Lighting option for my zoa dominated frag tank

[Caliguy1983]

I have a build I’m currently doing and have several lights that have been offered to me locally. 24x24x12 frag tank. Wanted expert opinions on which lights for the tank. I’ve had luck with kessils but not the growth I once got from T5. Here’s the 2 light options :

1) 24” 8 bulb ATI with 2 reefbrite XHO
2) Hydra 32 HD

Here’s one of my frag tanks under a kessil 360we

Please comment if you’ve had experience with either light. Looking for valuable input not just opinion.

 

[Sean Duggan]

I have heard that kessils make corals look great but lacks in growing them. I have heard good things about the 32 from a friend of mine and I have the 26 on my display and like it very much. It is my understanding that zoas will grow best and most effectively under T5. There’s not a huge difference between the T5 and led but the T5 gives it just a little more. On my zoa frag tank I have the reef breeders photon V2 and I like it very much. Cheapest out of most light options and still does an amazing job.

 

[Caliguy1983]

@joshporksandwic any input? Kessil has grown what you see in the OP pic above.

 

[NanoDJS]

I think your just looking for backup but the 8 bulb , we all know it for what your trying to do its the only thing that makes sense , as an owner of the fabled 24x24x12 rimless myself for years now , lighting it evenly with led has been my hardest task I finally caved and got t5 back on my DT hybrid with my main pucks , and plan to get the same on my frag tank , and growout also . If you are cool with the bulb deal and all, i think its still hands down the only way to go for alot of reasons, if your fragging ./ growing out.

 

[Caliguy1983]

I think your just looking for backup but the 8 bulb , we all know it for what your trying to do its the only thing that makes sense , as an owner of the fabled 24x24x12 rimless myself for years now , lighting it evenly with led has been my hardest task I finally caved and got t5 back on my DT hybrid with my main pucks , and plan to get the same on my frag tank , and growout also . If you are cool with the bulb deal and all, i think its still hands down the only way to go for alot of reasons, if your fragging ./ growing out.

Yes I am growing out and fragging. I have experience with T5’s and reef brites over my display. They grew coral for years. That being said I switched out my T5 fixture of many years to Radions and I’m very happy with how the display turned out. However, that’s an SPS dominant tank. This is for zoa/shroom dominant frag system. I have a double decker frag tank in the works:

 

[NanoDJS]

excellent ! so yeah every square inch needs to work t5s all the way , or nab a hybrid and put it on that kessil , but that 8 bulb with reefbrites will have 0 hotspots and every frag will have the same coverage , good luck on the en-devour ! Keep it Fragtastic !

 

[DangerDave]

Kessils definitely grow coral. I have a bunch of their lights. the issue with kessils is their poopy app and broken promises made about supporting controllers...