ApexEL compatible lights. Best bang for your buck?

[smartwater101]

I finally bit the bullet and ordered an Apex. *(Changed my order to regular Apex, no longer going with the EL)

It's been a long time coming. And I'd also like to upgrade my lighting. I'm currently using the old Maxspect R420r

I love that I can set controls for these lights, but honestly they are getting old and I've had to send them in for repair too often. Time for an upgrade!

The tank is 90" long. Mixed reef. (very few SPS, but that will likely change as the years go by)

Radions seem faaaar too expensive @ 3,300 for 4 units. Even the non-pros would set me back ~2,800. I could go with 3 non-pro (2,040$) but i'm worried that may not be enough for 90"...

I'd like to keep my budget ~2000 or less. Beyond that, the only requirement is Apex controllable.

I've been searching for other options, but I'm out of the lighting loop and am having trouble finding more recent info. Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I finally bit the bullet and ordered an Apex. Been a long time coming. And I'd also like to upgrade my lighting. I'm currently using the old Maxspect R420r

I love that I can set controls for these lights, but honestly they are getting old and I've had to send them in for repair too often. Time for an upgrade!

The tank is 90" long. Mixed reef. (very few SPS, but that will likely change as the years go by)

Radions seem faaaar too expensive @ 3,300 for 4 units. Even the non-pros would set me back ~2,800. I could go with 3 non-pro (2,040$) but i'm worried that may not be enough for 90"...

I'd like to keep my budget ~2000 or less. Beyond that, the only requirement is Apex controllable.

I've been searching for other options, but I'm out of the lighting loop and am having trouble finding more recent info. Any thoughts or recommendations?

Just a heads up the ApexEL does not come with a 0 to 10 V port for controlling lights that's only available on the full version. To do it with the EL you need to purchase a separate module for both the wxm and 0 to 10v

 

[Montiman]

I would go with kessil A360s and a VDM they are pretty cheap now at around $350 each you could do 5 and a VDM for under $2000 and 6 for a little over.

 

[smartwater101]

To do it with the EL you need to purchase a separate module for both the wxm and 0 to 10v

I bought the wxm for MP40 powerheads so I'm good there. I'll have to look at the 0-10v. I also bought the black 8plug powerstrip, but I'm betting that doesn't include that feature...

Edit: Changed my order to the regular Apex. I was already on the fence so thanks for the heads up.

 

[smartwater101]

I would go with kessil A360s

I was just watching some YouTube vids on these. Looks interesting. I could probably build some nice mounting options as well.

 

[Montiman]

I have 3 360s with t5s if apex compatibility is a must then they are great. I would usually just do 360X to get the newest generation but there is no apex compatibility right now.

 

[smartwater101]

the wxm

If I did go with Radion, would I need two wxm modules? One for the Vortech Pumps and a second for lights? Or is one module enough?

 

[Crabs McJones]

If I did go with Radion, would I need two wxm modules? One for the Vortech Pumps and a second for lights? Or is one module enough?

From my understanding the one module can communicate with all of them

 

[smartwater101]

I have 3 360s

From what I've seen, these don't actually ramp down to 0. (More like 11%) Is this noticeable to you?

 

[Montiman]

From what I've seen, these don't actually ramp down to 0. (More like 11%) Is this noticeable to you?

It depends on What you mean by noticeable. The lights turn on at a dim setting and then ramp up and ramp back down to a dim setting before turning off. Doesn't bug me. I am almost never present at the exact moment when the lights turn on and off so I either see the tank dark or with a dim light.

It is a bit of a bummer there are no moon lights but I have been happy.