Dazed and Confused!

[jpgraft]

I have a 4' 100 gallon tank and I'm currently using some inexpensive LED's that came with it. I have a mixed reef with mostly LPS & only a couple of montiporas & birdsnest for SPS. However, it's time to put my big boy pants on and step up & pull the trigger on some high quality lights. It's been 15 years since I was seriously into the hobby and so much has changed. I've researched until my eyes feel like they're bleeding and can't seem to decide on which route I should go. I actually feel like I'm running in circles here so I could definitely use some guidance. I do realize this is a big investment, one of the biggest for a quality system and am prepared to go 'all in' as needed.

I also see many different brands sold here but wonder if they're being sold because they have issues. Are they not reliable, work with certain controllers & not others, too much heat, not the right color? Sheesh!!!!!!

The problem is....I have no clue which route I need to go. I know I don't want MH. I used 3 @ 250 MH & T5's on my 180......15 YEARS AGO and can't even count how many times I was burned...literally!!! So much has changed! I do like what I've learned about the Kessil 380 line & Hydra 52's, but also am very interested in the Orphek OR LED bar. Now, let's throw T5's into the mix. And the circle starts again.

I like uncomplicated. My wife LOVES uncomplicated. She's a total noob when it comes to this, worse than I so I'm trying to put a system together that she can manage when I have to leave town for a few days at a time. Which ones work best with the Apex controller? Which ones need special controllers?

I realize there are a gajillion threads on this, so I'm sorry to start a new one.

Thoughts?

 

[Cherub]

I cant say enough good things about the Hydra HDs. Easy to control, nicely priced, you can grow anything and built in wifi for convenience. My tnak thrives using 4 hydra 26's but for better front to back coverage I should have used the 52's.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I guess the first place to start is what kind of budget are we talking?

 

[jpgraft]

I guess the first place to start is what kind of budget are we talking?

I'd like to be less than $1000. I think that's realistic for a 48" tank from what I've read. Is this accurate?

 

[jpgraft]

Something else that I should add....I realize there is no "best light". I do tend to like the colors that the blues bring out but really don't want the 'windex effect'. Shimmer is a must, obviously. Wifi a must. With lights, mounts, & other necessary items I'd better set my top end budget at $1200-$1500. Is that a bit more realistic?

The way I see it is that spending money on high end equipment is MUCH cheaper in the long run. Warranties, longevity, pride in the tank, and overall enjoyment are worth a ton of cash to me.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I'd like to be less than $1000. I think that's realistic for a 48" tank from what I've read. Is this accurate?

Definitely doable If you're doing a mixed reef 3 Kessil A360WEs would look good over that tank, no other light on the market beats their shimmer and color blending in my opinion. and they're fully controllable via your apex 0-10 volt controller port or if you dont have, or dont want an aquarium controller kessil makes their own spectral controller. and kessils warranty and customer service are absolutely excellent.

 

[jpgraft]

Definitely doable If you're doing a mixed reef 3 Kessil A360WEs would look good over that tank, no other light on the market beats their shimmer and color blending in my opinion. and they're fully controllable via your apex 0-10 volt controller port and kessils warranty and customer service are absolutely excellent.

I also like the look of them, aesthetically. I should have mentioned that I want to make sure I can expand when I move to a larger tank. Thus the interest in Kessil & the Hydra's. What is involved in doing this? What is everyone's experience with the lifespan of these lights?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I also like the look of them, aesthetically. I should have mentioned that I want to make sure I can expand when I move to a larger tank. Thus the interest in Kessil & the Hydra's. What is involved in doing this? What is everyone's experience with the lifespan of these lights?

Part of the key to longevity is regular maintenence. I took my kessils and wiped them down and blew the dust out of them with an air compressor once a month. I had mine for over 2 years with no issues before I got their big brother the AP700. And as I said above, kessil has absolutely superb customer service. You have a problem you call or email them and you'll always get a response in a very timely manner.

 

[jpgraft]

Part of the key to longevity is regular maintenence. I took my kessils and wiped them down and blew the dust out of them with an air compressor once a month. I had mine for over 2 years with no issues before I got their big brother the AP700. And as I said above, kessil has absolutely superb customer service. You have a problem you call or email them and you'll always get a response in a very timely manner.

Is it feasible to have a single AP700 mounted at 18" for my tank knowing I'm not going to have many SPS? Does it decrease the life of the unit to run it at a higher intensity to compensate for the single unit? I'm not trying to go the cheap route here, just wondering. I've read really great things about this light.

 

[Retro Reefer]

How about a t5 hybrid with Kessils.. I think that’s a great combo for lighting.

 

[jpgraft]

How about a t5 hybrid with Kessils.. I think that’s a great combo for lighting.

That was in the running. I like the way it looks. More importantly, I like how it grows the corals. I just know from past experience, unless I'm still behind the technology curve, the bulbs need to be replaced every 8-12 months at the latest. It's not so much about the cost, but the experience. Even though...5 years worth of T5 bulbs isn't at all cheap!

 

[Scottybgood]

I have a 4' 75gal with the Aquatic Life T5 Hybrid fixture with a couple Radion XR-15s and 4 T5 bulbs. Really enjoy the amount of light...get the shimmer of the LEDs and the even coverage with the T5's. Only had it going on 6 months now, but corals are happy and growing. BRS just did a study and video on replacement cycle of T5's and it is not as short as was once believed.

 

[Cherub]

all good choices here. Radions, Hydras or Kessils you should be good. hydras and radions would be more powerful and better spread and PAR than kessils but if you're going to supplement T5 it really doesn't matter which you go with. Many of us went through the same decsion process. I read some people complaining about some sticks not doing great with kessils and other kessil user defending their kessils in response. The other two people just say they work so IDK. I went with Hydra

 

[Jet915]

I have a 4' 75gal with the Aquatic Life T5 Hybrid fixture with a couple Radion XR-15s and 4 T5 bulbs. Really enjoy the amount of light...get the shimmer of the LEDs and the even coverage with the T5's. Only had it going on 6 months now, but corals are happy and growing. BRS just did a study and video on replacement cycle of T5's and it is not as short as was once believed.

Yep, I agree, I like the look of LED plus T5 and according to BRS, bulbs probably only need to be replaced at 18-24 month mark.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Aquatic life has a rebate this month on their t5 fixtures.. I’m going with one for my current build and probably add coral box moon plus LED’s because Kessils are not really in my budget. The newer bulbs don’t need changed as often, I’ll be changing out my bulbs one every six weeks starting at the 18 month mark that will give me a complete bulb refresh every 2 years.