Lighting help needed

schlitz · Oct 7, 2015

I currently have two LED lights on my 90 gallon tank. They are a Current Orbit Marine LED and a Marineland Reef Capable LED. Neither one was super expensive and I wanted LEDs b/c of the timers and the energy savings. Problem is that my corals (outside of some zoas) do not seem to grow at all. I currently have the aforementioned zoas, candy canes, frogspawns, clove polyps, a blue-green sympodium and toadstool. I am not totally looking into getting into LPS but I would like to see growth out of corals and am interested in anemones.
My LFS told me that I really need to switch to T5s. I am looking at the AquaticLife Six Lamp T5 HO and the Coralife Lunar Aqualight HO T5. I like that the AquaticLife fixture includes a built-in timer and only has one cord. My LFS also told me to expect $500 plus for a good light but these are in a lower price range.
I would like feedback on what people think I really need and if anyone has experience with these lights. I know there is a variety of philosophies and opinions out there but I am trying to collect enough info to make the right decision. Also, I am looking for a larger tank for my predator fish so this reef will eventually be switched over to a 120 gallon tank so the light should support that as well.

143MPCo · Oct 7, 2015

[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

hybridazn · Oct 7, 2015

The 2 led fixtures you are running currently are def not cutting it. I know that the marineland wont keep anything alive outside of the easier to keep zoas along with the current orbit. Going t5 will most def help and the aquatic life fixture is a decent one. But I would recommend swapping out the stock bulbs in that fixture and using a quality bulb such as ATI. The cost will be greater but your corals will thank you for it.

schlitz · Oct 7, 2015

Thanks. I totally trust my LFS but additional validation helps me to pull the trigger on spending $300+ on anything. Any other advice from others would be helpful before I move on.

Ductigamist · Oct 7, 2015

I need some appropriate suggestions...I've gotten all sorts of answers and am now just overwhelmed with options...I've got a 45 gal bowfront 36" wide 20" deep...what are some specific recommendations...I'm not looking to handle clams or SPS, so I don't think I need the most powerful units
Thanks in advance
Art

reefwiser · Oct 7, 2015

When picking out corals you have to realize that corals receive a good amount of their life energy from light. So if one wishes to keep corals one needs think about lighting the tank as one of the major outlays that you will spend on a tank. It's also to look at how deep the tank is as the power of a light is knocked down quite a bit by the depth of the tanks water. When you have tanks that are 30" deep or more you need quite powerful lighting to be able to keep corals in the tank.
This means High Output T5's or Metal Halide or powerful LED's like the EcoTech Radion X30 pro's. ATI makes good quality fixtures in T5's You will need a something like this:http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/48-ati-sunpower-high-output-t5-light-fixture.html

schlitz · Oct 8, 2015

I appreciate the responses I have received so far and I welcome more if possible. Especially if anyone has experience with the two lights I mentioned at the top. I realize lighting is not the most exciting topic to elicit multiple responses. Maybe I should've titled the thread "How many Yellow Tangs can I fit in a 30 gallon tank?" The old bait and switch works every time!

lxeroxl · Oct 23, 2015

6 bulb t5 on a 90 should be more then enough light make sure you get the 48 inch version. I have never owned either of the lights you posted about but tend to stay away from coral life products. If you have the budget i would look into the ATI Sunpower or powermodule fixture. I have owned an ATI t5 fixture for years with great results.

RobberyinCSharp1824 · Oct 24, 2015

hybridazn said:
The 2 led fixtures you are running currently are def not cutting it. I know that the marineland wont keep anything alive outside of the easier to keep zoas along with the current orbit. Going t5 will most def help and the aquatic life fixture is a decent one. But I would recommend swapping out the stock bulbs in that fixture and using a quality bulb such as ATI. The cost will be greater but your corals will thank you for it.

Totally agree. I had the Marineland LED system on my 20 gallon tank and every last coral I owned eventually withered away - zoas and palys included. I have the Current Orbit LED system now and I can confidently say that it won't keep anything alive that isn't LPS and softies. I keep my light right above the tank and have the lights on reasonably high intensity. I have palys/zoas/mushrooms that are fine, and one nem that is at the upper levels of the tank who is content. Acans seem to be happy but I believe with better lights I could get better coloring. But I kill every Acro I've ever added into that tank, along with a few other SPS corals.