Lightning for Reefer-S 1000

Elliott ll · Feb 6, 2022

I am trying to decide upon which lightning setup to use for a Reefer-S 1000. I currently use Ai Prime 16HDs on my 90 gallon and 13.5 gallon tanks. I absolutely love the Ai Prime's software and how I can configure with other's lightning schedules.

Tank size - 83" x 26" x 26" (approximately)

If I were to stick with Ai... What are the best lights to get for this size tank? Would AI Hydra be an option and how many?

blaxsun · Feb 6, 2022

Well, if you feel you need to stick with AI then I'd go Hydras, yes. I would probably go with four (4) AI Hydra 64s. Alternately, I'd go with four (4) EcoTech Radion XR30 G5 Blues.

Elliott ll · Feb 6, 2022

blaxsun said:
Well, if you feel you need to stick with AI then I'd go Hydras, yes. I would probably go with four (4) AI Hydra 64s. Alternately, I'd go with four (4) EcoTech Radion XR30 G5 Blues.

Could I get away with 4 of the Hydra 32s? or 3 of the 64s?

Bpb · Feb 6, 2022

Eusvolk93 said:
Could I get away with 4 of the Hydra 32s? or 3 of the 64s?

For a time, yes you can get away with it. Just depends on your expectations. Plenty of lps and soft corals will thrive in under 100 par. Which I think would be doable with either of those. If you want an old school wall to wall acro and clam tank, you’ll want something in the neighborhood of 6-7 hydra 64’s mounted perpendicular

blaxsun · Feb 6, 2022

Eusvolk93 said:
Could I get away with 4 of the Hydra 32s? or 3 of the 64s?

For soft and LPS, probably. You may have a few darker spots in the tank between lights.

Elliott ll · Feb 6, 2022

blaxsun said:
For soft and LPS, probably. You may have a few darker spots in the tank between lights.

Bpb said:
For a time, yes you can get away with it. Just depends on your expectations. Plenty of lps and soft corals will thrive in under 100 par. Which I think would be doable with either of those. If you want an old school wall to wall acro and clam tank, you’ll want something in the neighborhood of 6-7 hydra 64’s mounted perpendicular

Okay, I think I am going to go with 4 Hydra 64s in order to stay with AI... but...

the other option I am considering is that Red Sea suggests 3 Red Sea 160S' for the tank... Which is much cheaper. Would 3 work for SPS?

Could an SPS tank be achieved doing 5x2 with Ai Prime 16HDs?

blaxsun · Feb 6, 2022

Honestly, I'd drop the idea of AI Primes on an S-1000. I don't think you'll be happy with the results.

Choices (in order of preference):
* EcoTech Radion XR30 G5 Blues or Neptune SKY
* Hydra 64 or RedSea 160

Spare time · Feb 6, 2022

A single prime Ideally covers 18 or up to 24inch cube. That size tank would need 5-8 primes (depending on corals you plan on keeping), or 4-6 primes in a dual or quad strip reef brite (2 of the 36) inch models. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/48-x-series-quad-strip-led-add-on-kit-reef-brite.html

I think that this would be nice since you can adjust to demand while also covering the extended depth and edges. I personally do no like AI products but if you enjoy them then this would be a great option. you might be able to zig zag 5 primes across the tank but I like this option the best. The issue with AI lights are that you can't use them at max potential without melting the lense.

A lot of these options depend on the type of coral you want.

Elliott ll · Feb 7, 2022

I want a mixed reef tank, and love sps. I was hoping (4) of the AI Hydra 32s would be enough. But doesn’t sound like it will be for SPS. Looking for best bang for buck.

Radion seems way overpriced, I’ll pass on those. So I’ll need to decide between (4) Hydra 64s or (4) Red Sea 160S. Red Sea only suggests to use 3, but it sounds like that won’t produce good SPS?

Elliott ll · Feb 7, 2022

Unless, for a mixed reef tank, would I be able to use (3) Radion XR30 G5s or (4) Radion XR15 G5s? If so then I could possibly swing getting an ecotech marine product... I do really love AI preset configurations, but coming to understand that this isn't always the best option. For looks I would prefer 3 lights, so (3) Radion XR30 G5s or (3) AI Hydra 64s is what I was hoping would work for a mixed reef tank.

Bpb · Feb 7, 2022

I believe too often people think in the mindset of “X number of lights is absolutely unacceptable, and shouldn’t be allowed.” At least that’s how these kind of threads tend to read/come across. Think of it less as “can I do this many” and more along the lines of “what will I be able to get away with under X many lights”

3 of either will “work”. Heck…ONE of either would “work.” You just would be limited on what corals you can keep and where you can keep them. Use as many lights as you want, just realize, the fewer you use, the greater your limitations.

Want ZERO limitations? Blanket the entire tank in t5ho bulbs and you will have adequate coverage and spread in every inch of the water column. Start reducing your luminaires down to led pucks, with fewer and fewer of them, spread further and further apart, and your limitations will begin to grow inverse to how many light units you choose.

Nobody can tell you what will or won’t “work”. Use what you can inside your budget, and work around the shortcomings

Rams · Feb 7, 2022

I am building my redsea S-1000 too.I am going with coral care Gen 2.

Acros · Feb 7, 2022

What about orphek icons? With 3-4 of those, you can grow whatever coral you want.

GARRIGA · Feb 7, 2022

Can’t get better than this. These guys go that extra mile. Wished they’d just have two minute Cliff Notes and provided just the derived solutions.

bdouglas119 · Feb 7, 2022

I have 4 hydra 32’s mounted 14” off the water. Below are the par measurements I took using a sen eye par meter. I can upload a picture of my spectrum chart later. It’s the one BRS recommends

Elliott ll · Feb 7, 2022

bdouglas119 said:
I have 4 hydra 32’s mounted 14” off the water. Below are the par measurements I took using a sen eye par meter. I can upload a picture of my spectrum chart later. It’s the one BRS recommends

First off, absolutely stunning... Could I ask where you got such cool rock work?

Second, thank you so much for this visual aid. So to me this says (4) Ai Hydra 32s could definitely work for the mixed reef I have in mind... I will just have to get a PAR meter and position my coral in certain spots. I am not wanting a wall to wall SPS reef, just a mixed reef with like 3-4 nice SPS colonies. This looks achievable now! Especially if I were to add in some t5 hybrids later down the line and combined.

I think I am going to now have to choose from: A - (4) Ai Hydra 32s + (2) 36" hybrids $1600 + $1400 later, B - (3) AI Hydra 64s $2100, or C - (3) Radion XR30 G5s $2900.