Lighting Recomendations for Waterbox 50.3

Demoic · Apr 11, 2022

Looking for recommendations on lighting for a Waterbox 50.3. Was looking at 2 AI Prime 16HD's or 2 Kessil a160we but was hoping to find a more affordable option. I was hoping to possibly find a cheaper option without comprising much.

blaxsun · Apr 11, 2022

Those are two pretty good options in the 'average' price range.

Kfactor · Apr 11, 2022

you pay for what you get and it depends what you want to keep. i think if i were to go back to led i would try the reefi lights

nereefpat · Apr 12, 2022

What are the dimensions of a Waterbox 50.3?

I usually spend some time looking them up, but their site is currently down.

Demoic · Apr 12, 2022

One other I fo

nereefpat said:
What are the dimensions of a Waterbox 50.3?

I usually spend some time looking them up, but their site is currently down.

Roughly the size of a 40 gallon breeder, 35.4"×4.7"×17.7". The non-filter/sump portion at least. I was also considering looking at the Current USA R24. I was doing a little research and there doesn't seem to be much on these but seem to be competitive with the AI Prime 16hds.

jda · Apr 12, 2022

Look for high quality used light? 6 bulb ATI is high quality and should be able to be found cheaply on the used market. Used can be great if you stick with high quality stuff.

32" Photon V2 is not expensive and a better light than a Prime or Kessil, from what I have seen (I don't use any of these).

nereefpat · Apr 12, 2022

Those Reefbreeders have gone up, it seems. 760$ for the 32" model.

Demoic said:
I was also considering looking at the Current USA R24. I was doing a little research and there doesn't seem to be much on these but seem to be competitive with the AI Prime 16hds.

I haven't seen them. They do look to be very similar in form and wattage (power) to a single AI Prime.

With LEDs, the more bells and whistles (ramping, changing individual spectrums, Apps, etc) makes the price go up. Cheapest will be the 'black box' type lights like viparspectra + a light timer work well, they just don't ramp. Then there are slight step up brands like noopsyche and nicrew that you can program a little bit.