Lighting Advice!!!

[txsaltyguy34]

so I have a slight budget and need the best bang for the buck I have narrowed it down to 2 options as far as purchasing new...
Current orbit marine ic pro Bluetooth dual 48-60 or
2 ai prime hds

Tank dimensions: 48Lx25Hx22W 90gal

not sure which would be better as im not against adding 1 or two more primes down the road!!
any advice will be greatly appreciated

Thanks as always!

 

[Spare time]

The orbits can't light a tank that tall without the par reaching near 0 before you hit the bottom of the tank. Consider something like a ocean revive if you are on a budget

 

[Backreefing]

A 90 is 48/18/25 go 2 BBs and t5s , or buy used Craigslist ect . metal halides can be gotten cheaply and powerful. A t5 fixture is nice to . Your faced with 3 choices led,t5,Metal Halides
BRS had Bimini sun halide fixtures for $80 at one time this winter. Deals are out there .

 

[Silent]

Depends on what you are trying to grow. Either of those might work. SPS you better go a different route.

 

[txsaltyguy34]

Sorry should have included that in my first post.....

plan on some fish maybe a few inverts and mainly softies

 

[Bpb]

Not sure why ocean revive keeps getting recommended. They’ve gone under long ago. Lots of other far more active black box makers out there

 

[SDK]

You can get two Noopsyche K7s with mounts and a controller for a bit less than two Primes with mounts. Two K7s will be the rough equivalent of two Hydras or four Primes. Probably the best bang for your buck if you want some programming capability and don’t want to deal with hanging big ugly black boxes.

This should be enough for a nice mixed reef tank.