Can I get by with 1 LED for a 40 breeder?

[MannyDel]

I'm building a 40B tank for some easy corals. No sps at this time since I am new and still learning. The 40B is pretty long so I'll need 2 LEDs for full coverage. Can I get by with 1 radion 15?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I'm building a 40B tank for some easy corals. No sps at this time since I am new and still learning. The 40B is pretty long so I'll need 2 LEDs for full coverage. Can I get by with 1 radion 15?

One radion has a max spread of 24x24. You could get by if you kept all your coral near the center. If you're keeping soft simple corals only why not do a pair of AI prime HD's. You'll have two fixture to cover your tank and you'll be at the exact same cost as an xr15 with wifi controllability right out of the box as opposed to the xr15 that youd need to also purchase the reeflink.

 

[MannyDel]

I thought the reeflink was optional and that I can hook up the radion to my comp to program them. I don't want the AI Prime HDs because I'm afraid I'll want SPS in the future lol. So was thinking about starting with 1 high end LED

 

[Crabs McJones]

I thought the reeflink was optional and that I can hook up the radion to my comp to program them. I don't want the AI Prime HDs because I'm afraid I'll want SPS in the future lol. So was thinking about starting with 1 high end LED

Ah gotchya. Then yeah as long as you keep the corals near the center it'll work temporarily.

 

[ndrwater]

The AI Prime is a great little light. Don't be fooled by it's price point. I have Radions and recently got a AI Prime. Let me tell you, it's powerful.
If price is an issue, I would agree with @crabs_mcjones that 2 Primes for the price of 1 Radion would definitely get you better coverage without limits down the line for the same money spent

 

[Jesterrace]

If the 40b is relatively shallow then I agree that a pair of AI Primes would be the ticket as it would give you a really good spread. For my 90 I just purchased it's bigger brothers the Hydra 26 and I am amazed at how powerful they are. I hit a little snag with the mounts, but just to see what kind of capabilities the light had and aimed it from my kitchen to my wide open living room wall 20 feet away. On the highest setting the Hydra 26 lit up my completely dark living area up to said wall like a Christmas tree and that was just a single light. Obviously growing corals and par is fair bit different then simply pointing it at a distant wall, but it does give you the kind of power these fixtures have.

 

[MannyDel]

AI Primes seem to be a viable option. They seem to have great reviews. Haven't really read anything too bad about them. Can I keep SPS with those lights too? Also, what is your opinion on buying used lights online? I see some great offers on this forum.

 

[Crabs McJones]

AI Primes seem to be a viable option. They seem to have great reviews. Haven't really read anything too bad about them. Can I keep SPS with those lights too? Also, what is your opinion on buying used lights online? I see some great offers on this forum.

The primes can definitely keep sps corals under the right conditions. Buying used lights really depends on the seller. I've bought and sold stuff through the forum and it's always been easy and a pleasure. But you occassionally hear the nightmare about someone who sent the money and got stiffed on the part. Best bet is to always use Paypal for sending and receiving money, that way if there is a problem you can file a claim with paypal and get your money back

 

[ndrwater]

The Prime's are plenty powerful for SPS. Red Sea includes them with their higher end Reefer series.
Buying used is a very good option if possible. See what you can find and go for it!!

 

[pelphrey]

@Scurvy has this light over a reefer 250 -

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/atlantik-v4-led-light-fixture-orphek.html

 

[Scurvy]

Hi There MannyDel.

As Pelphrey mentioning I am running the Orphek V4 over my 3 foot Reefer. Its a touch deeper than the 40B is but spread over the 3 foot length is no issue at all with a single fixture. You'll be able to grow any coral you throw at it with ease in the 40B and if/when you decide to get into harder to grow SPS it'll have all the power you need.

BRS has tested and released videos on it showing it capable of covering a four foot 120g with enough coverage to keep a mixed reef in that size tank.

Any questions feel free to ask.

 

[MannyDel]

Great thanks everyone! I wish there was a place I could go see all of these options in person so I can compare in person.

@pelphrey - FYI, your videos on YT are great

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It would be a very low par on the sand tank, but would probably work. A lot of stuff grows well under 50 par surprisingly.

If it’s a budget thing. I’d go with a good black box honestly.
I replaced AIs with SB BBs in my 55 after success with them in my 30g. And yea. It worked out great.

I haven’t lived with any of the other big name lights besides Ai and maxspect , but if they’re better than what I have now I’ll have to get new tanks once a year to make my corals fit.

 

[pelphrey]

Great thanks everyone! I wish there was a place I could go see all of these options in person so I can compare in person.

@pelphrey - FYI, your videos on YT are great

Thanks for the kind words!! Good luck with your decision!

 

[Tokash23]

I currently have one black box over my 40 breeder and it has decent coverage at about 12 inches maybe a little higher than the water level. Coverage would be better if i were to remove the lens, but not one to mess with whats not broken. Also as some have said obviously your higher par corals would need to be oriented toward the center but i suppose thats a matter of preference.