Lighting suggestions

[tas]

I am planning a 90-120g rimless mixed reef. I’ll start with zoos and softies and a few lps but plan to move to sps and clams as I get my feet wet.
So lighting. I’d prefer to buy once cry once. I have 800-1000 to spend. What to do. 4 Ai Primes? One Orphek Atlantik v3? T5 led combo? Radions seem to expensive as does giessman combo and api combo.
My better half has been very patient but has said more than once the lights need to look as good as they perform since it’s the center piece of our living room.
So give me your advice and share some pictures. Y’all came through for me on the sump question and I expect the same here.
Oh... I know there is a dozen different ways to skin their fish...I just want y’all opinion based on hands on experience.

 

[Breadman03]

I’d do a 120 (love the dimensions) with a pair of 250 watt halides supplemented with LED or T-5’s just for viewing light.

 

[Oldreefer44]

Orphek v4 would work very well however since it is in your living room mounting may be an issue.

 

[tas]

All the MH I have seen look like a grow house light...
Hanging the light . Tank is in an alcove made for an entertainment center so I can hang the lights pretty easily.

 

[Oldreefer44]

I hung mine using swivel type swag lamp hangers. Everything else you need would be included with the light. MH are generally noisy due to cooling fans and very bright so again may or may not work in a living room.

 

[tas]

I’m not at all worried about hanging them. Even if I have to add a support beam between some joist it not a big deal.
How they look and sound though is. They have to
1. Grow corals. sps and clams
2. Look good handing or mounted in the room.

MH always look industrial to me and I doubt I sneak that past my wife. I might.... but doubt it.

 

[tas]

Think I’m going to save up a little more and go for two Orphek Atlantik compacts gen2.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What to do. 4 Ai Primes? One Orphek Atlantik v3? T5 led combo? R

All good options
The primes are the Lowest output of the choices. Rules out clams on the sand later perhaps.
V3 should be fine.
T5 Led probably the most flexible.
With kessils 360 best coverage and hung at 8-10 in most par.
IMO , you can make the other happy by running the t5 4-6 hours at peak and save tube changes.
Run long and low in the ramp up with the led and an 8hr peak with best longed viewing time.
With the primes and t5 you may get more better blue only pop over the kessils.

 

[cvrle1]

Have you thought about Reefbreeders Photon V2+? They come with legs to mount on top of the tank and look really nice. They can also be hung as well, so it gives you a choice in which way to go. If you get 4x2x2 120g tank, you can get 1 48 inch unit and call it a day. They have most/all the functions that AI Primes have and are cheaper. Probably best bang for the buck LED light wise.

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-v2/

 

[tas]

Have you thought about Reefbreeders Photon V2+? They come with legs to mount on top of the tank and look really nice. They can also be hung as well, so it gives you a choice in which way to go. If you get 4x2x2 120g tank, you can get 1 48 inch unit and call it a day. They have most/all the functions that AI Primes have and are cheaper. Probably best bang for the buck LED light wise.

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-v2/

Those look really nice
How is the disco ball effect? How much par compared to the Primes and V3?

 

[TexasTodd]

Reef Breeders need to be 18-20" above water if possible. IMO not as good as Orphek, but a lot less money.
MH are great but hot and not the best look if in an area that it matters.
T5 look nice and you won't have to worry if any issues are from your lights. But, have to replace bulbs 1x a year or so.
Have you looked at the Orphek OR Light Bars? These can be combined in different spectrum and at different angles to combat the shading issue with LED lights. The 48" is $160 delivered. You might have to get a little creative on mounting without a canopy.
I currently have a RB Photon V2 50 and two OR bars, and will likely be going to all OR bars with the improvements I've seen since adding the OR Bars.

 

[tas]

I have been looking at the OR bars. Waiting for a few more real world hands on reviews. Glad to hear they are working for you.

 

[cvrle1]

Reef Breeders need to be 18-20" above water if possible. IMO not as good as Orphek, but a lot less money.

First I hear of this. From what I saw majority have them at 12' above the water. 18 is way too high and defeats the whole purpose of having LEDs. At that height PAR will go down considerably and they become almost useless.
@Ron Reefman had his old tank at 10 inches off the water, not sure about new tanks.

 

[tas]

Well wife just informed me that she’d like a 30 inch deep tank!!
So whatever I get it’s goingbtonhave to power through a lot of water to reach the sandbed.

 

[Bpb]

I’d get a pair of lumenbright reflectors and 400 watt halides with a pair of Orpheus blue led strips if you wanna get serious about sps

 

[tas]

I’d get a pair of lumenbright reflectors and 400 watt halides with a pair of Orpheus blue led strips if you wanna get serious about sps

Help me out
How loud are the halides? How hot? Can I ramp up the Orpheus blue led strips? Can I use them for moonlights at night?
Really really don’t want to add a chiller to the system.

 

[TexasTodd]

First I hear of this. From what I saw majority have them at 12' above the water. 18 is way too high and defeats the whole purpose of having LEDs. At that height PAR will go down considerably and they become almost useless.
@Ron Reefman had his old tank at 10 inches off the water, not sure about new tanks.

Do you run a RB? They have much more power than needed and you have to really watch the Whites if hung low.
What is the whole purpose of having LED's? Should be lower heat and power.

IME they have a lot more punch into deep water than Halides. But, Halides still produce a "better" light.

TAS, where do you live? Halides are great and hot. They don't make much noise but the chiller will.

 

[tas]

Florida. Hot and muggy here.
How often do you need to change MH bulbs?
We keep the house pretty cool so heat May or may not be an issue.

 

[TexasTodd]

When I ran two 400w halides on a 120g, my chiller ran non-stop while lights were on. Similar with other setups I've had with Halide. They're hot. They also grow corals very well with hardly any other issues.

T5 is a good middle ground.

I have LEDs now and my chiller never starts up.

The higher (to a point) you get LED the better the individual colors seem to blend and be easier on the corals. From what I've seen, most of the aquaculture places that run them, run 20-24" above the water. At home I'd shoot for at least 12" and up to 20" depending on the fixture. At least from what I've seen, the LED's do seem to really punch down through a water column well. And, if a deep tank you might not need the lights as high above the water, especially if your rocks don't come too near the surface.

You'll get a lot of opinions, take mine for whatever you want, but I have run SPS under all three lighting types.

 

[tas]

I’ve been watching the wwc and brs series and they are running their lights pretty high...14 or 15 inches I think.
Still leaning towards the Orphek Atlantik. May not be as clean looking as MH but there seems to be give and take across the board.