Current ai primes or reef breeders photon?

[mrpontiac80]

Hello. I have a Waterbox 65.4 gallon AIO. The dimensions are roughly 48” long, 15” deep display, and 18” tall.
my current set up is a mixed reef almost 1 yr old. I am running 3 AI Prime 16 Hd lights. My highest par at the main sps area is about 300. My lower areas near sand level where I have hammers torches and zoas and such are about 150 average.
I have a second 30 gallon tank with softies and inverts. But I need a new light. Also kicking around the idea of a 20 long frag type setup which would also need lights.
I am debating on a reef breeder 48” photon v2+ for the Waterbox and figured the ai primes could be used elsewhere. But is this a step up, down or lateral? I struggle to get lower par in the Waterbox at the bottom while keeping it higher at the top. I wonder if it is because the tank display is 15” deep and the light bounces off the glass? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Included is a shot of the tank in question. Thanks!
PS. Circled par numbers are after adjustments. and stacked numbers are top= Back, center= center, and bottom number is front at glass.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Take it from experience- you can’t beat the photon light

 

[mrpontiac80]

Take it from experience- you can’t beat the photon light

So it’s an upgrade as far your concerned? Do you know if you upgrade to the app capabilities, do you have many of the same controls or options as ai or Radion type lights?

 

[Spare time]

I'd check out the brs videos on the photons

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I don’t know the prime , but it’s hard to beat reefbreeder and the customer service you get from them. Logan is excellent. Been awhile since speaking to him but I hear nothing changed

 

[mrpontiac80]

I'd check out the brs videos on the photons

Yep I’ve seen them. I just assumed that it’s a good light, but didn’t know if it was better then what I’ve got for my application.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I don’t know the prime , but it’s hard to beat reefbreeder and the customer service you get from them. Logan is excellent. Been awhile since speaking to him but I hear nothing changed

I do like my reef breeders ato! Nothing but excellent.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So it’s an upgrade as far your concerned? Do you know if you upgrade to the app capabilities, do you have many of the same controls or options as ai or Radion type lights?

Yes - no comparison

 

[Spare time]

Yep I’ve seen them. I just assumed that it’s a good light, but didn’t know if it was better then what I’ve got for my application.

I think the main thing to take into account is mounting height when deciding on a reef breeder. The must be mounted high off the tank to avoid hotspots.

 

[Jeeperz]

I'd avoid anything ai at this point. After less than 2 years both my violet and uv led are burned out running just under 75% for 6 hour days and a bunch of that time is on acclimation at 50% reduction. This is on 1 prime and 2 Hydra 26. I doubt they changed anything on the 16 or 32 except add more led

 

[Spare time]

I'd avoid anything ai at this point. After less than 2 years both my violet and uv led are burned out running just under 75% for 6 hour days and a bunch of that time is on acclimation at 50% reduction. This is on 1 prime and 2 Hydra 26. I doubt they changed anything on the 16 or 32 except add more led

Lol they still melt the lenses.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Done. Just ordered the reefbreeder 48” v2+. And the app control board. I know they have the pro, but right now you can buy separate and save some bucks which allows me to grab the back tank mounts too. Thanks guys.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Done. Just ordered the reefbreeder 48” v2+. And the app control board. I know they have the pro, but right now you can buy separate and save some bucks which allows me to grab the back tank mounts too. Thanks guys.

Does anyone have suggestions for changing my entire lighting over to something new with existing corals? Should I try to match the par roughly and slowly increase? My main goal is better par levels for sps at the top of aquascape, but I don’t want to loose any thing like torches or alveapora and etc.

 

[Spare time]

Does anyone have suggestions for changing my entire lighting over to something new with existing corals? Should I try to match the par roughly and slowly increase? My main goal is better par levels for sps at the top of aquascape, but I don’t want to loose any thing like torches or alveapora and etc.

Try to match your current par levels. I also wouldn't run a dramatically different color set up too.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Try to match your current par levels. I also wouldn't run a dramatically different color set up too.

My primes are all blues at 98-100% and whites at 20% So shouldn’t be too hard to match I guess. If my par is 150 ave on sand, and 300 at top of rock. Do you have any idea on what percentage would be a good starting point? Maybe 60% blues? But I assume a bit of time adjusting lights on the tank to match the old ones wouldn’t stress corals out would it?

 

[Spare time]

My primes are all blues at 98-100% and whites at 20% So shouldn’t be too hard to match I guess. If my par is 150 ave on sand, and 300 at top of rock. Do you have any idea on what percentage would be a good starting point? Maybe 60% blues? But I assume a bit of time adjusting lights on the tank to match the old ones wouldn’t stress corals out would it?

The only reference I have for par numbers on this is from the brs video so someone else would be better at chiming in on that. I personally would start at maybe 40% but again I would rewatch the brs video and try to guestimate numbers from that unless you can get a par meter.

 

[mrpontiac80]

The only reference I have for par numbers on this is from the brs video so someone else would be better at chiming in on that. I personally would start at maybe 40% but again I would rewatch the brs video and try to guestimate numbers from that unless you can get a par meter.

Thanks

 

[Bpb]

Match par as close as you can and stick to the 5:1 ratio of blues to whites on power. Minor spectrum differences won’t matter as much as big par differences.

 

[nicholas2010e]

Hello. I have a Waterbox 65.4 gallon AIO. The dimensions are roughly 48” long, 15” deep display, and 18” tall.
my current set up is a mixed reef almost 1 yr old. I am running 3 AI Prime 16 Hd lights. My highest par at the main sps area is about 300. My lower areas near sand level where I have hammers torches and zoas and such are about 150 average.
I have a second 30 gallon tank with softies and inverts. But I need a new light. Also kicking around the idea of a 20 long frag type setup which would also need lights.
I am debating on a reef breeder 48” photon v2+ for the Waterbox and figured the ai primes could be used elsewhere. But is this a step up, down or lateral? I struggle to get lower par in the Waterbox at the bottom while keeping it higher at the top. I wonder if it is because the tank display is 15” deep and the light bounces off the glass? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Included is a shot of the tank in question. Thanks!
PS. Circled par numbers are after adjustments. and stacked numbers are top= Back, center= center, and bottom number is front at glass.

I’d get the r24 reef leds

 

[Dburr1014]

I think the main thing to take into account is mounting height when deciding on a reef breeder. The must be mounted high off the tank to avoid hotspots.

Not necessarily, the reefbreeders come standard with 90 degree lenses. If you ask logan, he can send you 120's. That will get you lower to the water.
But, if your like me and mount them about 4.5/5", just take out the lenses. No disco, just be sure to cover the tank so you don't get splashes.