Best Reef lights for under 180?

[mjszos]

The other thing to consider with virtually everything in this hobby... Do you want to buy 4x $180 lights, or 1x $600 light? Food for thought, if you're able to get by with what you have for now you're better off squirreling funds away for the right purchase.

 

[exnisstech]

This is true if OP doesn't want sps in all of the tank and is willing to settle with a light gradient.

That said virtually a lot of LPS and softies will grow faster in high light and high flow so if they care about growth it may be worth considering going with T5. I don't think it's a bad idea, it's just a higher electrical bill, but those LED T5 bulbs I see now may be worth trying.

Not to be mean but if the OP only has $180 to spend on lighting SPS is probably not in their immediate future unless someone is donating frags.

To my knowledge there isn't any really good option for $180. I would get something to light the center, get some corals in there and see how it goes, and hopefully enjoy what is being lit and upgrade in the future.

 

[exnisstech]

I just went back to the begining and looked at the tank again. Maybe I'm being judgmental but is this tank even ready for corals. Look at the condition. To me it looks totally neglected and It's not even full of water Maybe it's just mature?

 

[InactiveAcct]

I just went back to the begining and looked at the tank again. Maybe I'm being judgmental but is this tank even ready for corals. Look at the condition. To me it looks totally neglected and It's not even full of water Maybe it's just mature?

I’d take that over another 18 month dry rock grind

 

[exnisstech]

@DanTheReefer Oh for sure but I can't understand why it isn't even full?

 

[InactiveAcct]

@DanTheReefer Oh for sure but I can't understand why it isn't even full?

I had initial thoughts too but hoping some general TLC would be obvious.

By the way the coral that would do fine in there now like red mushrooms won’t need a light upgrade

 

[big man]

The tank is 1 year old and I was doing a water change that's why it wasn't even full. I just have an algae problem. Which while I was doing the water change I added new media to the filter for the algea. I've had a hammer coral and a star polyp for 2 months and they are healthy and my fish are all fat and healthy

 

[exnisstech]

"The tank is 1 year old and I was doing a water change that's why it wasn't even full. I just have an algae problem. Which while I was doing the water change I added new media to the filter for the algea. I've had a hammer coral and a star polyp for 2 months and they are healthy and my fish are all fat and healthy“

My apologies. I can relate to the algae issue. I'm there right now in one of my tanks but am actually starting to think it looks better than a sterile tank with hardly any life. Back to lighting, I would still think about gathering your corals toward the center and lighting that area first. You can expand from there. It's just that with your budget I can't think of a way to light the entire tank. Better to have enough light in one area rather than not enough light everywhere.

 

[AKG]

I wanted to upgrade the light I have. Because it's not strong enough for corals I have and want to get. So what are some good light recommendations for 180 and under?

Products | Quanta Lights

This is where you buy the super awesome Quanta or Quanta Pro lights. Sold exclusively here!

www.quantareef.com

Reach out to Luca and he can help you get setup properly.

$210 shipped for two bars if you can save a bit more cash. 1 Tropic sun would have enough Par for a softy tank.

 

[ADAM]

Many have used budget friendly fixtures like the ones made by Viparspectra and Nicrew on Amazon for a long time.