Lighting for 75 gallon mixed reef

[bigbugoutfitters]

Tank is a standard 75(48x18.5x21) with a center-brace. I am buying all of my lighting used and currently have 2 ai primes. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for another good ai prime deal, however i was just offered a hydra 26 for 175. Tank will be primarily montis, mushrooms, and gorgonians. Maybe some other easy sps.

1. If i were to space out the lights prime-hydra-prime with the hydra centered over the brace am i losing out on too much par? If the 26 wouldnt cut it would a 32?
2. Should i just stick with finding another pair of primes?
3. Ive also considered trying to trade the 2 primes for 1 32 but living in the montana wilderness there isnt much of any sort of local reefing club.

All advice is welcome!

 

[Spare time]

You could do the two primes and the hydra. If you would rather do 4 primes, you might be able to find some people on here selling them. The 4 primes spaced out will have the best spread. The other benefit of the other primes is that hydra lights are meant to be mounted a bit higher than the primes to get the best spread. However, there are ways to work around this given that a hydra is basically two primes.

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

You could do the two primes and the hydra. If you would rather do 4 primes, you might be able to find some people on here selling them. The 4 primes spaced out will have the best spread. The other benefit of the other primes is that hydra lights are meant to be mounted a bit higher than the primes to get the best spread. However, there are ways to work around this given that a hydra is basically two primes.

Sorta just comes down to a cost thing. Id definitely rather do 4 primes but i might be hard pressed to find someone selling 2 primes for 175! I got my 2 primes for 125 each. I figure i could drop another 250 max on lighting.

 

[dedragon]

Sorta just comes down to a cost thing. Id definitely rather do 4 primes but i might be hard pressed to find someone selling 2 primes for 175! I got my 2 primes for 125 each. I figure i could drop another 250 max on lighting.

the hydra 26 is a pretty old light, if it was run constantly until now $175 probably is about right as the par output would drop a lot. Dont run a light over the center brace, it wouldnt work well

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

the hydra 26 is a pretty old light, if it was run constantly until now $175 probably is about right as the par output would drop a lot. Dont run a light over the center brace, it wouldnt work well

Yea, thats what i was worried about! Looks like ill just be on the lookout for a pair of primes unless i am able to find a 32 for 250 which might be asking a lot!

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

The hydra 26 were run for 3 years.

 

[dedragon]

based on the budget there is also the option of 2 primes plus 2 smatfarms leds to add par. Or 2 primes and 2 reef bars like orphek or quantareef

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

Hmm, ill look into the quantareefs, price is right. Thank you! Probably 1 tropic sun and either the wide spectrum blue of og blue. Ill have to ask around on that me thinks.

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

Or two reef crest daylight so i can just buy one at a time. Hmmm.

 

[Spare time]

Yea, thats what i was worried about! Looks like ill just be on the lookout for a pair of primes unless i am able to find a 32 for 250 which might be asking a lot!

Ah I was thinking that these were the old ai prime hd's. Are they the 16's?

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

Yep, the 16s.

 

[Dburr1014]

Tank is a standard 75(48x18.5x21) with a center-brace. I am buying all of my lighting used and currently have 2 ai primes. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for another good ai prime deal, however i was just offered a hydra 26 for 175. Tank will be primarily montis, mushrooms, and gorgonians. Maybe some other easy sps.

1. If i were to space out the lights prime-hydra-prime with the hydra centered over the brace am i losing out on too much par? If the 26 wouldnt cut it would a 32?
2. Should i just stick with finding another pair of primes?
3. Ive also considered trying to trade the 2 primes for 1 32 but living in the montana wilderness there isnt much of any sort of local reefing club.

All advice is welcome!

Reefbreeders?

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

Reefbreeders?

A bit more than my 250 budget

 

[gbroadbridge]

Prime 16's aren't much light for a 75 gal Mixed reef.

I have a pair of Hydra 64's and am planning on adding another to minimise shadowing.

A pair of Hydra 52's would work.

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

Prime 16's aren't much light for a 75 gal Mixed reef.

I have a pair of Hydra 64's and am planning on adding another to minimise shadowing.

A pair of Hydra 52's would work.

I definitely like the AI, and if I was still a bachelor, and didn't have a 4 month old all while putting together an top notch outfitting operation i'd probably spring for a few 64s I figure I will stick for the two primes, add on a pair of 4 foot quantareefs and if i want to upgrade eventually id add on 2 more 16s!

 

[mav3rick478]

I definitely like the AI, and if I was still a bachelor, and didn't have a 4 month old all while putting together an top notch outfitting operation i'd probably spring for a few 64s I figure I will stick for the two primes, add on a pair of 4 foot quantareefs and if i want to upgrade eventually id add on 2 more 16s!

Look into Luxdium replacement pucks for your AI. I will be replacing my 26HD's with their pucks when the originals go out. And i will also add some Quantas to my setup as well.