Deep Tank Lighting

[VegasSalt]

Starting my salt tank. I have a 70 gallon tall tank (36 x 30 x 16) and want to grow some of the easier corals. I was originally told to get 2 AI HD Primes for my lights (coverage 24 x 24), so I budgeted about $400 for lights. Now that person is suggesting I get 3 of them.

I was recently talking to someone who told me that that would never work--I would have too much shadow and not enough depth penetration, but I think they were a hard-core serious coral grower.

Someone else told me I would be fine as long as I grew mushrooms on the bottom of the tank.

So, based on the fact that I am probably going to keep this fairly simple, what kind of lighting should I look at and what would be my limitations? Do I really need to spend more?

Thanks!

 

[oreo54]

you can spend less but get more (light).............
https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-reef-lights/70-new-18-sbox-basic.html

Go cheap Chinese black boxes (really similar to the above) for even less $'s
note thoug, if using "watts" the ratings are not accurate..

Go automated..
https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-ultra...tml#/51-ultra_anodizing_color-industrial_grey

Need more specific on the above though..
There are numerous "dependencies" like cross bars, goals, lens angles (Think of the difference between a flashlight and a desk lamp, which punches more light deeper), hanging height and color rendition..though.

bunch "o" 90cm bars.
https://orphek.com/or-bar-led-light/
Choose an angle..

Acrylic Lens choice 120/90/60 degree

$140 each. @ 45W each

 

[jda]

30" is not super deep and unsolvable, but AI Prime are underpowered for that. Covering 24x24 with them is a joke - your friend is right.

SB Reef Lights, as suggested above, ReefBreeders or any of the nicer black boxes are more powerful and will penetrate better. With Chinese stuff, this is making it over simple, but most use very similar diodes, so you pay more for features like channels, timers, etc. You should be able to find a bunch in your budget.

 

[VegasSalt]

Think I may do the sbox 32" basic 3 channel light looks like it might be a good fit. At $275, I'll have a little bit left in the good ole budget...which something else will inevitably devour.

 

[VegasSalt]

So, I went to pick up my special order tank and realized that I couldn’t reach the bottom of the tank. It was beautiful, but not for me.

So, I am swapping the tank for a more traditional 4’ wide 80 gal so the height won’t be an issue.

Thank you from for lending a hand!!

Sorry for the double post.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

30" is not super deep and unsolvable, but AI Prime are underpowered for that. Covering 24x24 with them is a joke - your friend is right.

SB Reef Lights, as suggested above, ReefBreeders or any of the nicer black boxes are more powerful and will penetrate better. With Chinese stuff, this is making it over simple, but most use very similar diodes, so you pay more for features like channels, timers, etc. You should be able to find a bunch in your budget.

Not necessarily- we run all Cree XT-E 5watt LEDs and Osram/Cree XP-E/Semi LEDs for the colors Cree doesn't make. Plus a much larger heat sink and all aluminum for efficient thermal dissipation. SBs run off brand Bridgelux, on both the black box and most of the channels on the higher end ones.