Lighting suggestions for a 72 x 28 x 30

[Tuffloud1]

I'm currently in the process of an in-wall build for my 262 gallon (72x28x30).

I plan on having an SPS dominate mixed reef.

I have pretty much endless space above the tank since it's an in-wall with 10 foot ceiling.

Would love to hear your suggestions on tried and true lighting that would be ideal for this build.

I do have 2 Hydra Fifty Two fixtures above my current 90 gallon tank that have been running for 5 years at between 28-30 percent on whites.

Not sure if it would be a good idea to utilize the Hydras over the 262 gallon somehow...

 

[Jvesche20]

My favorite are a360s with t5 hybrid that would be my route

 

[Punchanello]

Something with 80 watt T5s. Lots of hybrid and stand alone options there.

 

[Tuffloud1]

So if I still want to ramp up and down for sunrise, sunset and actinic light for color pop, I will need to add LEDs to the T5’s, correct?

 

[Tuffloud1]

ATI Powermodule or Aquatic Life T5/LED Hybrid, which one would you choose?

 

[Oldreefer44]

2 Orphek v4'S would grow anything you want anywhere in your tank.

 

[Tuffloud1]

2 Orphek v4'S would grow anything you want anywhere in your tank.

Do you have these? Would love to see pictures of your tank!

 

[Oldreefer44]

Out of town so cant any time soon but there are numerous examples on R2R.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I would utilize the Hydra's you have, get 2 more, and put them in the Aquatic life T5/LED hybrid. I think this would be a great, cost effective route.

 

[Tuffloud1]

I would utilize the Hydra's you have, get 2 more, and put them in the Aquatic life T5/LED hybrid. I think this would be a great, cost effective route.

I had thought about this but wasn’t sure if I should keep running the Hydras since 1, they are the old model (non-HD) and 2, they are 5 years old. Not sure how much longer they will continue running.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I had thought about this but wasn’t sure if I should keep running the Hydras since 1, they are the old model (non-HD) and 2, they are 5 years old. Not sure how much longer they will continue running.

Could be months, could be years. I LOVE the AI lights and plan on doing 26's with the Aquatic Life fixture over my Waterbox 230.6.

 

[Jvesche20]

I have aquatic life t5 hybrid. Would you like pics of the tank or the lights?

 

[Jvesche20]

I had thought about this but wasn’t sure if I should keep running the Hydras since 1, they are the old model (non-HD) and 2, they are 5 years old. Not sure how much longer they will continue running.

I had a kessil a360 on my frag tank and when I upgraded to a t5 system on my DT I unplugged the one on the frag tank and tried to plug it back in and it never worked again. I was so mad but it was an older light so nothing I could do. I ended up getting a new one for $250 after talking to kessil. Still kinda sucks that the light just went out from unplugging it and plugging it back in.

 

[Tuffloud1]

I had a kessil a360 on my frag tank and when I upgraded to a t5 system on my DT I unplugged the one on the frag tank and tried to plug it back in and it never worked again. I was so mad but it was an older light so nothing I could do. I ended up getting a new one for $250 after talking to kessil. Still kinda sucks that the light just went out from unplugging it and plugging it back in.

What a drag.

Pictures of the tank and fixture would be awesome.

What T5s are you running?

 

[Jvesche20]

What a drag.

Pictures of the tank and fixture would be awesome.

What T5s are you running?

I believe they are just the t5 Blue plus that brs sells but really not sure. I use the aquatic life 4ft system with 2 kessil a360. Cost me a decent amount so Im waiting on the 2ft and 1 kessil for the other 1/3 of the tank. Upgraded from black boxes let me tell you my corals are taking off now with the new lights. Ive had them on for about a little over a month now. My AOI zoas had 4 heads then in 3 weeks they grew 3 more. I had them for about 5 months and they didnt grow any new heads. Heres a pic of the unit off. I took this pic last night for another member. I'm about to go to class but when I get home Ill take a pic of everything else. Kinda a bad pic but this is all I got rn

 

[Jvesche20]

Kinda bad quality the lights are going off soon and the blues are on but here’s the half with the t5 hybrid

 

[Tuffloud1]

Kinda bad quality the lights are going off soon and the blues are on but here’s the half with the t5 hybrid

Thanks for the pictures. It does seem like a very versatile fixture.

I'm torn between this and the Orphek V4s now. The more I read about the Orpheks, the more I am intrigued.

You can't beat the plug and play ease of T5's though!

 

[Jay Z]

Ati t5 hybrid is my vote.

 

[Tuffloud1]

Ati t5 hybrid is my vote.

Do you own this fixture?

 

[mrjoev]

Thanks for the pictures. It does seem like a very versatile fixture.

I'm torn between this and the Orphek V4s now. The more I read about the Orpheks, the more I am intrigued.

You can't beat the plug and play ease of T5's though!

in the BRS video they showed the V4 Gen2 Coverage and par levels being compared to a 8 rows of t5's