Help with lights on 40g
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srobertb
Well-Known Member
Dislclaimer: These are my personal thoughts and opinions. You may have your own. They are valid and you should share them. I don’t want to debate my personal experience because after all…I’m here and you’re not. Please provide your own anecdotes and opinions but I have no interest in directly responding to differing opinions. Most lights from alibaba to Ecotech will grow stuff. Do you. Share what you know.
Using my tanks, real world experience, the actual listed lights, and a PAR meter for a mixed reef with an SPS well placed near the top and softer/easier corals everywhere else. Assuming your depth, width, and use case:
Each Kessil A160 will cover around 10x10 inches.
Each Kessil A360X will cover around 18”x16
Each Radion XR15 will cover around 24x16
Each Radion XR30 will cover 36x16
These are based on my PAR readings approximated to your depth.
Kessils: These are spotlights by design with the theory being that they blend colors well and create a natural shimmer. You’re trying to create even well balanced fully saturated light across the entire tank. Spotlights are counter to that. However- Paired with a T5 fixture you’d be very happy with 2-4 T5 bulbs and a couple 160’s. I can not recommend the 160’s alone for anything more than 10g. Honestly in my 10g anemones we’re straining for light with the 160 alone (which is about a 10” cube). I don’t like T5’s and have no need for them since a lot of companies went to diffused LED’s vs the old school “puck.” But I’d cost is a factor, T5 is a great option.
If you want Radions: You may get away with one Radion XR30. I would personally recommend 2, Radion XR15’s spaced out with the expectation being that you will add a 3rd down the road in a few years if you’re enjoying the hobby. This would be my first choice.
If you want Kessils: I’d go with 2, A360x’s and possibly plan to add a 3rd down the road. Due to personal issues with longevity, reliability, and growth, I don’t recommend these but plenty of people do and that’s not for debate (with me anyway).
If you don’t care and don’t understand why a $100 light has to cost $500: Look at Will’s brand on Amazon. I just bought one for a frag tank. It has 2 knobs to tune the color (no Wi-Fi, no app) and paired with a timer (splurge and get a Wi-Fi timer). 2 fixtures + timer probably set you back $200.
Things to note about lighting:
LEDS require cleaning. The Kessil LIVE AND DIE by their heat sink. Keep it clean. Religiously.
It is a bad idea to get any light with the expectation you will run it at 100%. This will hurt its lifespan. Aim for 80% max and purchase accordingly.
Lights should be set and not changed. Don’t tweak. Find a color you like or a program you like (AB+ is a perfect example). Tweak the on/off hours to your life, and leave them the f*** alone.
Please remember you’re taking on the responsibility of living things. You wouldn’t buy a dog and feed it garbage. You’d go buy a good brand dog food. You wouldn’t feed it the bare minimum to keep it alive either. Same goes for fish and coral. You can get the store-brand or generic but make sure you’re getting enough of it and being thoughtful.
Using my tanks, real world experience, the actual listed lights, and a PAR meter for a mixed reef with an SPS well placed near the top and softer/easier corals everywhere else. Assuming your depth, width, and use case:
Each Kessil A160 will cover around 10x10 inches.
Each Kessil A360X will cover around 18”x16
Each Radion XR15 will cover around 24x16
Each Radion XR30 will cover 36x16
These are based on my PAR readings approximated to your depth.
Kessils: These are spotlights by design with the theory being that they blend colors well and create a natural shimmer. You’re trying to create even well balanced fully saturated light across the entire tank. Spotlights are counter to that. However- Paired with a T5 fixture you’d be very happy with 2-4 T5 bulbs and a couple 160’s. I can not recommend the 160’s alone for anything more than 10g. Honestly in my 10g anemones we’re straining for light with the 160 alone (which is about a 10” cube). I don’t like T5’s and have no need for them since a lot of companies went to diffused LED’s vs the old school “puck.” But I’d cost is a factor, T5 is a great option.
If you want Radions: You may get away with one Radion XR30. I would personally recommend 2, Radion XR15’s spaced out with the expectation being that you will add a 3rd down the road in a few years if you’re enjoying the hobby. This would be my first choice.
If you want Kessils: I’d go with 2, A360x’s and possibly plan to add a 3rd down the road. Due to personal issues with longevity, reliability, and growth, I don’t recommend these but plenty of people do and that’s not for debate (with me anyway).
If you don’t care and don’t understand why a $100 light has to cost $500: Look at Will’s brand on Amazon. I just bought one for a frag tank. It has 2 knobs to tune the color (no Wi-Fi, no app) and paired with a timer (splurge and get a Wi-Fi timer). 2 fixtures + timer probably set you back $200.
Things to note about lighting:
LEDS require cleaning. The Kessil LIVE AND DIE by their heat sink. Keep it clean. Religiously.
It is a bad idea to get any light with the expectation you will run it at 100%. This will hurt its lifespan. Aim for 80% max and purchase accordingly.
Lights should be set and not changed. Don’t tweak. Find a color you like or a program you like (AB+ is a perfect example). Tweak the on/off hours to your life, and leave them the f*** alone.
Please remember you’re taking on the responsibility of living things. You wouldn’t buy a dog and feed it garbage. You’d go buy a good brand dog food. You wouldn’t feed it the bare minimum to keep it alive either. Same goes for fish and coral. You can get the store-brand or generic but make sure you’re getting enough of it and being thoughtful.
