Lighting Help.... what to choose

[Barnabie Mejia]

Whats up R2R!
My sons and I are building a 75g display and we have been gathering all the needed equipment to make the start up run smooth and we have been doing a lot of research. currently we have a 29gal running that we inherited and it has taught us a lot in terms of reef keeping and husbandry, and the best part is the boys enjoy it and I enjoy doing it with them! on the 29 gal we have an AI prime HD and we love it!

Question is, for the 75g we know its not going to be enough, its a fact, so what lighting should we go with? we have narrowed it down to three options.

-Add 2 more primes to it.
-buy two Hyrdas (not sure 26's or 52's)
-Buy a kessil AP700

what are the pros and cons of these choices?

we have been reading and watching videos on the AP700 and we could get good coverage with a single AP700 seeing that we are not going to have an aquascape that is going to be going form glass to glass in terms of length. we also are going to be leaving about 2" of space between rockwork and back glass so we can keep in clean and not have to work around the rocks.

we aren't planning to have any SPS in the tank, but that's not to say if we ever decide to have some we would put them high up in the tanks and in the center so the have good PAR and high flow. everything else will be generally softies and SPS and maybe a Nem here and there (2 at most)

Lets hear your thoughts, GO!!!!!

thanks,

Barnabie

 

[Crabs McJones]

Currently running a 75 with Two Hydra 26's with T5's grows everything everywhere in the tank

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

Currently running a 75 with Two Hydra 26's with T5's grows everything everywhere in the tank

what are your thoughts on the others?
price may drive the choice but the little guys have been working all summer cutting grass and doing yardwork in the neighborhood to fund their project, being proud of them, I will kick in some cheese for them to get what they need for the tank, but I also want to make sure that its the best option for them as well!

 

[Crabs McJones]

what are your thoughts on the others?
price may drive the choice but the little guys have been working all summer cutting grass and doing yardwork in the neighborhood to fund their project, being proud of them, I will kick in some cheese for them to get what they need for the tank, but I also want to make sure that its the best option for them as well!

Is the 75 center braced? If so three primes wouldn't be the way to go because of that center brace. You could get away with two AI Primes, but if you eventually want to dip your toes into SPS corals they likely won't be enough unless they were placed higher up directly under the lights. Two Hydra 26's would suffice, one on each side of the center brace, and you'd be able to grow pretty much anything

 

[PanchoG]

I am running 3 Hydras and couldn’t be happier, easy set up and to manage.

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

Is the 75 center braced? If so three primes wouldn't be the way to go because of that center brace. You could get away with two AI Primes, but if you eventually want to dip your toes into SPS corals they likely won't be enough unless they were placed higher up directly under the lights. Two Hydra 26's would suffice, one on each side of the center brace, and you'd be able to grow pretty much anything

it is center braced, and to be completely honest, that never crossed my mind about having the light above it haha! I didn't know the hydras were that much stronger than the primes.... still learning about the hobby, but that's what this forum is about!

 

[Crabs McJones]

it is center braced, and to be completely honest, that never crossed my mind about having the light above it haha! I didn't know the hydras were that much stronger than the primes.... still learning about the hobby, but that's what this forum is about!

Yup, the hydra is basically two prime pucks in one fixture, but with more power

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I have a center braced 75 and I run 2 hydra 26 HDs in a 36" aquatic life T5 hybrid fixture. I love it!!! You could get by with just 2 hydra 26 HD's, but the T5 just add so much more.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

A wifi camera pic for reference:

 

[Derek siskey]

Will the hydras work with a glass top or would they have to be removed, I’m having to upgrade lights also when I start putting corals in.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Will the hydras work with a glass top or would they have to be removed, I’m having to upgrade lights also when I start putting corals in.

Personally I've never been a fan of glass tops. If you need a top because of a jumping fish look at the screen tops. Allows for gas exchange, cooler temperatures, and doesnt block as much light as a glass top

 

[Derek siskey]

Personally I've never been a fan of glass tops. If you need a top because of a jumping fish look at the screen tops. Allows for gas exchange, cooler temperatures, and doesnt block as much light as a glass top

Would it be cheaper and a better choice to just purchase a 52 because it’s almost $100 less or would the center bar cause problems?

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Would it be cheaper and a better choice to just purchase a 52 because it’s almost $100 less or would the center bar cause problems?

You'd definitely see a shadow from the center brace with just a single 52.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Would it be cheaper and a better choice to just purchase a 52 because it’s almost $100 less or would the center bar cause problems?

Center brace will cause problems. A prime on each side or a hydra 26 on each side would be best bet

 

[rknott]

Personally I've never been a fan of glass tops. If you need a top because of a jumping fish look at the screen tops. Allows for gas exchange, cooler temperatures, and doesnt block as much light as a glass top

What "so much more" do you get? (I am doing the same thing, 2 Hydras)

 

[Crabs McJones]

What "so much more" do you get? (I am doing the same thing, 2 Hydras)

Well when light hits the glass tops it reflects some, but then too when the glass gets dirty from salt creep and water evaporation it blocks even more light.

 

[rknott]

I have a center braced 75 and I run 2 hydra 26 HDs in a 36" aquatic life T5 hybrid fixture. I love it!!! You could get by with just 2 hydra 26 HD's, but the T5 just add so much more.

I incorrectly replied. I meant to quote this one. Let me try again.

What "so much more" do you get? (I am doing the same thing, 2 Hydras)

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I incorrectly replied. I meant to quote this one. Let me try again.

What "so much more" do you get? (I am doing the same thing, 2 Hydras)

I ran two 26's on my 40B and it did just fine, but when I upgraded to the 75 the T5s reduced shadowing dramatically. I use B+ and Actinic bulbs (in my opinion) that adds an overall better distribution of PAR and low 400nm spectrum.

 

[rknott]

AH! Good to know.

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

I like the idea of the hybrid set up, I have a lead on (2) 360we and a controller for $500 locally. maybe I can build a hybrid later with either the kessils or Prime HDs. is $500 a good price for them?