Light suggestion for 9 gal nano cube

DracoKat · Nov 11, 2017

Hey all,

I presently have a cheap par38 light from Amazon, but I am not loving it. it washes everything out IMO- though the corals seem to be happy with it on my Pico.

Decided to look into something I have more control of.. I am not sure if the following would be an over kill for a 9 gal cube. 13"W x 13"D x 15"H

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/a80-tuna-blue-nano-led-light-kessil.html
or
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/prime-hd-led-module-white-body-aqua-illumination.html

$200 would be my max budget, I prefer go to cheaper.
Anyone have suggestions what would work best? I haven't quite decided what corals to put in, but possibly SPS.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 11, 2017

The prime is better. The 38 is better than the a80
A 160 is worth looking at.

@reeferfoxx is test driving a pretty cool inexpensive light too. Affordable enough to buy two or three under $200.

reeferfoxx · Nov 11, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
@reeferfoxx is test driving a pretty cool inexpensive light too. Affordable enough to buy two or three under $200.

Yes I am! and yes you can!

I'm running a Lumini Asta 20 from Amazon on a newly setup 10 gallon. $55

It's a basic pendant style led that's not quite bulky as the Par38. However, not as powerful either. I was trying to get some good par readings today but became OCD with the main DT. Did a little nip/tuck on the 30 gallon. I did run a quick par test on the Asta 20 and found it to be OK. I say OK because i'm a SPS kind of girl and can't imagine a tank filled 100% with softies or LPS. That said, you can grow maybe one or two SPS coral at the center of the light.

With the light mounted 1-2" above water, at 100%(all channels) I was getting 200-220 par 5"(or mid way down) below water level. Par readings are pretty comparable to the A80.

DracoKat · Nov 11, 2017

Thanks @saltyfilmfolks - I thought maybe the A80 might be too weak. the 160 is looking better.

@reeferfoxx - awesome review! it doesn't sound very powerful, especially for SPS's. if I was doing softies it may work well. does the color make the rocks look washed out? it's hard to tell in photos.

reeferfoxx · Nov 11, 2017

DracoKat said:
@reeferfoxx - awesome review! it doesn't sound very powerful, especially for SPS's. if I was doing softies it may work well. does the color make the rocks look washed out? it's hard to tell in photos.

Sorry that pic doesn't do any justice. I will say, no. It doesnt wash out the rocks. Plus it comes with a IR remote that allows you to adjust channels. However, you'll lose significant par.
It does give a nice kessil shimmer though. $55 is super cheap though.

DracoKat · Nov 11, 2017

thank you for sharing your review @reeferfoxx !

reeferfoxx · Nov 11, 2017

DracoKat said:
thank you for sharing your review @reeferfoxx !

No problem. Tomorrow I'll be working on a better review with par chart and par placement in this tank. You got the short version

DracoKat · Nov 11, 2017

I'll be looking for it!

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 11, 2017

At 200 par she could have a clam or bta on the top middle rock.

Two of them would be pretty sweeet on a little tank. $100.
just sayin.

I will say I'd be interested if y'all come across other tanks with the Light.

reeferfoxx · Nov 11, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
At 200 par she could have a clam or bta on the top middle rock.

Two of them would be pretty sweeet on a little tank. $100.
just sayin.

I will say I'd be interested if y'all come across other tanks with the Light.

Two of these lights would be awesome! But the darn gooseneck is eye cringing. They need to reduce the length of the gooseneck. I will say after going through the reviews on Amazon, the Lumini company is looking for ideas to improve the light. I think if me or other suggested a shorter gooseneck, they might do it.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 11, 2017

reeferfoxx said:
Two of these lights would be awesome! But the darn gooseneck is eye cringing. They need to reduce the length of the gooseneck. I will say after going through the reviews on Amazon, the Lumini company is looking for ideas to improve the light. I think if me or other suggested a shorter gooseneck, they might do it.

Lol.
Please don't make me set up another tank. Hahaa.

Yea that's irksome. I'd prob get the tools and JB weld.

reeferfoxx · Nov 11, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Please don't make me set up another tank. Hahaa.

Dooo it! Do it!

when-my-neighbor-says-hell-tell-on-me-for-using-my-moms-car-while-shes-away-30416.gif

SashimiTurtle · Nov 11, 2017

That light looks interesting @reeferfoxx.

I've got 3 A160s... one over my 14g frag tank, and two over my 35g cube. I run them at 100% to get enough PAR. I can't check the cube just yet because of new tank cloudy water, which is about clear thanks to @saltyfilmfolks. I'm testing the 14g with my new Seneye, but it looks like if you want to squeeze every drop of PAR out of it 50% color is the spot to be. At 50% color, I'm hitting 500PAR just below the surface with the light 7" off the water. 0% color is 350PAR and 100% color is 400PAR. Plenty of spread at that height. Still testing more color settings...

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 11, 2017

reeferfoxx said:
Dooo it! Do it!

Well I've got this giant brandy snifter and some xenai soo...

McArcher · Nov 11, 2017

You could buy 4 of those for the cost of 1 a160.
I'm starting to wish I had waited before getting the kessil

DracoKat · Nov 12, 2017

after reading reviews, researching.. I decided on the AI Prime HD. the tipping point was I had $40 in points on BRS and it's like getting the mount for free, lol.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 12, 2017

DracoKat said:
after reading reviews, researching.. I decided on the AI Prime HD. the tipping point was I had $40 in points on BRS and it's like getting the mount for free, lol.

Hahaha. You ship like me. What's the best one to get? The one on sale!!!