mismatched reef lights- Looking to change this!

[TN_Huskymama]

My 75 gallon tank is about 20 months old now and went through some ups and downs. Right now I am focusing on the lights. I have a mismatched set of lights. On one half is a MARS Aqua, and on the right side is the Current USA Marine Pro IC. They both have their pros and cons. I am seeing coral growth with both, so I can't say either are doing a bad job. I love the ease of use and options with the Current USA, but I hate that it sits so low on the tank. I prefer lights that I can either hang or mount with brackets. The tank is also 4' long.
The aesthetics is eating away at me!
The tank is a 75g aqueon, thus the CRP overflow to the sump. It also has that thick black plastic rim.

Any suggestions on a reasonably priced lighting setup? Of course I dream of having Ecotech lights, but it is not in my budget right now

 

[Spare time]

Why not a second mars?

 

[TN_Huskymama]

Why not a second mars?

I am not sure I am 100% happy with it. The blue is very blue. It seems there isn't really any violet in it to help make the coral colors really pop. And every time I see tanks that other people have, they don't have that overly blue look like I get with the MARS. They have a more crisp/clear look to their tank. I wish I knew how to explain the color difference.

 

[Jekyl]

I am not sure I am 100% happy with it. The blue is very blue. It seems there isn't really any violet in it to help make the coral colors really pop. And every time I see tanks that other people have, they don't have that overly blue look like I get with the MARS. They have a more crisp/clear look to their tank. I wish I knew how to explain the color difference.

I started with the mars aqua. All of the black box lights make things look washed out. I went with kessil 360s after and they look much better. They also cost way more. If you want to stick with LED I hear good things about the red sea lights and they don't break the bank. If you have or want SPS though I'd go T5

 

[Kellie in CA]

How long is the tank? SaltwaterAquarium.com still has some of the retired AP700 Kessils. Good price ($549) and can cover 48".

 

[Spare time]

What budget are you thinking off?

 

[720 Reefer]

Check out the Reefbreeders Photon V2+. Very good bang for your buck and will grow everything.

 

[TN_Huskymama]

What budget are you thinking off?

I’d like to keep it under $600 if I can.

 

[Spare time]

I’d like to keep it under $600 if I can.

What kinds of corals?

 

[TN_Huskymama]

What kinds of corals?

I have mainly all LPS and softies. Only one SPS. Son bought it not realizing what it was.

 

[Spare time]

I have mainly all LPS and softies. Only one SPS. Son bought it not realizing what it was.

I have a few ideas. Reef brite's can be hung and you can add several actinic's to get that coral glow you are thinking of. Reefbreeders were suggested, however I can't comment on how well the violet is in those so someone else should chime in on that. If you are wanting controllability, hydra 32hd or reef led 90's both have an app but the price goes up on those due to the mounting arms being separate.

There are budget lights such as Nicrew hyperreef's which are a nice light for the price and have a great coral pop color. I would get 4 of the 50w's in this case.

 

[720 Reefer]

I have a few ideas. Reef brite's can be hung and you can add several actinic's to get that coral glow you are thinking of. Reefbreeders were suggested, however I can't comment on how well the violet is in those so someone else should chime in on that. If you are wanting controllability, hydra 32hd or reef led 90's both have an app but the price goes up on those due to the mounting arms being separate.

There are budget lights such as Nicrew hyperreef's which are a nice light for the price and have a great coral pop color. I would get 4 of the 50w's in this case.

Here is the breakout of LEDs on the Reefbreeders Photon V2+ 48 (which I just saw is on sale for $629.99 on BRS currently):

• 20x 5500 Kelvin White (5w Cree XP-E)
• 24x 450nm Royal Blue (5w Cree XT-E)
• 16x 480nm Cool Blue (3w Cree XP-E)
• 20x 420nm Violet (3w Semi LED)
• 4x 520nm Green (3w Semi LED)
• 4x 660nm Deep Red (3w Osram)

I know multiple reefers that have had great success with these lights growing everything up to acros, myself included. I even owned the Photon V1 before upgrading to the V2+. And if later down the road you want even more pop or color, they also make a variety of lumen bars that attach to the Photon. If you are not worried about growing SPS, you could easily get away with the 32 instead of the 48 (also on sale at BRS for $530.99).

Ok now I sound like a rep for them haha. Just figured I would share my experience. I truly think this is one of the best lights on the market for the price.

 

[720 Reefer]

Here is the breakout of LEDs on the Reefbreeders Photon V2+ 48 (which I just saw is on sale for $629.99 on BRS currently):

• 20x 5500 Kelvin White (5w Cree XP-E)
• 24x 450nm Royal Blue (5w Cree XT-E)
• 16x 480nm Cool Blue (3w Cree XP-E)
• 20x 420nm Violet (3w Semi LED)
• 4x 520nm Green (3w Semi LED)
• 4x 660nm Deep Red (3w Osram)

I know multiple reefers that have had great success with these lights growing everything up to acros, myself included. I even owned the Photon V1 before upgrading to the V2+. And if later down the road you want even more pop or color, they also make a variety of lumen bars that attach to the Photon. If you are not worried about growing SPS, you could easily get away with the 32 instead of the 48 (also on sale at BRS for $530.99).

Ok now I sound like a rep for them haha. Just figured I would share my experience. I truly think this is one of the best lights on the market for the price.

Although I will add, my Photon V1 was only the 32 and I had it over my 75 gallon. It grew acros also, I only upgraded to have more coverage on the edges of the tank.

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

I have noopsyche k7's and love them. They are only about $180 each with a mounting arm, and have much more adjustability than the black box lights. And you can synch them together. IMO, they rival the quality of light of the kessils, but at a fraction of the price. plus they are pretty small at 5x7"

 

[DeepintheReef]

Noopsyche and artic t247 lights are both good quality value brands that will put you around $350-$400 for two lights. The noopsyche are somewhat programmable and able to set different intensity points through the day. The t247 are less customizable and only on/off and separate blue/white intensity but will not ramp up or down. They both have built in timers as well.

I will say that I’ve had more experience with the t247s and they will last quite a while.

 

[HockeyRooster]

I have a similar problem. I have a mars aqua and a vispar on the other side because the Mars wasn’t available when I upgraded my tank.
wanna buy my used mars? Or sell yours?

 

[TN_Huskymama]

I have a similar problem. I have a mars aqua and a vispar on the other side because the Mars wasn’t available when I upgraded my tank.
wanna buy my used mars? Or sell yours?

Once I buy matching lights I will be selling the MARS Aqua.

 

[Philly Reefer]

3x AI Prime 16HD
You can probably get 3 used 16HD for around $150 each.

You can also probably get away with 2x 16HD for LPS and softies tank

 

[homer1475]

6 x 54W ATI sunpower(48"). $504 brand new, or look around and you can typically find them for under$300 in very good used condition. Only downside is the bulb replacement every 12 to 18 months. But factor in the cost of an LED, and how often that needs to be replaced, or if a diode burns out, the T5 setup comes out money ahead in the long run even with bulb replacement costs.

Will grow anything you can put under it, hangs from the ceiling, LED's strips can be added for that "pop" your looking for, and is aesthetically pleasing even if adding the LED strips.

Not sure why all the craze in LED's, and why no one even thinks of T5's anymore when they are tried and proven to grow any coral. Very similar to metal halide without the heat issues they present.

Anyone trying to tell you LED's are cheaper on electricity, just doesn't know what they are talking about. 324watts of T5's, will cost the same in electricity as 324watts of LED's. A watt costs the same regardless if your talking your TV, coffee maker, LED's, or T5's.