lighting with a budget

palbert_95 · Apr 30, 2020

Hello, I have a 29G tank. 29.5"L 12"w 18.5"H and Im looking to get lights to grow softies, lps and Zoas.
I've been searching on forums and I've heard pretty decent things about
-Kessil A80
-Current USA Orbit Marine IC LED
-Fluval sea marine 3.0
anyone has any experience with those or could recommend something different? they all run for about $150-$200

Jonreefer · Apr 30, 2020

Look at the Noopschy k7 II

Aquarium LED Fixtures & Strip Lights | Aquarium Specialty

Your #1 source for top brand aquarium supplies for aquariums. We offer free shipping, price matching, fantastic technical and customer support.

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I had them on my previous tank. They are really nice for the money

palbert_95 · Apr 30, 2020

Jonreefer said:
Look at the Noopschy k7 II

Aquarium LED Fixtures & Strip Lights | Aquarium Specialty

Your #1 source for top brand aquarium supplies for aquariums. We offer free shipping, price matching, fantastic technical and customer support.

www.aquariumspecialty.com

I had them on my previous tank. They are really nice for the money

thank you! ill check them out

Intense37754 · Apr 30, 2020

We have the current, Fluval 3.0, and a kessil 360.

Obviously the 360 is the best and don’t believe that the a80 would come close to what you want or need.

The Fluval would be my choice out of the 3 of your choices. It has Bluetooth and sunrise and sunset.

The current has sunset/sunrise also but if you wanted Bluetooth would put you above the $200 budget.

Intense37754 · Apr 30, 2020

I seen the K7 lights at a LFS and by far an excellent choice as they are using them over tanks with frags and nem’s

MoreReefPlease · Apr 30, 2020

I have a $120 4x39w Odyssea cheap eBay crap (Had an XR15w G3) and I can grow anything I want. I do have all ATI bulbs though, the stock ones are trash.

Just got this bubble from LiveAquaria today. Inflated 10 minutes after putting in the tank. I moved some SPS into a smaller tank, I'll get pictures later.

Here's the fixture -

MoreReefPlease · Apr 30, 2020

Honestly, I think most anemones we keep like BTAs and Rock, value water quality in preference to light.

That being said, one of my BTAs crawled right near the surface of the water when I had a 150w MH over my 29g JBJ. It got huge, wish I had pictures before it split.

palbert_95 · Apr 30, 2020

Intense37754 said:
We have the current, Fluval 3.0, and a kessil 360.

Obviously the 360 is the best and don’t believe that the a80 would come close to what you want or need.

The Fluval would be my choice out of the 3 of your choices. It has Bluetooth and sunrise and sunset.

The current has sunset/sunrise also but if you wanted Bluetooth would put you above the $200 budget.

would the current be worth the extra money over the Fluval or am I better off getting the Fluval?

MoreReefPlease · Apr 30, 2020

palbert_95 said:
would the current be worth the extra money over the Fluval or am I better off getting the Fluval?

TBH, they're probably off the same assembly line.

palbert_95 · Apr 30, 2020

MoreReefPlease said:
I have a $120 4x39w Odyssea cheap eBay crap (Had an XR15w G3) and I can grow anything I want. I do have all ATI bulbs though, the stock ones are trash.

Just got this bubble from LiveAquaria today. Inflated 10 minutes after putting in the tank. I moved some SPS into a smaller tank, I'll get pictures later.

Here's the fixture -

This runs at only $80 for my size tank, ill keep them in mind for sure! thank you!

palbert_95 · Apr 30, 2020

MoreReefPlease said:
TBH, they're probably off the same assembly line.

perfect thank you!

MoreReefPlease · Apr 30, 2020

palbert_95 said:
This runs at only $80 for my size tank, ill keep them in mind for sure! thank you!

It's not for everyone. It does have a timer and LEDs built in, they're pretty Spartan though.

You can turn off 2 rear, 2 front and LEDs independently and set the timer for them as well.

It doesn't have fancy stuff like storms and sunrise and sunset but you can make do if you want to save some cash.

I used my savings to buy an Apex controller which I think of as way more important than whether I have a name brand light or not.

I eventually might go with an ATI T5 unit but until then it's working for me.

palbert_95 · Apr 30, 2020

MoreReefPlease said:
TBH, they're probably off the same assembly line.

perfect thank you!

Intense37754 · Apr 30, 2020

palbert_95 said:
would the current be worth the extra money over the Fluval or am I better off getting the Fluval?

I think they’re close and would probably chose the Fluval out of the two. A 29 is really hard to light on a budget as it’s 30” , little too big for 24” coverage

Han · Apr 30, 2020

+1 for fluval, I have them on a couple of tanks and they’re more than adequate for lps and softies. Even sps can do well if placed high.

bobnicaragua · Apr 30, 2020

I've got 4 t5s and 4 a80s over my 3 ft 70 gal sps tank.
I would recommend 3 a80s over your tank. It would be over your budget, but you could add them one at a time.

Dbichler · Apr 30, 2020

1 noopsyche 170 can grow anything 170
or any black box led would work but not multichannel dimmable

dbjonesjr · Apr 30, 2020

Having gone through Chinese black boxes, Ocean Revives, T5s, Kessils, and Radions, I would definitely go with T5s for future (currently using Radions).

I will say of your options I would get 2 Kessil A80s. You could start with 1. I really enjoy the Kessil shimmer. Something many people don't think about is resale a year from now. The Kessils will hold their value well. You'd have a hard time getting rid of the other two fixtures.

sarcophytonIndy · Apr 30, 2020

MoreReefPlease said:
Honestly, I think most anemones we keep like BTAs and Rock, value water quality in preference to light.

That being said, one of my BTAs crawled right near the surface of the water when I had a 150w MH over my 29g JBJ. It got huge, wish I had pictures before it split.

I have one like that. This one is under a kessil 160. The thing is practically growing out of the water to get closer the light

MoreReefPlease · Apr 30, 2020

dbjonesjr said:
The Kessils will hold their value well. You'd have a hard time getting rid of the other two fixtures.

Agree with this 100%. I still have a 48" quad T5 black box that's been sitting on an empty 55 gallon long for about 4 years now.

When I built my breeder and sold my Radion XR15 Pro G3, I only got $60 less than what it cost new and I had it for almost 2 years.

This is a really handy chart that lets you pick your tank size, what you want to keep and gives light recommendations based on that.

Reef Aquarium Lighting Chart

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