Lighting Upgrade

[rube_]

Hello,

I got a used tank last summer that came with lighting called Seastar 48" Double Strip: 1)14KK White/ Blue, 2) Blue 456nm by LampCraft that illuminate my tank nicely and keep my small amount of LPS right where they are with no real growth. I borrowed a par meter awhile back and the numbers showed that the highest amount of par was just at 200 but that was right at the top of the rock work under the surface center, sand bed center was around 75, either side of tank sand bed was around 50.

My tank is 47.125 length x 23.5 tall x 17.75 wide. I attached several photos of the tank.

My goal would be to grow various LPS with the idea of eventually having certain higher areas for SPS. So I have been doing research and looking at several but leaning towards 2 x Radion XR30w Pro Generation 4, I have an eco tech Mp40 with reef link so the connectivity would already be there.

I was also looking into the Kessel ap700 as well as the ATI LED T5 Hybrid.

All of those options are over $1000, I was also talking to my LFS and they carry Arctic-T247-B 120W LED Aquarium Light which for two would be around $400 to $500.

I would like to get something with a lot of connectivity/power/color options so I don't just have to buy more lighting when I find out I need more.

Let me know if anyone has any advice.

Thanks

Jon

 

[mcarroll]

I would like to get something with a lot of connectivity/power/color options so I don't just have to buy more lighting when I find out I need more.

I would do that the other way around.....find out what you really need now so you can get the correct light with confidence vs buying the "everything light" out of worry that you'll miss out on something.

Depending what you want, you can spend as little as $150 on a simple no-solder DIY that will light your tank, or as much as....well pretty much as much as you want.

I would not go into it with any sense of worry....corals are undemanding about light beyond some basic minimums.

I borrowed a par meter awhile back and the numbers showed that the highest amount of par was just at 200 but that was right at the top of the rock work under the surface center, sand bed center was around 75, either side of tank sand bed was around 50.

Those numbers aren't bad at all for most corals, though there are reasons you might want more light. Make sure you're providing optimal flow and food options before judging light to be the problem with growth though.

(What pumps do you have in there, and what are the tank's nutrient levels like now? ...and on average?)

It sounds like you're not really unsatisfied with your current light and you don't have a ton of budget to throw around....so if you really just want to go brighter (correct me if wrong!) then consider adding a second strip to what you have! If you want effects, then consider on of Current USA's basic Orbit Marine fixtures. The price isn't bad and they do all the sunrise/cloud/storm type effects you'd want. Use your current fixture AND the Marine for maximum prime time lighting.

It's a thought!

 

[mcarroll]

Oh, forgot option #2 if you don't need effects...consider some bright LED strips like Current's True Lumen Pro or strips from Hamilton Techology, Reef Brite and others. As long as it's something like a 50:50 design and not all-blue, it should be a fine peak-lighting supplement.