Lights for a 6' 125

[sadrobotz]

Hey friends, I was hoping to get some advice. So I am admittedly a huge Kessil fanboy, I think I am addicted to the shimmer lol. I had a local hobbyist who was going to sell me two AP700 for 600 total, but now 1.5 months later it seems like it really was too good to be true. That being said, I am looking to keep my lighting in the 600-700 range for my tank. I am new still, and am really intending on only keeping softies and leathers, maybe an nem sometime down the road.

Does anyone have suggestions for solid lights that wont go too far over my (hopeful) budget? I am looking at Noospyche and Viparspectra right now, just SO bummed about these kessils lol.

 

[Jekyl]

As someone who went from black boxes to kessil, you won't be happy. How old is the tank? Any current coral? Asking as you may have time to save for what you really want.

In the meantime you can always just use some LED strips like orphek or reefbrite. Down the road they can just become supplemental. T5 would also be a great option.

 

[sadrobotz]

As someone who went from black boxes to kessil, you won't be happy. How old is the tank? Any current coral? Asking as you may have time to save for what you really want.

In the meantime you can always just use some LED strips like orphek or reefbrite. Down the road they can just become supplemental. T5 would also be a great option.

it has been running for just over a month. there is a small zoa frag and a rock with GSP on it, but nothing else. i have a Kessil A80 over that side just to see what it looks like/how it does.

can you explain what you mean that i wont be happy? with what?

 

[FUNGI]

This is completely biased (as I bought them for my 60" Tank and love them). The pricing is good, and the lights are great....

Maxspect Razor X 300w LED Lighting Fixture

The Maxspect Razor X 300 is a 64in All-in-One LED Lighting System designed to seamlessly merge into your living area and over your aquarium with elegance and style. Available in 4 affordable models.

www.coralvue.com

 

[nereefpat]

I am looking at Noospyche and Viparspectra right now, just SO bummed about these kessils lol.

3 of the Noopsyche K7s would be about 600 bucks and seems like a good option for a 6' 125 to me.

Other cheap fixtures to look at on Amazon would be the Smatfarm and Nicrew reef versions.

Do you want LED? What features are important to you?

 

[sadrobotz]

3 of the Noopsyche K7s would be about 600 bucks and seems like a good option for a 6' 125 to me.

Other cheap fixtures to look at on Amazon would be the Smatfarm and Nicrew reef versions.

Do you want LED? What features are important to you?

I am looking at 3 of the Noospyche for sure. I'm not trying to cheap out too much, i don't want to have to rebuy, but also am not trying to go full on top-level, as i am still relatively new i want to make sure this will be sustainable to me.

the features i am looking for are timer/auto on and off, preferably ramping up and down, and solid enough to grow softies and maaaaybe an sps or two down the line.

 

[Jekyl]

it has been running for just over a month. there is a small zoa frag and a rock with GSP on it, but nothing else. i have a Kessil A80 over that side just to see what it looks like/how it does.

can you explain what you mean that i wont be happy? with what?

The way the black box lights like viparspectra look compared to kessil. With black boxes it was like viewing the tank with foggy glasses. Everything was washed out.

 

[billyocean]

The question is stated above...what features do you want? I run vipars and would Pepsi challenge anyone's growth with acros...but I hate the whites in them so my tank is blue which isn't for everyone. They don't have any shimmer and are pretty much like t5s. I've had radion, ai, orphek but vipars are best for the money spent but no frills. The noops are good lights too.

 

[sadrobotz]

The question is stated above...what features do you want? I run vipars and would Pepsi challenge anyone's growth with acros...but I hate the whites in them so my tank is blue which isn't for everyone. They don't have any shimmer and are pretty much like t5s. I've had radion, ai, orphek but vipars are best for the money spent but no frills. The noops are good lights too.

Got it. Yah, I definitely like the look of white lights during the day. I would love LEDs, easy to use functionality, ramp up/down, and automatic on/off as well.

 

[billyocean]

Got it. Yah, I definitely like the look of white lights during the day. I would love LEDs, easy to use functionality, ramp up/down, and automatic on/off as well.

Noops might be your best bet...you can always supplement with led bars in the future as well. But yeah...the stock whites on vipara are gross...the blue is awesome..but those whites....

 

[OrchidMiss]

This is completely biased (as I bought them for my 60" Tank and love them). The pricing is good, and the lights are great....

Maxspect Razor X 300w LED Lighting Fixture

The Maxspect Razor X 300 is a 64in All-in-One LED Lighting System designed to seamlessly merge into your living area and over your aquarium with elegance and style. Available in 4 affordable models.

www.coralvue.com

UGH! Now I find this!? My old one is fried, the one that didn't have the syna-g integrated into the light. Maybe I WILL sell my rx15 g6 pro that I won......

 

[sadrobotz]

This is completely biased (as I bought them for my 60" Tank and love them). The pricing is good, and the lights are great....

Maxspect Razor X 300w LED Lighting Fixture

The Maxspect Razor X 300 is a 64in All-in-One LED Lighting System designed to seamlessly merge into your living area and over your aquarium with elegance and style. Available in 4 affordable models.

www.coralvue.com

those look pretty sweet, I'm just trying to keep it under 700 or so for three and shipping if necessary as well

wait, would i just need one of these?

 

[billyocean]

Wouldn't hurt to contact Noopsyche and see if you can swing a 3 light deal. It's a great company to deal with and it never hurts to ask

 

[saltcreep74]

Hey friends, I was hoping to get some advice. So I am admittedly a huge Kessil fanboy, I think I am addicted to the shimmer lol. I had a local hobbyist who was going to sell me two AP700 for 600 total, but now 1.5 months later it seems like it really was too good to be true. That being said, I am looking to keep my lighting in the 600-700 range for my tank. I am new still, and am really intending on only keeping softies and leathers, maybe an nem sometime down the road.

Does anyone have suggestions for solid lights that wont go too far over my (hopeful) budget? I am looking at Noospyche and Viparspectra right now, just SO bummed about these kessils lol.

Have you considered a hybrid option with Kessils? If it was me and your budget, I would go with this:

T5 Hybrid 60 - 59' @ $350

and

2 x Kessil A360's @$200'ish range ea..

That combo will keep you near the $700 750 range and will be more than enough to grow SPS's and eliminate the shading.

Instead of the Kessils, I would still do the fixture but replace them with this: Reefi Uno 2.0 Pro @ $480 ea.

A little more out of your budget but these Reefi's are ******,,,,

Good luck with whatever you decide to choose.

 

[FUNGI]

those look pretty sweet, I'm just trying to keep it under 700 or so for three and shipping if necessary as well

wait, would i just need one of these?

with the lights running at 60%, I have overspill of approx: 4 inches each side. IMO, you should be ok with one unit for a 6ft tank. I have it set on a preset for mixed reef tank, and its set and forget.

 

[FUNGI]

 

[oreo54]

those look pretty sweet, I'm just trying to keep it under 700 or so for three and shipping if necessary as well

wait, would i just need one of these?

https://www.coralvue.com/maxspect-razor-x-300w-led-lighting-fixture

That closeout price is hard to beat.
Especially since maxspec is more of a premium brand than
(In no particular order) Noopsyche, Nicrew, Micmole (AquaMAXX at brs), Viparspectra ect.

Note the controller for the phone app is a seperate purchase. Currently $150 but inflated price.
Has on board controls for programming so not exactly necessary

Bit of a stretch on 72"
Down the road relatively cheap bars can be added.

Listed 300 watts
As noted above l/r spread can be compensated by height with concurrent par losses at depth.
One caution..not all diodes are equal in par/watt.

 

[nereefpat]

I don't like the idea of 2 kessils to cover a 6 foot tank, especially if it's a standard 125 with braces. That won't work well at all.

 

[sadrobotz]

https://www.coralvue.com/maxspect-razor-x-300w-led-lighting-fixture

That closeout price is hard to beat.
Especially since maxspec is more of a premium brand than
(In no particular order) Noopsyche, Nicrew, Micmole (AquaMAXX at brs), Viparspectra ect.

Note the controller for the phone app is a seperate purchase.

Bit of a stretch on 72"
Down the road relatively cheap bars can be added.

Listed 300 watts
As noted above l/r spread can be compensated by height with concurrent par losses at depth.
One caution..not all diodes are equal in par/watt.

Yah, the price is pretty insane for what it is, I just am conflicted getting one that won't quite cover it now and then adding more down the road. I also am now realizing I neglected to mention that the tank has a modified top brace, so instead of one there are 3

 

[sadrobotz]

I don't like the idea of 2 kessils to cover a 6 foot tank, especially if it's a standard 125 with braces. That won't work well at all.

To be honest, I was kind of worried about that as well. It is a standard 125 with three braces across the top.