Black box on 220 sps dominant

[Wildcats1023]

Looking for advice. I have a 220g sps dominant reef that I have 3 viparspectra lights on. To me they dont give enough spread towards the back of the aquarium. I am considering adding a T5 to each side of the lights or I have 3 additional black boxes I could add. I would need to purchase the t5 fixture and bulbs. I've seen on some sites that 6 black boxes are recommended for 220 sps dominant. I guess my question is is there a such thing as too much light from LED or os this just a matter of personal preference? I would rather use the extra black boxes I have instead of buying a T5 retrofit kit

 

[nereefpat]

I guess my question is is there a such thing as too much light from LED or os this just a matter of personal preference? I would rather use the extra black boxes I have instead of buying a T5 retrofit kit

Yes, there can be too much light from LED. But, 6 fixtures dimmed down will be better coverage with less shadows.

What are the dimensions of the tank, about 72x24x30" high?

 

[Wildcats1023]

Yes, there can be too much light from LED. But, 6 fixtures dimmed down will be better coverage with less shadows.

What are the dimensions of the tank, about 72x24x30" high?

Those are the exact dimensions of my tank

 

[nereefpat]

I think you are on the right track. 6x2 is just a big footprint for 3 black boxes.
If it were mine, I would go with 6, turn the fixtures 90 degrees (long dimension running back to front) and hang them high.

Any black box users on 180/220 gallon tanks out there?

 

[jda]

Either the T5s or the extra units will work. Just gotta choose what you are looking for.

You certainly can have too much like from LED. For most acropora, 350-400 PAR seems to be the max without burning them. You can go up to 1000 PAR with T5s and well beyond this with MH. This is a quality thing... the better the quality, the more light the corals can take. However, none of this matters if you run two units per 24x24 footprint just at lower intensity.

 

[Amado]

So i would just run the 6 black boxes.
If you did t5 you would need to run 8 bulbs at $25 a bulb that gets expensive fast

 

[Wildcats1023]

So i would just run the 6 black boxes.
If you did t5 you would need to run 8 bulbs at $25 a bulb that gets expensive fast

I wouldn't be removing the LED lights just supplementing them with a T5 in the front and one in the back

 

[Amado]

I wouldn't be removing the LED lights just supplementing them with a T5 in the front and one in the back

You would still need 4 bulbs

 

[jda]

Pick which one you might like best. If $200 in lights ever 24 months is going to be an issue, then I can save you the suspense and let you know that this hobby will not be for you in the long run. Each has their pros and cons.

 

[Wildcats1023]

Pick which one you might like best. If $200 in lights ever 24 months is going to be an issue, then I can save you the suspense and let you know that this hobby will not be for you in the long run. Each has their pros and cons.

I've never said money was an issue I simply sought out advice from others on a black box question. Im just looking for maybe a response from someone with same footprint tank and same lighting situation. I have ran successful reef tanks for years with both black box and an ati 8 bulb t5 fixture. I just recently switched back to viparspectra out of preference nothing more. I agree if you cant afford $200 a year in bulbs then this hobby is not for you. Hell I've had at least double that in value of frags die in the last few months. I certainly wouldnt have a 220 gallon sps dominant reef if money was an issue

 

[Wildcats1023]

You would still need 4 bulbs

Why would I need 4 bulbs?

 

[Amado]

Why would I need 4 bulbs?

Two on each side. On a tank that size that what I would do.
For me it’s not about money. I can afford anything I want. But that doesn’t mean I buy thing that I don’t need. I have a 210 with two 61’ Reefbright xho LED
I also have 2 X 360x kessil and AP700 in the middle of the tank. I personally don’t like t5
I don’t like changing bulbs. I like my lights to ramp up and down. I hate the look of t5 on top of a tank to me it looks horrible.

 

[Shadows Reef]

Idk if you have an apex but in the past when I used my viparspectra I had it hooked up to my apex to dim it up and down for a sunrise and sunset effect. I’m not sure if that is something you may be interested in but I can look for that link I made on how to get it done.


im using radian G5’s now and I’m really happy with the switch even though it hurt my pocket book a little lol

 

[Wildcats1023]

Two on each side. On a tank that size that what I would do.
For me it’s not about money. I can affords anything I want. But that doesn’t mean I buy thing that I don’t need. I have a 210 with two 61’ Reefbright xho LED
I also have 2 X 360x kessil and AP700 in the middle of the tank. I personally don’t like t5
I don’t like changing bulbs. I like my lights to ramp up and down. I hate the look of t5 on top of a tank to me it looks horrible.
[/QUOTE

I totally agree with you on the look of t5 lights in every way. I played with different bulb combos for over 3 years until I decided to go back to LED yes I went with cheaper leds not because of cost but because I am familiar with the lights I purchased and I like them. May not be the flashy name but I know what they are and what they can do. To me they can grow anything from high end sps to low price stuff just like the big names and I know that from personal experience.

 

[JCOLE]

I don't have a 220 but I have a 150 SPS dominate tank. I have 4 Mars Aqua black boxes running at 100% on both channels. I changed out the LEDs to a better spectrum. All of my SPS are doing very well and growing great. I also have 2 80 watt ATI B+ bulbs as well. Sometimes I question that still isn't enough light. I would throw all 6 on your setup front to back and see how it does. If you need more then throw a t5 in the front and back.

Also, I have these connected to my Apex for dimming and love it.

 

[Wildcats1023]

Idk if you have an apex but in the past when I used my viparspectra I had it hooked up to my apex to dim it up and down for a sunrise and sunset effect. I’m not sure if that is something you may be interested in but I can look for that link I made on how to get it done.


im using radian G5’s now and I’m really happy with the switch even though it hurt my pocket book a little lol

I do have an apex and too many neptune add ins for that matter. I would like to see how that can be done. Honestly never thought about doing it but I definitely would be interested in seeing how it's done. I'm more of a creature of habit and I started with t5 on a 40 breeder then when I bought a 90 gallon I had t5 then went with the viparspectra then next upgraded toba 220 and thought I just had to have t5 mostly was talked in to it by someone else in the hobby. I never could find a bulb combo I liked so I finally gave up and decided to go back to the viparspectras. Almost immediately had better PE on all sps and colors are better after just 3 weeks. Now I just need to dial in the positioning of the boxes and I will sit back and watch things hopefully take off.

 

[Wildcats1023]

I don't have a 220 but I have a 150 SPS dominate tank. I have 4 Mars Aqua black boxes running at 100% on both channels. I changed out the LEDs to a better spectrum. All of my SPS are doing very well and growing great. I also have 2 80 watt ATI B+ bulbs as well. Sometimes I question that still isn't enough light. I would throw all 6 on your setup front to back and see how it does. If you need more then throw a t5 in the front and back.

That's my plan. Doing that tonight except I'm going to put 5 in and the 6th one I'm picking up tomorrow. Honestly think the 5 will be enough but if not I can add the other or the t5s. I'm going to borrow a par meter from an lfs this weekend to check the output from the 5 before moving on

 

[JCOLE]

That's my plan. Doing that tonight except I'm going to put 5 in and the 6th one I'm picking up tomorrow. Honestly think the 5 will be enough but if not I can add the other or the t5s. I'm going to borrow a par meter from an lfs this weekend to check the output from the 5 before moving on

I think you will be fine with just the LEDs. Sounds like you have a good plan though.

 

[Carz]

Not to throw this topic in a different direction, but I have no experience with viparspectra lights. I have a 6 foot 250 gallon tank and currently run 3 kessils in the hybrid T5 fixture. I was thinking of taking out the center kessil and adding a 300W viparspectra light with some modifications to fit in the T5 fixture. Are these good lights for SPS corals??? 3 kessils are not enough with the spread being even. I could get a 4th kessil but I would throw the extra kessil in the frag tank if the viparspectra would work in the main display.

 

[Wildcats1023]

Not to throw this topic in a different direction, but I have no experience with viparspectra lights. I have a 6 foot 250 gallon tank and currently run 3 kessils in the hybrid T5 fixture. I was thinking of taking out the center kessil and adding a 300W viparspectra light with some modifications to fit in the T5 fixture. Are these good lights for SPS corals??? 3 kessils are not enough with the spread being even. I could get a 4th kessil but I would throw the extra kessil in the frag tank if the viparspectra would work in the main display.

I really like what these lights can do. I had 2 over a 90 mixed reef a few years ago and I could grow whatever I wanted. I've had them for 3 weeks and even though I've had spread issues with only 3 165w I have pulled colors out of most of my acros and have had better PE almost right away. With my ati 8 bulb I barely had any purple in my WD now I'm seeing more purple in it. Are they the best LED out there probably not but can they grow SPS well yes. I recently added 15 high end acro frags from 2 hobbyist that also have LED (different brands) and they have not lost any color whatsoever and a couple look better now than when I got them. This is a minor plus to me but I live how it's one cord and built in timer.

Search the light on here or other places. There are many reviews out there on this light. I would buy on ebay they are a little less on ebay compared to amazon but with amazon you do have the 30 day return.