Looking to upgrade my T-5 lighting on my 4' x 18"d x 20 tall 75 gallon reef tank. Like the look and the light quality of the reef breeders 48 photon v2+. However a little out of my budget range. Also wondering if it is best to go with multiple smaller length fixtures or 1 - 4' fixture. Are there any recommendation on budget lights that give the light quality of the reef breeders fixture. Also looking to have sunrise, sunset and moonlight capabilities. Does not need to be wifi capable, but would be nice.
Budget LED lighting
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No. I haven’t found one that meets your specs.
IMO , it’s much better have a single long fixture. That’s why everyone is supplementing with t5 now. To even out hot spots.
I went with 3 16in black boxes end to end on my 55gal.
I would def recccomend looking at used fixtures. The photons v1 and v2 do come up. For sale.
IMO , it’s much better have a single long fixture. That’s why everyone is supplementing with t5 now. To even out hot spots.
I went with 3 16in black boxes end to end on my 55gal.
I would def recccomend looking at used fixtures. The photons v1 and v2 do come up. For sale.
Retro Reefer
Slow and steady wins the race!
Welcome to the forum!! Be sure to post a intro in meet and greet section.. Are you looking to add LED’s to your t5’s? if so multiple smaller lights will work well.. if your replacing your t5’s with LED’s longer single fixtures might be cheaper than a bunch of individual smaller lights but not necessarily any better, with smaller individual lights you can stagger them to get better coverage.
Salty and Retro Thanks for the responses. I will keep an eye out for a used photon.
I am planning on getting rid of the t-5 fixture and replace with LED. my thought was I could get the 2 ai hydra 26 for about the same price as the 48" reef breeders and have more future flexibility. But sounds like I may have hot spots.
I have been looking at the evergrow wifi d120. Based on the description they seem similar to the reef breeders photon v1 but only come in 16". Does anyone have experience with these?
I am planning on getting rid of the t-5 fixture and replace with LED. my thought was I could get the 2 ai hydra 26 for about the same price as the 48" reef breeders and have more future flexibility. But sounds like I may have hot spots.
I have been looking at the evergrow wifi d120. Based on the description they seem similar to the reef breeders photon v1 but only come in 16". Does anyone have experience with these?
Retro Reefer
Slow and steady wins the race!
I’m going the opposite direction, been running strictly LED’s the last few years and now I’m going back to t5’s with LED supplements.. just finished getting this hybrid light together for my new tank
Jguido1987
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Check out SBreeflights.com. Quality seems to be good. And the price is def worth looking at. I am using them right now and there are a lot of positive reviews of the company.
Those are the standard 16in black boxes.
SBreeflight , mars aqua , Evergrow , vitaspar are the most common.
They are pretty similar, but the photons are generally longer to fit the length of the tank.
A bit more t5 style in that respect.
I’m more a fan of that style of coverage than the puck style Ai kessil Etc. But they do work as well.
Just preference
The black boxes (and photons) are pretty much one of the most powerful of the lights out there.
Also look at ocean revive t247.
The black boxes come in basic and WiFi with ramping. They also come in a 32in size.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Welcome to reef2reef!
There's definitely options out there, as everyone has stated.
I'm running three 165w modded Mars Aquas. Got them all shipped free for just under $300 a couple years ago. Modded them to mimic the SB reeflights diode layout.
Couldn't be happier!
There's definitely options out there, as everyone has stated.
I'm running three 165w modded Mars Aquas. Got them all shipped free for just under $300 a couple years ago. Modded them to mimic the SB reeflights diode layout.
Couldn't be happier!
Ron Reefman
Lets Go Snorkeling!
Reef Squad
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Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
MAC of SW Florida
If you want the good looks (not a black box) and sunrise/sunset, then the RB Photon V2 is the cheapest unit you'll find.
Now you do realize that sunrise/sunset does NOTHING for the coral in your tank, right? That said, I like having it because I like to see things change in the tank during the day.
The cheapest would be a 32" (will cover a 4' tank) from Mars Aqua.
If you can find Euphotica fixtures (probably ebay or amazon) they have sunrise/sunset and cost less than the Photon V2. But it's that old dated looking black box style.
That's the best I can do, I hope it helps?
Now you do realize that sunrise/sunset does NOTHING for the coral in your tank, right? That said, I like having it because I like to see things change in the tank during the day.
The cheapest would be a 32" (will cover a 4' tank) from Mars Aqua.
If you can find Euphotica fixtures (probably ebay or amazon) they have sunrise/sunset and cost less than the Photon V2. But it's that old dated looking black box style.
That's the best I can do, I hope it helps?
DaveNJ
Active Member
Is there a thread on how and what needs to be changed to make Mars Aquas mimic SB reeflights diode layout? I done a search on here and can't locate it. Must not be entering the right search words
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
If there's any question on the ability that these black boxes can grow coral, here's one of many that puts that to rest.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Your welcome.
