Lighting opinions

[pettoe90]

I'm going to be upgrading my tank in the next month or two. I currently have a 65 gallon with a Chinese black box. My new tank is 48x18x30
I plan on doing mixed reef with lps and softies in bottom and sps near the top.

What are some of you opinions on what lighting I should do. Some things that factor my purchase would be price and I would prefer led light.

I was thinking keep my black box and add 2 kessil
A160we lights, one on each side of the black box.

My current set up

 

[cloak]

Have you thought about going with a MarsAqua light pictured in the link below yet? These fixture are actually pretty popular and you should be able to keep everything on your list. The only downside is you may have some shadowing on the sides of the tank, but nothing some of the less light demanding corals can't handle. GL.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsAqua-Di...mp-/261534468394?_trksid=p2385738.m2548.l4275

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Not to dissuade you, but, it looks like you could raise that light up to get better coverage and not need another light. It would depend a bit on the intensity your running now.
For the best best coverage the other option would be a 30 or 32in BB. Reefbreeders Or SBreeflight IMO.

 

[pettoe90]

Not to dissuade you, but, it looks like you could raise that light up to get better coverage and not need another light. It would depend a bit on the intensity your running now.
For the best best coverage the other option would be a 30 or 32in BB. Reefbreeders Or SBreeflight IMO.

This is old picture of my current tank. I rose the light up about 5 inches from where it's at in this picture. I really like the color of the kessil lights and I feel like the black boxes can't achieve the same color

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

This is old picture of my current tank. I rose the light up about 5 inches from where it's at in this picture. I really like the color of the kessil lights and I feel like the black boxes can't achieve the same color

They def have different colors, like most lights do from manufacturer to manufacturer. So no you wont get the same color.

If i remember you also use a lux meter. If you want to go the kessil route I would ditch the BB.
Forgive me, but that tank doesn't look 48in, am I crazy?
the hoe beiny you can go full kessil. 2 160 will be less light then that BB, but the coverage should be better.

 

[pettoe90]

Yeah I haven't set up the 48in tank just yet. Got to finishing getting all the equipment

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ah got it. Upgrade! Congrats.

48in is tough on a budget. I have one too.
the 160 is the smallest kessil, so might not be the best for a deep tank. 360's would be better of course.
Id say if you want to go kessil on a budget start looking used. I got lucky and got 3 ai sol(color is meh). 4 160s may be an option too. you may not get to Acro and clam pars, but it will grow coral.
My biggest frustration with kessil is the lack of specs available.

 

[pettoe90]

Yeah they don't provide full par chart but there is people that have taken par measurements, I'm thinking if I keep the BB and get 2 a160 I can get the kessil color I like yet still have good light output

 

[pettoe90]

Have you thought about going with a MarsAqua light pictured in the link below yet? These fixture are actually pretty popular and you should be able to keep everything on your list. The only downside is you may have some shadowing on the sides of the tank, but nothing some of the less light demanding corals can't handle. GL.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsAqua-Di...mp-/261534468394?_trksid=p2385738.m2548.l4275

I don't like the yellow it puts out

 

[cloak]

Really? I've got the smaller version over a standard 20 gallon tank and I don't even notice the yellow. The blues are turned all the way up and the whites are at about 60%, so this gives off the appearance of 14K bulb IMO. I'm able to keep pretty much anything I want in this tank. To each their own though. GL.

 

[pettoe90]

Really? I've got the smaller version over a standard 20 gallon tank and I don't even notice the yellow. The blues are turned all the way up and the whites are at about 60%, so this gives off the appearance of 14K bulb IMO. I'm able to keep pretty much anything I want in this tank. To each their own though. GL.

Any pictures of how it looks

 

[cloak]

Yeah, but give me 24 hours or so to post it. I've got to go to work right now.

 

[happyhourhero]

I would run 2 of the 16" SB reef lights on the 65 or 3 of them on the 48". I bet no one knew I would say that.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I would run 2 of the 16" SB reef lights on the 65 or 3 of them on the 48". I bet no one knew I would say that.

lol.
( I tried in post #3)

 

[pettoe90]

I would run 2 of the 16" SB reef lights on the 65 or 3 of them on the 48". I bet no one knew I would say that.

Pics of how sb lights look

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

its more than look.(a bit top pink for some) it does amazing things to corals.
it favors the 420nm to 450nm (royal blue) kessil favors the 430 to 455 (aqua)

 

[happyhourhero]

Pics of how sb lights look

 

[pettoe90]

How my tank looks currently

 

[LbulletM]

I'm a +1 on more black boxes and upgrade to SB boards.

*Disclaimer: Also my plan when I upgrade to either a 5 or 6 foot tank from my lowly 29gal.

 

[cloak]

Any pictures of how it looks

Here you go. This is about the best picture I could take. It's actually a little whiter than what you see there.



Btw sorry about the micro bubbles. The water level in my sump is pretty low right now. My ATO reservoir must have ran dry sometime during the night.