Light upgrade advice

diabolical_clownfish · Feb 13, 2022

Hi - I would like to get some advice on a potential light upgrade. My current setup:

- Waterbox 35 gallon AIO
- Light: AI Prime 16 HD
- Mixed reef, with mostly LPS and two bubble tip anemones.
- Beginning to acquire some SPS since I'm already dialing up the light for the BTA.

I don't have an exact reason to upgrade, but it just feels like other people's lights (e.g. Radions and Kessils at frag swap or online photography) give better color. My BTA also tends to be my stringy than bubbled, and I'm curious if changing up the lights can help.

I know I'm suffering from a serious case of "the grass is always greener on the other side" and I know most likely people will says "it sound like your AI prime is sufficient for your needs". I'm still curious if there is a generally recommended upgrade path. The lights I have came with the tank so I didn't put that much thought into it previously. Given my setup, if I'm willing to to put in a bit more money, what can I buy that makes my tank a lot better?

Thanks!

muzikalmatt · Feb 13, 2022

Since you already have an AI Prime, have you thought about supplementing with a ReefBrite XHO or similar LED strips? I added the XHO's to my A360 on my 40 gallon build and really like the additional coverage and pop they provided.

diabolical_clownfish · Feb 13, 2022

muzikalmatt said:
Since you already have an AI Prime, have you thought about supplementing with a ReefBrite XHO or similar LED strips? I added the XHO's to my A360 on my 40 gallon build and really like the additional coverage and pop they provided.

Thanks, that's a really interesting idea. I looked it up and it seems like they make an add on kit for Hydra (no Prime):

XHO-K26 LED ADD-ON KIT – Reef Brite

www.reefbrite.com

I'm trying to look up some examples of how the light looks different. I do think a lot of my corals would look good under arctinic.

Jekyl · Feb 13, 2022

Agreed supplementing with like an orphek bar might be your best route. However as a kessil guy, one 360 would be great for that tank.

diabolical_clownfish · Feb 13, 2022

Jekyl said:
Agreed supplementing with like an orphek bar might be your best route. However as a kessil guy, one 360 would be great for that tank.

Thank you.

So I have always heard anecdotal evidence that AI PRime is not as good as the Kessil, with the difference being that Prime uses the warm white diode to accelerate coral growth but sacrifices color. Kessil with the other diodes has a superior color spectrum (not sure about growth). I do want both (my tank is pretty young so looking to fill out a bit on growth).

Is there an article out there with some actual analysis?

Jekyl · Feb 13, 2022

diabolical_clownfish said:
Thank you.

So I have always heard anecdotal evidence that AI PRime is not as good as the Kessil, with the difference being that Prime uses the warm white diode to accelerate coral growth but sacrifices color. Kessil with the other diodes has a superior color spectrum (not sure about growth). I do want both (my tank is pretty young so looking to fill out a bit on growth).

Is there an article out there with some actual analysis?

Not that I know of. Plenty of videos and research about both. Kessil shimmer and color can't be beat in my eyes though.

diabolical_clownfish · Feb 13, 2022

For example:

Which light?! Kessil or Hd Prime!?

Prime! I have three of them

www.reef2reef.com

X-37B · Feb 13, 2022

Just get another 16HD. I have 2 on my 18" nano cube with good color.

diabolical_clownfish · Feb 13, 2022

90's reefer said:
Just get another 16HD. I have 2 on my 18" nano cube with good color.

Two 16HD or one Hydra 32? It's the same thing, right? (maybe different positioning)

X-37B · Feb 13, 2022

diabolical_clownfish said:
Two 16HD or one Hydra 32? It's the same thing, right? (maybe different positioning)

Same but you can position 2 16's better than 1 32, imo.

diabolical_clownfish · Feb 13, 2022

90's reefer said:
Same but you can position 2 16's better than 1 32, imo.

Hmm. Yeah, my tank is 23.6"×19.7"×17.7" (LxWxH). I guess 2x 16s would be able to cover the nearly 24" of length better.

Nick Steele · Feb 13, 2022

diabolical_clownfish said:
Hmm. Yeah, my tank is 23.6"×19.7"×17.7" (LxWxH). I guess 2x 16s would be able to cover the nearly 24" of length better.

2 16’s over a single 32 any day. I have 2 16’s over my Nuvo 20 and it works wonders for spread.

diabolical_clownfish · Feb 15, 2022

Nick Steele said:
2 16’s over a single 32 any day. I have 2 16’s over my Nuvo 20 and it works wonders for spread.

So I've done some homework and it seems like I'm going to have trouble mounting two AI Prime 16s since my back chambers are very crowded at this point. I could figure out some other hanging solution, but I'm still thinking one light is easier.

How do you guys feel about the Neptune Sky? The recommended spread on the Sky is 24" x 30", which seems perfect (the others go to like 18")

Jedi1199 · Feb 15, 2022

I agree with @Jekyl on this. I have tried many different inexpensive setups that I have seen others swear by. The Kessil a360x tuna blues I have now are by far the best lights I have used. Its men vs boys in this case. The power, sleek look, controllability, and shimmer are hands down the best I have seen on any of my tanks. I am saving up to add another one to my 32g BioCube.

Another factor to consider, the Kessils can be "Daisy Chained" to run off a single WiFi Dongle and yet controlled independently. In other words, you can run up to 25 different lights from one single dongle all controlled from the app on your phone. That single point alone makes it worth the cost for the higher priced Kessil lights.

As a side note, if you hate seeing wires, spring for the 90* brackets over the "gooseneck" ones. The 90* ones have hollow tubes that accept the wires and hide them, the "gooseneck" does not.

Nick Steele · Feb 15, 2022

diabolical_clownfish said:
So I've done some homework and it seems like I'm going to have trouble mounting two AI Prime 16s since my back chambers are very crowded at this point. I could figure out some other hanging solution, but I'm still thinking one light is easier.

How do you guys feel about the Neptune Sky? The recommended spread on the Sky is 24" x 30", which seems perfect (the others go to like 18")

If you get the 18” goose necks you have many mounting options. I personally think the sky would be overkill but I have seen much worse before.

@Jedi1199 two A360’s on a bio cube is crazy!

On the over hand I need to venture out and try a new light and I have my eyes on either a reef breeders or a setup of quanta lights from a guy from Instagram. His store is quantareef.com

Jekyl · Feb 15, 2022

I use 2 360we on my 90g and can grow anything. Even without intensity cranked they are powerful lights.

Jedi1199 · Feb 16, 2022

Nick Steele said:
If you get the 18” goose necks you have many mounting options. I personally think the sky would be overkill but I have seen much worse before.

@Jedi1199 two A360’s on a bio cube is crazy!

On the over hand I need to venture out and try a new light and I have my eyes on either a reef breeders or a setup of quanta lights from a guy from Instagram. His store is quantareef.com

HAHA no no... I am currently running one SmartFarm 165 over my 32g. I am going to upgrade to one Kessil A360X soon. I have 2 Kessils over my 55g