Hello, I'm thinking about upgrading my lights.

triggerBill · Nov 28, 2022

I currently have a 125 reef with some softies and a few mushrooms. It is 18x18x72 with 3 fluval 2.0 led reefs on it. One 48 and two 36. I would like to add some LPS possibly an elegance and a brain or two in the sand.

Any recommendations?

I like the look of the 3.0 and am comfortable with the price of adding two of them.

triggerBill · Nov 28, 2022

There are so many options available, I decided to log on and ask the experts.

LARedstickreefer · Nov 28, 2022

I’d take a hard look at Reefi lights. You really get a lot for your money.

triggerBill · Nov 28, 2022

LARedstickreefer said:
I’d take a hard look at Reefi lights. You really get a lot for your money.

Thanks, I'll check them out.

RedoubtReef · Nov 28, 2022

jsker · Nov 28, 2022

Do you have a budget for the lights?

Do you have a type of lighting that you prefer? For example LED only, LED T5's combo, T5's, or something else. Knowing, will really help in getting you the right recommendation. There are a lot of good deals today to be had.

I have run them all, I am liking the LED's for low energy use, low heat exchange. The lights I current have, run a broad spectrum and are very powerful lights.

triggerBill · Nov 28, 2022

jsker said:
Do you have a budget for the lights?

Do you have a type of lighting that you prefer? For example LED only, LED T5's combo, T5's, or something else. Knowing, will really help in getting you the right recommendation. There are a lot of good deals today to be had.

I have run them all, I am liking the LED's for low energy use, low heat exchange. The lights I current have, run a broad spectrum and are very powerful lights.

Probably around $400. Possibly more if the right deal came along.

I also like leds, for the same reason.

I was thinking the same, cyber Monday

Koh23 · Nov 28, 2022

+1 on t5.....

I seriously plan to sell my leds, and go to t5 only...... Hmm....

triggerBill · Nov 28, 2022

Koh23 said:
+1 on t5.....

I seriously plan to sell my leds, and go to t5 only...... Hmm....

I had t5s on my old 90 gallon and my coral grew well.

I think I am under powered currently for LPS.

Cell · Nov 28, 2022

Love my Reefbreeders Photon V2.

triggerBill · Nov 28, 2022

jsker said:
Do you have a budget for the lights?

Do you have a type of lighting that you prefer? For example LED only, LED T5's combo, T5's, or something else. Knowing, will really help in getting you the right recommendation. There are a lot of good deals today to be had.

I have run them all, I am liking the LED's for low energy use, low heat exchange. The lights I current have, run a broad spectrum and are very powerful lights.

What currently sparked my interest was seeing the fluval marine 3.0 on sale today for $199. I was thinking about adding two, to my current set up.

My tank has a divider in the center making the 36" fit great.

But I'm open to better ideas.

triggerBill · Nov 28, 2022

Cell said:
Love my Reefbreeders Photon V2.

That looks like a good one.

jsker · Nov 28, 2022

At one point I was thinking of going T5's and LED combo. You might think about adding to you current light with you budget.

All new lights are going to set you back quite a bit for a 72" long system

triggerBill · Nov 28, 2022

triggerBill · Nov 28, 2022

jsker said:
At one point I was thinking of going T5's and LED combo. You might think about adding to you current light with you budget.

All new lights are going to set you back quite a bit for a 72" long system

In your opinion. Do you think I would be wasting my money adding two 36 in fluval marine 3.0?

SoggyNW · Nov 28, 2022

Your best bang for the buck is going to be used lights. Facebook marketplace, and clubs have been stacked with good gear lately.

jsker · Nov 28, 2022

triggerBill said:
What currently sparked my interest was seeing the fluval marine 3.0 on sale today for $199. I was thinking about adding two, to my current set up.

My tank has a divider in the center making the 36" fit great.

But I'm open to better ideas.

I ended up using one of my Hydra 26 HD's for the center/brace area on my 48" long system and I added two Mitras LX 7204 with a good spread of 24 x 24 but wanted to cover center with more light.

You could wait and score a good deal on some used lights once all the cyber Monday shoppers purchase and then want to unload their old light? Just an Idea.

I will say the mistake I made in the very beginning of my current set up, is I purchase an inexpensive light that was good for a fish only tank. Good light but not nearly what I needed. I upgraded and was happy and could grown coral.

I could really never get the Arco's to really grow. Then a had a prolong tank crash. Prolong, meaning; until I figured out what was making my system crash. I would and still am using one of the Hydra's lights. The Hydra's cost $800 new and well worth it. The new Hydra's have more LED's for more power. My current Mitras cost another $1400. This system has been setup for 7 years and I have spent $2500 for lights plus another $450 on my cool 80/20 mounting apparatus/open hood that tilts up out of the way for major it's maintenance.

In summary, I would suggest finding that deal that is what you need for now and the future. Wait for the used equipment to be put up for sale. Or wait and save to buy new when you have the funding.

Buying used, you can do well with product that is not that old for %25 of the retail cost.

I would have went with the Radions G6, but ultimately went with the Mitras for the reason that the Mitras are a better light and constructed better. Just like the new Radions my Mitras can be upgraded in the future by change out some parts.

a little long, but hope this helps