the formulas again (there will be a quiz on it lol). I would always help one with any tank love reef tanks and helping others

.

crusso1993 · Jan 24, 2019

Sarah24! said:
Hello,

@crusso1993 what lol seriously you don’t know how to find the critical angel lol. Here are the formulas again (there will be a quiz on it lol). I would always help one with any tank love reef tanks and helping others .

Of course I know how to find the critical angel... I just look in the mirror. Although some consider me the critical devil! HA!
The critical angle, however, is another story!

alton · Jan 24, 2019

In 2007 I took a 6' marine orbit light, cut it to 5', and retro fitted it with 2 x 250w MH and 1 175w MH with reeflux lamps. I kept a fan blowing on top the glass to keep the heat down. It did very well for me