Light Suggestion for reef tank

[Mflores888]

I just changed my tank from a 90 to a 130. The tank is shorter than my last one but it is wider. 48 x 24 x 22. I currently have 3x AI 16s and they are great, cover the whole tank and perform awesome for the price. However now I'm considering switching over to either 2 Hydra 32s, 2 Radio RX15, or adding a fourth 16 instead. I really enjoy the way you can control the AI lights with the app, when I had gen 3 radions I didn't like how you had to connect the light to the laptop.

I primarily have LPS and softies, nothing too light intensive. However I am thinking of getting into simple SPS (not a big fan of SPS but that's where the money is at to fund my tank). So I was wondering what would be better if I want to get into some simple SPS corals.

With the increase in light prices I was concerned but my friend owns a store so he can get me the lights for the price he gets them, which is pretty great.

 

[Jekyl]

I currently run kessils on my 90 gallon and am going to add T5. I love the look of kessil however I think things will grow better with the T5 so going the hybrid route.

 

[Mflores888]

I currently run kessils on my 90 gallon and am going to add T5. I love the look of kessil however I think things will grow better with the T5 so going the hybrid route.

I thought about running T5s but I don't know how I would set them up. I can't hang them from the ceiling and the tank doesn't allow them to be placed from one end to another. I don't know if they sell any mount that bolts to the wall instead.

 

[Jekyl]

I thought about running T5s but I don't know how I would set them up. I can't hang them from the ceiling and the tank doesn't allow them to be placed from one end to another. I don't know if they sell any mount that bolts to the wall instead.

I installed a cheap metal shelf above my tank. Storage room and ability to hang lights.

 

[rusty hannon]

There is also the hybrid suspension mounting option

 

[Mflores888]

I installed a cheap metal shelf above my tank. Storage room and ability to hang lights.

I'll need to look into that, maybe it might be a different route with the lights

 

[Acros]

BRS has tons of videos on lighting for 4’ tanks. They have one using AI prime 16HD as well.

Adding another prime makes more economical sense, unless you are going for an acropora dominant tank.

 

[scolson]

I'm thinking about using some Kessils with two 48" Reef Brite strips for fill over a tank that is 56" wide. You should be able to do the same with your AI lights.

I know Reef Brite makes a hybrid mount for this setup but I think it is designed for ceiling mount and it's kind of expensive for what it is.

I think you could also make a wall mount using some simple 8020 aluminum extrusions.

 

[Mflores888]

BRS has tons of videos on lighting for 4’ tanks. They have one using AI prime 16HD as well.

Adding another prime makes more economical sense, unless you are going for an acropora dominant tank.

I mostly just want to keep simple SPS, nothing too crazy and just 20%-30% SPS and the rest what I normally have already. One of my lights is having fan problems so I need to replace the fan as well

 

[Jekyl]

I mostly just want to keep simple SPS, nothing too crazy and just 20%-30% SPS and the rest what I normally have already. One of my lights is having fan problems so I need to replace the fan as well

T5 and halide are the most forgiving. I've had issues with just LED is why I'm leaning toward hybrid. Single point of light par is different than spread out.