Enough light for 90 gal sps build?

[Tyler Bullock]

I currently have aquatic life t5 led hybrid with 2 x blue +, 2 atinic with 2 AI Prime HD's. My tank is a standard 90 gal. 48x18x24. I did a PAR test on my tank and well I don't have enough lights at all.

I have some questions.

If I were to add 2 more primes would this fix my problem? Hydra 26's or 52's?

Or should I just upgrade to either 2 x Radion XR 30's or 4 x Radion XR 15's? do you all think that will be enough light for me to get 200 par on the bottom of the tank?

Here are my PAR levels currently. The 220 towards the bottom should be 120 instead, just haven't edited the picture.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I currently have aquatic life t5 led hybrid with 2 x blue +, 2 atinic with 2 AI Prime HD's. My tank is a standard 90 gal. 48x18x24. I did a PAR test on my tank and well I don't have enough lights at all.

I have some questions.

If I were to add 2 more primes would this fix my problem? Hydra 26's or 52's?

Or should I just upgrade to either 2 x Radion XR 30's or 4 x Radion XR 15's? do you all think that will be enough light for me to get 200 par on the bottom of the tank?

Here are my PAR levels currently. The 220 towards the bottom should be 120 instead, just haven't edited the picture.

I believe one more prime would do it- two more would be the ideal addition as primes have good depth penetration

 

[Hemmdog]

How high off the surface is the hybrid? I started with blue + & actinic, switched to blue+ & coral +. Much much brighter. Didn’t have access to a par meter again to retest though.

 

[Tyler Bullock]

How high off the surface is the hybrid? I started with blue + & actinic, switched to blue+ & coral +. Much much brighter. Didn’t have access to a par meter again to retest though.

14 Inches off the water. I built a hood so the light wouldn't bleed over into my office. So the lights will have to stay at that height.

 

[Snookin]

2 more Primes. Spread them out evenly and that should give you full spread and coverage over the entire tank and with the supplemental T5s your PAR should be good for SPS.

 

[Hemmdog]

14 Inches off the water. I built a hood so the light wouldn't bleed over into my office. So the lights will have to stay at that height.

I see. Well if you want some serious par at that height I would go the Radion route. I run my hybrid 8 inches off the water and still would like higher par. The left side of your structure will be fine for acros as is, but if you want a full sps tank I would do the radions.

 

[Snookin]

I see. Well if you want some serious par at that height I would go the Radion route. I run my hybrid 8 inches off the water and still would like higher par. The left side of your structure will be fine for acros as is, but if you want a full sps tank I would do the radions.

I’m a Radion guy too. Better lights, more powerful and built in proven programs.

 

[Tyler Bullock]

Assuming 2 x 30's or 4 x 15's?

 

[Snookin]

Either would work. Some say there is a benefit to run 4x 15s vs 2x 30s because you can space them out better.

 

[Tyler Bullock]

Are the diffusers worth it?

 

[Snookin]

Are the diffusers worth it?

Yes

 

[Biokabe]

Honestly, 4 XR15's might be overkill. The XR15 is a much more powerful light than the AI Prime, and it's designed to give SPS-level PAR under 24" of water. 2 XR15's plus your T5 supplements should honestly be plenty of light for SPS. If you still feel you don't have enough after that - well, you already have two Primes. Mix the Primes with the XR15 lights. If you still don't feel you have enough light after that, then maybe add in an extra XR15.

 

[Snookin]

Honestly, 4 XR15's might be overkill. The XR15 is a much more powerful light than the AI Prime, and it's designed to give SPS-level PAR under 24" of water. 2 XR15's plus your T5 supplements should honestly be plenty of light for SPS. If you still feel you don't have enough after that - well, you already have two Primes. Mix the Primes with the XR15 lights. If you still don't feel you have enough light after that, then maybe add in an extra XR15.

This may be true but if you have the funds and truly want an SPS dominated tank with 4 XR15s and T5 supplemental lighting you will be covered and it will help with future shading issue as the SPS grow with more lights spread out over the tank. You can always lower output of the XR15s. They don’t need to be run at 100% which can help extend life of lights too. Shoot, I run an old XR30 gen 2 on one of my tanks. It’s an IM20 and it looks great at 35% with a diffuser.

 

[Tyler Bullock]

My thoughts were if I was going to go down the XR 15 route. I would probably get 2 to start. Place them about 12 inches apart from themselves in the middle. Keep the AI Primes on the outside until I have enough money to get 2 more 15's. I don't have much in the tank coral wise at this time. But that way I wouldn't have to make such a large purchase on lights and spread it out more over months or a year.

Should I not even consider the Hydra 26's or 52's.

The only reason I ask is because they are a little cheaper.

Or should I just have the mentality if I'm going to be spending that amount of money I may as well purchase the best?

 

[Biokabe]

My thoughts were if I was going to go down the XR 15 route. I would probably get 2 to start. Place them about 12 inches apart from themselves in the middle. Keep the AI Primes on the outside until I have enough money to get 2 more 15's. I don't have much in the tank coral wise at this time. But that way I wouldn't have to make such a large purchase on lights and spread it out more over months or a year.

Should I not even consider the Hydra 26's or 52's.

The only reason I ask is because they are a little cheaper.

Or should I just have the mentality if I'm going to be spending that amount of money I may as well purchase the best?

If you have a few minutes to spend, Bulk Reef Supply actually did a video on exactly this subject, using the hybrid fixture you have and testing it with Kessils, Radions and I think the Hydra 26.

There's nothing wrong with the Hydra 26, they're just not quite as nice as Radions. If you wanted to save some money, I don't think you'd be lacking for light, especially if you pair them with your Primes.

 

[Snookin]

Someone with more advanced knowledge in lighting will need to assist. But, I don’t think mixing 2 brands of LEDs is the best approach. From just a PAR aspect you’d be fine. They will have different light spectrums and I don’t think that’s a good thing. You could potentially have a coral grow right or left and be effected by the other lights spectrum. Consistency and stability are key. Even with Primes and Hydras the spectrum could be different. BRS tried to mirror Ecotech AB+ with the Primes, 26s and 52s and they all ended up with slightly different light spectrums. But, it could be a nonissue if others have had success mixing and matching.

 

[Biokabe]

Someone with more advanced knowledge in lighting will need to assist. But, I don’t think mixing 2 brands of LEDs is the best approach. From just a PAR aspect you’d be fine. They will have different light spectrums and I don’t think that’s a good thing. You could potentially have a coral grow right or left and be effected by the other lights spectrum. Consistency and stability are key. Even with Primes and Hydras the spectrum could be different. BRS tried to mirror Ecotech AB+ with the Primes, 26s and 52s and they all ended up with slightly different light spectrums. But, it could be a nonissue if others have had success mixing and matching.

I don't think a mixed spectrum is a bad thing. In fact, the reason that modern LED arrays include multiple different emitters is to broaden the spectrum. If one light gives off light at 453nm, and the other does it at 445nm - that's just giving more photons in the coral's sweet spot. As you have more light sources spread out across the tank - especially with how high up the OP is mounting his lights - you just get a blended spectrum that hits more peaks in the critical light band.

In my own tank, the left side is lit by a XR15, and the right side by a pair of Kessil A160s. In the middle (my acan island), the light from the two fixtures blends. And that's probably where I have the most intense coloration and growth in the tank, at least as far as acans are concerned. I have two frags of the same color morph, one on the island and the other firmly in the Kessil side - they once looked exactly the same, but now, being separated, the one that receives the blended spectrum has much better growth and coloration. Partially that's down to the fact that it likely gets much more light - it gets light from both the XR15 and one of the Kessils, whereas the other frag really only gets light from one of the Kessils - but the fact that its gets a more diverse "diet" of light doesn't hurt either.

 

[Snookin]

I don't think a mixed spectrum is a bad thing. In fact, the reason that modern LED arrays include multiple different emitters is to broaden the spectrum. If one light gives off light at 453nm, and the other does it at 445nm - that's just giving more photons in the coral's sweet spot. As you have more light sources spread out across the tank - especially with how high up the OP is mounting his lights - you just get a blended spectrum that hits more peaks in the critical light band.

In my own tank, the left side is lit by a XR15, and the right side by a pair of Kessil A160s. In the middle (my acan island), the light from the two fixtures blends. And that's probably where I have the most intense coloration and growth in the tank, at least as far as acans are concerned. I have two frags of the same color morph, one on the island and the other firmly in the Kessil side - they once looked exactly the same, but now, being separated, the one that receives the blended spectrum has much better growth and coloration. Partially that's down to the fact that it likely gets much more light - it gets light from both the XR15 and one of the Kessils, whereas the other frag really only gets light from one of the Kessils - but the fact that its gets a more diverse "diet" of light doesn't hurt either.

Cool stuff. Good content from personal experience.

 

[Tyler Bullock]

Thank you all so much for great insight. I really do appreciate it. I believe I have decided what the best option would be for me. I'll be looking to get 2 x xr15's and a reeflink. Keep them and the primes until I can afford another 2 x xr15's.

Having 4 x xr15's (with diffusers) with 2 x blue+ and 2 x atinic, would I 100% be able to keep wall to wall acro's?

 

[Snookin]

Thank you all so much for great insight. I really do appreciate it. I believe I have decided what the best option would be for me. I'll be looking to get 2 x xr15's and a reeflink. Keep them and the primes until I can afford another 2 x xr15's.

Having 4 x xr15's (with diffusers) with 2 x blue+ and 2 x atinic, would I 100% be able to keep wall to wall acro's?

I would say Yes. But, you’ll want to rent that PAR meter again. You can adjust the output % of the Ecotechs and you may not need to set them at 100%. Ecotech’s are powerful.