Lighting?

Tybizzy315 · Dec 6, 2016

Im going from a 30g to 75g keeping the 30g up for a qt tank. I already have most equipment needed for new tank. I just dont know what to get when it comes to lighting. I think i want to go all led but noy sure. And if i did go LED id prefer a light with an app that i can adjust spectrum. Any suggestions tank is 4ft wide by 20 deep and 20 width. Hoping to be able to light whole tank for around 450?

ATI North America · Dec 6, 2016

While it is T5 not LED, our 4x54w Sunpower would do a great job on a tank this size. Ideally you would go up to the 6x54, but depending on the coral choice the 4 bulbs would do the job. IMO you won't find any reasonable quality LED Only options for this price range. Do right the first time and buy something quality (regardless of ATI or not). "Black Box" LEDs are within this budget, but you will likely be disappointed in the long run.

T5's are tried and true. Particularly if you are a beginner reef keeper, dialing in LEDs to a point of getting the kind of growth you can get out of a T5 setup is tough. T5's are far more forgiving and have a long standing track record of success.

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to talk you out of LED only, I just don't feel LED only is a good choice for your budget.

sinekal · Dec 6, 2016

I agree with ati. I think you could run something like 3 hydra26s and get good coverage on a tank that size. With only two units you would get shadowing and would have large discrepancies in par across your tank. Unfortunately three fixtures costs 1050. The 4 foot maxspect razor is probably the most budget friendly quality led that's right sized, but also over budget, and doesn't have the app you want to control colors. T5 will have a more reasonable price point on day one, and even as a primary user of led I still think t5 produces the best growth and coloration. I see three negatives to t5 vs led; ongoing bulb replacement, no shimmer, and higher electrical use (which also means higher heat). If those three are not make or breaks for you t5 is worth consideration.

Glasswalker · Dec 6, 2016

Take a look at the Aquatic Life Xs-UV fixtures.

I have their 34" fixture hanging over my 48" tank which is just as deep as yours. Mine isn't as wide as yours mine is like 18" yours is 20" but coverage should be just fine. It is hanging on custom hangers about 10" above the water, and intensity, spectrum, and coverage is good. On default mounts it is too low to water and gets worse coverage.

That said you could likely get the 46" fixture which would cover your whole tank nicely. And right now they are in sale, might fit in your budget.

https://www.aquaticlife.com/light-f...ert-series-xs-uv-aquarium-light-fixtures.html

I'm seeing excellent growth in my monitors plates and hammer, and my anemones love it. (I am also not even ramped up to full power yet, think I'm at 80-90%)

Let me know if you go that route, I'd be happy to share my spectrum profiles for the app with you.

Good luck!

Tybizzy315 · Dec 6, 2016

ATI North America said:
While it is T5 not LED, our 4x54w Sunpower would do a great job on a tank this size. Ideally you would go up to the 6x54, but depending on the coral choice the 4 bulbs would do the job. IMO you won't find any reasonable quality LED Only options for this price range. Do right the first time and buy something quality (regardless of ATI or not). "Black Box" LEDs are within this budget, but you will likely be disappointed in the long run.

T5's are tried and true. Particularly if you are a beginner reef keeper, dialing in LEDs to a point of getting the kind of growth you can get out of a T5 setup is tough. T5's are far more forgiving and have a long standing track record of success.

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to talk you out of LED only, I just don't feel LED only is a good choice for your budget.

I was looking at you guys on marinde depot and thinking of getting a blue led on side for color

Tybizzy315 · Dec 6, 2016

Glasswalker said:
Take a look at the Aquatic Life Xs-UV fixtures.

I have their 34" fixture hanging over my 48" tank which is just as deep as yours. Mine isn't as wide as yours mine is like 18" yours is 20" but coverage should be just fine. It is hanging on custom hangers about 10" above the water, and intensity, spectrum, and coverage is good. On default mounts it is too low to water and gets worse coverage.

That said you could likely get the 46" fixture which would cover your whole tank nicely. And right now they are in sale, might fit in your budget.

https://www.aquaticlife.com/light-f...ert-series-xs-uv-aquarium-light-fixtures.html

I'm seeing excellent growth in my monitors plates and hammer, and my anemones love it. (I am also not even ramped up to full power yet, think I'm at 80-90%)

Let me know if you go that route, I'd be happy to share my spectrum profiles for the app with you.

Good luck!

I just looked up video seems pretty decent. How much do they go for

Ty Hamatake · Dec 6, 2016

It looks like it may be a little over budget and I don't think there's an app, but I've heard good things about https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-long/ and they are controllable.

Also, I am running two Hydra 26s on a similar sized tank without any issues. PAR is a bit low, but even spread (according to the Seneye). This is also with the blues at 50%, red and green 10%, and white 30% so there's plenty of power left. If you can find two used old school ones (not HDs) you'd probably stay in budget.

Glasswalker · Dec 6, 2016

Tybizzy315 said:
I just looked up video seems pretty decent. How much do they go for

Check the link in my post. Not sure what currency you were referring to in your budget, but I believe they are in the $400 - $500 range right now for the 46" fixture (USD)

I got mine on Amazon (but I'm in Canada) and got free shipping on it. Overall I'm very happy with the light.

ATI North America · Dec 6, 2016

Tybizzy315 said:
I was looking at you guys on marinde depot and thinking of getting a blue led on side for color

Lots of people run ReefBrite LED strips with our Sunpowers, its actually a fairly common question we get (mounting them etc).

mcarroll · Dec 6, 2016

Tybizzy315 said:
Im going from a 30g to 75g

Tybizzy315 said:
Any suggestions tank is 4ft wide by 20 deep and 20 width. Hoping to be able to light whole tank for around 450?

If it's a standard 75 gallon tank, then it should only be 18" front-to-back. (Not 20". Can you confirm one way or the other? I'm assuming 18" for these recommendations.)

In General
I would recommend all-LED for sure.

Get whatever you like and whatever will make the tank enjoyable, but remember that your corals will not be impressed by any of the extras. A basic 20,000K'ish reef LED fixture that turns on and off is all it takes for them....the rest is for you.

Some Specifics

A single Orbit Marine Pro would be just a bit over $300....a "DUAL"-strip setup would be under $600.

The single Orbit Pro would be fine for a basic "zoa/softy" coral setup. If you wanted a brighter tank for clams or more coverage (or just because) then a DUAL kit would be in order.

(If you can get the budget up around $600, you have a ton more options.)

Four of Current's TruLumen Pro strips would also work. ($99/ea) Nice, even coverage in a dead-simple fixture! A bonus is how tiny they are....you have room to add more if you decided you wanted more blue, more intensity, etc, down the road.