LED Lighting for Reefer 350 (SPS Dominate)

[CoralFanaticDano]

Hi everyone,
I need some advice and appreciate any suggestions or experiences you can provide. Let me try to explain my predicament. Currently I'm running four AI Hydra 26hd's and two Kessil A160's (to reduce shadowing). The Hydra's are mounted on an HMS Rail with legs that sits on the rim of the tank. For the Kessil's I'm just using the goose necks. I want to hang all of the lights for a cleaner set up and to put a screen top on to prevent jumpers (I've had many casualties). I figured I'd use the HMS Rail hanging kit to hang the lights. I was thinking I would hang two HMS rails to provide a more even spread and be able to fit all of my lights. I was also considering spending more money and adding two additional Hydra's and ditching the Kessil's. To have two rows/rails of Hydra's, three on each rail for a total of 6 Hydra's. As it would be a cleaner look and I'm not sure how to attach the Kessil's to the rail. I know it may seem like a lot of lighting, but i'm trying to give a good even blanket like BRS talks about and did on their tanks.
(Display Dimensions: 47"L / 21"H / 20"W)

My questions are:
1. Should I hang two HMS rails for two rows of lights and if so will they fit on a 21" wide tank?
2. Should I use the Kessil's with the Hydra's or just go with all Hydra's?
3. Is this overkill and just flat out too much lighting even for SPS and to reduce shadowing on a tank of this size?

Thank you very much for sharing your wisdom!

 

[Marquiseo]

I think you should just get the aquaticlife dx 36" and mount your hydra with it.

Sell your kessils, tank mounts, and maybe one hydra 26.

This will give you plenty of light spread and clean up the clutter you are producing to achieve even distribution of light.

 

[CoralFanaticDano]

Thanks Marquiseo, this was the other option I was really considering. Do you know if the Aquticlife will allow me to attach 4 Hydra's to it or does it only have spots for 3? Also wouldn't I need the 48 inch size? Because my tank is 47" long.

 

[dank reefer]

You can fit 4 hydra 26 in the 4ft aquaticlife hybrid easy.

 

[Robinson]

I do have the Aquaticlife 48” in my reefer 425xl that is also 47”. You’re not going to see the diferente from the light fixture to the tank. Personally I will do the 48” on the 350 too.

 

[CoralFanaticDano]

Thanks guys, man I really wish there was a way for me to easily float the lights I already have over the tank. So I wouldn't have to spend too much more. Have the 4 Hydra 26's on the same rail and some how attach the two kessil's at an angle for shadowing and spread. Or if their was some other kind of mount/bracket which would facilitate my LED's. I'm just not the best at fabrication.

 

[CoralFanaticDano]

I figured it would help if I showed my current lighting setup, just in case anyone has any additional thoughts. Also if anybody has any experiance with combining hydras and kessils on their set up it's appreciated. Thanks again guys.

 

[Nikita1981]

Why do you need so many lights? Seems like overkill. I have 2 hydra 26 on it and grow everything. Granted, I have a two island reefscape so maybe one in the middle would be beneficial with another scape but I can't imagine 1 would need 2 and 2 kessils on the side

 

[CoralFanaticDano]

Thanks Nikita, haha I won't argue that it may be overkill. But I find it easy to do over kill with equipment in this hoby lol.

My tank has become SPS dom and the sticks are starting to shadow a little. Main issue is the hydra 26's don't have as much front to back coverage as I would prefer ideally. This is why I angled the two smaller model Kessle's in from the front corners. I'm just trying to cover all my bases and simulate a t5 like blanket of light with. With multiple smaller and slightly dialed down LED's. Big difference in power between these lights and Ecotech XR30's.

 

[Nikita1981]

Thanks Nikita, haha I won't argue that it may be overkill. But I find it easy to do over kill with equipment in this hoby lol.

My tank has become SPS dom and the sticks are starting to shadow a little. Main issue is the hydra 26's don't have as much front to back coverage as I would prefer ideally. This is why I angled the two smaller model Kessle's in from the front corners. I'm just trying to cover all my bases and simulate a t5 like blanket of light with. With multiple smaller and slightly dialed down LED's. Big difference in power between these lights and Ecotech XR30's.

How about combining your led fixtures with the Giesemann Stellar? The Stellar is also a very nice fixture.

 

[CoralFanaticDano]

In case anyone was wondering how this ended up working out for me. I went ahead and made a twin rail system with the HMS rails and hung it with the AI hanging kit. Attached the two HMS rails with Aluminum channel rail that I painted black. Added two more Hydra 26's for a grid of six Hydra's. Had to dial them down quite a bit because of the additional lighting, with the help of a par meter.

Now I have plenty of even coverage and the sticks have been very happy. These things always end up being easier than I think they'll be. lol