help me decide on lighting

Zoacoral · Dec 23, 2013

I am setting up a 36" x 24" x 18" tall rimless tank. I am trying to decide what to light it with.

I'm not really wanting Halides. So it's between T5's and LEDS.

My tank will be a mixed reef. Will have alot of zoas in it.

2 Lights I've been looking at

24" ATI led/t5 powermodule
Ai Hydra 52.

I'm open to other suggestions as well, so let me know what you think.

Telefonica007 · Dec 23, 2013

I have 2 reef radiance 155e over my 93 cube. Looks amazing . I had them over my frag tank and sps/lps growth was great

socal619 · Dec 23, 2013

the ai hydra 52 seems nice, i have the maxspect razor does the job well. talk to duke4130 hes had more light than anyone i know. he just got the hydras, had T5s before that.

gtbarsi · Dec 23, 2013

My question is with the 52 cover the entire tank well? 24" one fixture would be enough 48" requires 2, 36" is a bit iffy. The unit is only 11" long, so it would have to be well off the tank to get a 36" spread. If you are not going to be trying to grow SPS then you could probably do it, but I would choose to go with two fixtures or one long one if you are going to go for LEDs.

The Reef Breeders Photon24, or Reef Breeders Photon32 would be good choices, and has a built in controller. Not as many tricks as the 52, but not as expensive as a single 52.

Reefing Madness · Dec 23, 2013

Brigelux LED Unit

Zoacoral · Jan 8, 2014

anyone else? wanna get something bought asap.

reefndude · Jan 9, 2014

you would be very happy with the power module.

reefndude · Jan 9, 2014

I would go with the 36" though

jackson6745 · Jan 9, 2014

for an 18" high mixed reef I don't see the need for such powerful lighting. I would use a 36" 6 bulb ati sunpower.

reefndude · Jan 9, 2014

jackson6745 said:
for an 18" high mixed reef I don't see the need for such powerful lighting. I would use a 36" 6 bulb ati sunpower.

pretty powerful light

jackson6745 · Jan 9, 2014

reefndude said:
pretty powerful light

Exactly! A regular ATI T5 is more than enough, not sure why you need the added LED. If you want blue led glow for zoo and lps you can incorporate an led strip.

scerdoc · Jan 9, 2014

Can't reply from experience (yet), but I am planning to start a 135 gal tank (48 X 24 X 27) and will soon order an Ocean Revive 2080. It's 32 inches long, and only one light should easily cover your space (per what I've heard from those actually using it). Only 449 right now, and it is programmable. Stan is a sponser on this forum and seems really helpful with suggesting options on lighting.

Jimbo662 · Jan 9, 2014

Kessil A360W-E's Google "jpowell kessil" and check some of his postings...he did a great one on several different lights that he's tried.

ifarmer · Jan 9, 2014

I think one ATI 36" 8 bulbs T5 should cover that tank size

Aqua fire/medic · Jan 9, 2014

If you absolutely have to have one of those two lights then it would go with the ATI T5/led........ If it was me I would go 36" 6 bulb T5.

Zoacoral · Jan 9, 2014

I already have a 36" 6 bulb fixture. But I like to run the shorter fixrtures on my tanks. Like 24" on a 36" tank, or like I have now a 36" light on a 48" tank. I think I would be waistin a ton of light if I kept the 36" fixture since I'll have to raise it up a bit.