LEDs for 5’ tank

[MarsReefer]

There are so many options for LEDs that I am lost in the bright vortex of options.

The tank is 60x24x24 and I will be keeping LPS and Softies. Mounting height isn’t an issue, but I would like to hang them.

I’ve used a reefbreeder light over my freshwater tank and it was very nice but I’m not super sold on the disco effect and shading. Reliability and cost are the big pluses.

I’m also looking at 3x Radion XR15s with diffusers. Big jump in cost but color and spread are supposedly amazing. Downside is much more expensive and I’ve heard the control sucks and there are big quality issues.

2x Neptune sky has very nice even color, good spread and works with my apex. Price is about the same as the radion. Not a huge fan of shimmer so this is apparently good there too. Downside seems to be build quality but I haven’t actually heard of any actually having issues.

are there other lights that are better? Trying to stay under $1800.

 

[Dburr1014]

There are so many options for LEDs that I am lost in the bright vortex of options.

The tank is 60x24x24 and I will be keeping LPS and Softies. Mounting height isn’t an issue, but I would like to hang them.

I’ve used a reefbreeder light over my freshwater tank and it was very nice but I’m not super sold on the disco effect and shading. Reliability and cost are the big pluses.

I’m also looking at 3x Radion XR15s with diffusers. Big jump in cost but color and spread are supposedly amazing. Downside is much more expensive and I’ve heard the control sucks and there are big quality issues.

2x Neptune sky has very nice even color, good spread and works with my apex. Price is about the same as the radion. Not a huge fan of shimmer so this is apparently good there too. Downside seems to be build quality but I haven’t actually heard of any actually having issues.

are there other lights that are better? Trying to stay under $1800.

What lenses did you use in the Reefbreeders? How high were they from the water?
They come standard with 90 lenses. Logan will give you 120's if you ask him. Or do what I did, take the lenses out. No more disco.

 

[Bpb]

Softy’s and lps tank that size? 3- kessil a360x. End of story.

 

[MarsReefer]

Softy’s and lps tank that size? 3- kessil a360x. End of story.

I looked at those, but I think that is too much shimmer for me. any way to reduce the shimmer?

 

[ATXreefer]

I looked at those, but I think that is too much shimmer for me. any way to reduce the shimmer?

I've done some research on this. Most will say add a few t5 bulbs, but I've seen in several videos and kessil website that if you add the 55 or 35 degree lens, the shimmer is reduced drastically, especially with the 35 degree lens. If you are hanging your lights, the 35 degree lens will allow you to hang them high enough that you never have to worry about them being in the way for maintenance, etc. Small form factor is also conducive to improved aesthetics of the tank setup as a whole in my opinion. I think with 3 a360x, lenses and dongle you're looking at around $1600.

 

[dedragon]

mount the kessils higher or dim them a bit and use with led bars like those from quanta reef, orphek, or even aliexpress/alibaba ive heard work well. (im also getting suspicious of orphek bars and some of the ones on alibaba, will buy one to test)

 

[ATXreefer]

mount the kessils higher or dim them a bit and use with led bars like those from quanta reef, orphek, or even aliexpress/alibaba ive heard work well. (im also getting suspicious of orphek bars and some of the ones on alibaba, will buy one to test)

My only warning about mounting them higher without the narrow reflector lens is the enormous amount of lightspill into the room you'll have to cope with. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[MarsReefer]

Yeah that seems like a lot of work and downsides just to get out of the box performance of the radions. Looking at the BRS reviews of the xr15 I think I can get away with using 2 of them and then add a third down the line if needed. Though the reefbreeder is still appealing if I can get it with the 120 lenses.

 

[Bpb]

Yeah that seems like a lot of work and downsides just to get out of the box performance of the radions. Looking at the BRS reviews of the xr15 I think I can get away with using 2 of them and then add a third down the line if needed. Though the reefbreeder is still appealing if I can get it with the 120 lenses.

I emailed Logan about the 120 degree lenses, he said that was only with the original photons (super old black box style ones and is not an option with the photon v2, but said he is working on a diffuser add on that should be available “soon” which means probably never lol

 

[MarsReefer]

I emailed Logan about the 120 degree lenses, he said that was only with the original photons (super old black box style ones and is not an option with the photon v2, but said he is working on a diffuser add on that should be available “soon” which means probably never lol

Well thanks for the info. Sounds like the G6s are coming out soon from radion. Seems like I should be able to pick up the G5’s for a decent price or depending on what the G6s have might spring for those. Given the recent acquisitions maybe they’ll get apex integration.

 

[Chris Spaulding]

I have the same size tank and I am using Ilumagic Blaze X 150. I added 2 nico bar strip lights to the fixture for a little more spread and for shadowing. The tank is SPS and I can easily get 250 par at the sand spots f needed. These are available at Uniquecorals. Attached pic of lighting for referance

 

[DavidinGA]

There are so many options for LEDs that I am lost in the bright vortex of options.

The tank is 60x24x24 and I will be keeping LPS and Softies. Mounting height isn’t an issue, but I would like to hang them.

I’ve used a reefbreeder light over my freshwater tank and it was very nice but I’m not super sold on the disco effect and shading. Reliability and cost are the big pluses.

I’m also looking at 3x Radion XR15s with diffusers. Big jump in cost but color and spread are supposedly amazing. Downside is much more expensive and I’ve heard the control sucks and there are big quality issues.

2x Neptune sky has very nice even color, good spread and works with my apex. Price is about the same as the radion. Not a huge fan of shimmer so this is apparently good there too. Downside seems to be build quality but I haven’t actually heard of any actually having issues.

are there other lights that are better? Trying to stay under $1800.

fwiw....I run a pair of ebay led boxes over my 90g and just modified them a bit and love them for the money. I'm not really convinced these super expensive leds are worth it (a photon is a photon and the corals don't know if that photon came from a $70box or a $500box).

I have my leds 3" above the water and I've removed the lenses so I get excellent blending and no hotspots. I also replaced some diodes with more blues to tweak the color to my preference.

 

[BanjoBandito]

What lenses did you use in the Reefbreeders? How high were they from the water?
They come standard with 90 lenses. Logan will give you 120's if you ask him. Or do what I did, take the lenses out. No more disco.

I might ask him for the 120's. How did you take the lenses out anyways?

 

[Bpb]

I might ask him for the 120's. How did you take the lenses out anyways?

LEDs for 5’ tank

There are so many options for LEDs that I am lost in the bright vortex of options. The tank is 60x24x24 and I will be keeping LPS and Softies. Mounting height isn’t an issue, but I would like to hang them. I’ve used a reefbreeder light over my freshwater tank and it was very nice but I’m not...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[BanjoBandito]

LEDs for 5’ tank

There are so many options for LEDs that I am lost in the bright vortex of options. The tank is 60x24x24 and I will be keeping LPS and Softies. Mounting height isn’t an issue, but I would like to hang them. I’ve used a reefbreeder light over my freshwater tank and it was very nice but I’m not...

www.reef2reef.com