Lighting on a custom tank.. 84x44x45cm

dopey · Apr 7, 2020

Hi,

I've had a custom tank built. The dimensions are (LxWxH) 84x44x45cm or 33x17x18in. Peninsula style, can see the progression(and setbacks.. mainly setbacks

) in the build thread.

This makes me a bit longer than the '24x24x24' cube BRS uses for their guides, but much shorter than a 4foot tank. Also not as wide as either.

Today I have an AI Prime HD (50w) over one side of the tank. This was the light from the previous nano tank, and lighting the rock from that tank. Mainly softies and couple LPS.

And as many, unclear goal of tank. I didn't think I wanted SPS at the start but slowly starting to get the allure. At this point thinking softer corals lower in the tank, and leave the top of the rocks open for branching SPS.

I have been putting off ordering lights as I cannot decide. I've narrowed down three options:

1.) Second AI prime HD -- Resulting in two total
2.) One xr15 G5 -- With possibility of a second for SPS corals.
3.) One xr30 G5 -- Seems this would handle up to SPS on this size tank.

Most economical be an AI prime HD. Unless I later have to ditch both of them for a better solution to do SPS. The xr15s seem to be the most future proof/best spread.

I had desired to do a T5 Hybrid but given the length of the tank, I don't think it's feasible.

Which option would you go with(and why

)

Thanks all!

Ron Reefman · Apr 7, 2020

Personally I'd look seriously at a 32" Reef Breeders Photon V2+. It's got 5 watt and 3 watt leds from Cree and other good brands. It's good looking. It has 6 channels of color control and full sunrise/sunset ability. And it's probably less expensive than what you are currently considering. I've been using mine for several years now and my coral are doing great! My 40g cube became overgrown with coral so I'm setting up a 90g DIY tank (36x30x20).

najer · Apr 7, 2020

Just read your build thread, unless you want to keep acros I would go with primes, XR "5 series" are not getting very good early reviews.

dopey · Apr 7, 2020

Thanks Ron.. I'm not sure you can get those in Europe (And the correct plug). Quick searches I don't find it on my common retailers or any EU retailers when searching for Photon v4 Europe

And you are probably right Najer. The light spread seems quite amazing on G5 but the build quality seems suspect.

I think part of me wants a *new* toy, but the other part recognizes it's better to use what you have and not throw money away. So was hoping to either be convinced the AI Primes be insufficient or something

Ron Reefman · Apr 7, 2020

@dopey , the Photon V2+ is the same fixture as the ones EverGrow sells worldwide (except in the US). I'm now sure which model it is, but it should be available.

dopey · Apr 7, 2020

https://www.marinefarm.co.uk/evergrow-it5080-v2-aquaocean-marine-led-light be the one then I think!!

Man that is tempting.

I have to ask; Why does it feel that everyone selects Radeons, AI, Kessils? A blanket of LEDs (in my head) must be superior than smaller fixtures with concentrated LEDs?.. and the cost of this is half of a comparable xr30?

jda · Apr 7, 2020

It feels like this because these people are the loudest online. I visit and look at roughly about 100 tanks a year (not so much anymore), and the vast majority of them are using lights that are 4-5 years old with T5s, MH and even some VHOs and PCs or older generation LEDs. High dollar lights do not even account for 10% of what I see, but most of these people have larger tanks and are not noobies fascinated with "shiny objects" and tech. For the LED side of things, Chinese made black boxes (of which ReefBreeders is a higher end version of) dominate what I see.

There are also some people on this board, others and online that are on Payroll of these companies to shill for them undercover. I got offered enough units to replace all of my lights from one of them - I turned them down.

You can do OK with any of them, but please do not let online presence offer any kind of indication of what is really out there.

If you are going to get heavy into SPS one day, or feel that you might, then point source LEDs will cause shadow issues as your frags turn into real colonies. Plan on adding T5s if you do choose point-source. Full disclosure, I do not use any LEDs, but if I did, they would be wide panels like Photon or Orphek... I would keep them up way high and run them at 100% on all channels.

dopey · Apr 7, 2020

Welp, ordered the evergrows from my local LFS. They had used them as well with good results on their tanks, tho use maxspec now. Thanks a ton for the tip Ron!

Most of the T5s or blanket of lights I had seen were either 60cm or 90cm, which felt bad. an 80cm light for an 83 cm long tank.. feels perfect.

Had been pushing myself to decide and order (via LFS) given the current situation. This was a purchase I needed to make, and supporting them during this low period felt right.

I do enjoy new shiny things.. but when it comes to lighting I just want to set it and forget it. I don't remember the last time I changed my settings on my AI prime. Set an AB+ mimic schedule, acclimation period and left it be. The motivation why I was looking at Radeon/AI/Kessil was this perception of 'best' and I didn't want to re-invest down the road.