Need help with lighting options!

[Dilan Patel]

SO Currently I have a 4ft tank with two kessila a160 and a 3ft retrofit T5 kid two bulb.

I will be getting a6ft long tang not sure how wide of how deep but lest say its a standard 150gallon tank.

I know my current lighting set up is not enough for sps and lps but mostly sps corals I will focus on.

I am deciding between 1 kessil ap700 or 2 kessil a360we with controller. The price would be the same so I am just wondering which one would be better for his tank! Or I can do 2 a160 we. Any thoughst also par ranges would be helpful

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Your going to need more than that. More like two ap700. You're just dealing with such a wide tank.

 

[iemsparticus]

For SPS dominant you need 1 A360WE per foot, so you’re looking at 6 of those bad boys...

And I would say you would need 3 AP700 tbh...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

For SPS dominant you need 1 A360WE per foot, so you’re looking at 6 of those bad boys...

And I would say you would need 3 AP700 tbh...

I think he could do fine with 2 ap and 4 360. At 12in both are Around 600par. Yours would just be more exquisite coverage that I would prefer.
IMO. It's not needed for intensity.

Personally I'd go for a long fixture for bang for the buck. Ultras , photons,etc or multiple t247s Bb hydras etc

 

[jda]

Which type of SPS... it will matter. Acropora have much different light needs than Monti, Birdsnest, Poci and Stylos.

 

[iemsparticus]

I think he could do fine with 2 ap and 4 360. At 12in both are Around 600par. Yours would just be more exquisite coverage that I would prefer.
IMO. It's not needed for intensity.

Personally I'd go for a long fixture for bang for the buck. Ultras , photons,etc or multiple t247s Bb hydras etc

Good point... I guess coverage is, to me personally, equally as important as PAR numbers. But that’s because I don’t want my lighting solution to be my limiting factor no matter what I want to do with my tank.

This is why my bank account is never full...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

This is why my bank account is never full...

ME TOO!!!

I just stuck 3 Sb BB on a 55g. 55. I'm wall to wall;Stig

 

[iemsparticus]

ME TOO!!!

I just stuck 3 Sb BB on a 55g. 55. I'm wall to wall;Stig

Hahaha. Awesome.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hahaha. Awesome.

It is. It came out great too. Big fat soft light and some shimmer too.
Enough power to boil water too.

Running 20% and 1%. Lol!!!

 

[iemsparticus]

It is. It came out great too. Big fat soft light and some shimmer too.
Enough power to boil water too.

Running 20% and 1%. Lol!!!

Hahaha. I need to see a picture.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hahaha. I need to see a picture.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/its-not-a-rumor-saltyfilmfolks-got-new-lights.330771/
I need to get some video.

12inw tank the lamps are 8in. Covered

 

[iemsparticus]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/its-not-a-rumor-saltyfilmfolks-got-new-lights.330771/
I need to get some video.

12inw tank the lamps are 8in. Covered

Yeah man, those things barely fit! Hahaha... looks great though.

Did you increase the intensity with this new setup over your last setup, or simply get an improved spread and possibly spectral curve?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yeah man, those things barely fit! Hahaha... looks great though.

Did you increase the intensity with this new setup over your last setup, or simply get an improved spread and possibly spectral curve?

Lowed the intensity by close to half to acclimate.
The spectrum is quite a bit different between the two lights. By eye I prefer it. The camera def does.
Def went with the coverage experiment and was happy it worked so well. Really mimicks the t5 Led I had long ago , with a bit more shimmer.

 

[iemsparticus]

Lowed the intensity by close to half to acclimate.
The spectrum is quite a bit different between the two lights. By eye I prefer it. The camera def does.
Def went with the coverage experiment and was happy it worked so well. Really mimicks the t5 Led I had long ago , with a bit more shimmer.

I would be curious to see the spectral graphs between the two

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I would be curious to see the spectral graphs between the two

The ai sol is easily reaseched and SB is published as well.
Dr Sanjay did a full write up on the sols , SB is published on the site.
Both appear close to what I see and have tested for.
Weather either is "better" will Be debated for long after I retire. Lol.

What you'll see is the SB favors the royal blue and low end of the spectrum. The ai took the middle road with much less red kick.

 

[Dilan Patel]

I was going to run the lights I have on my 55 on top of the new purchase of lights...That still will not be enough?

 

[Dilan Patel]

I am doing a variety of montipora and acropora.

 

[Dilan Patel]

Also I forgot to mention I could do 3 sb reef lights. I know I get good coverage because I run them on my 180gallon reef and everything is growing well. I was just going to purchase the kessils if they would be enough today due to the doorbuster thing on BRS but if i have to buy 2 kessil ap700 or 4-6 kessil 360we than I guess it is really out of my budget

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I was going to run the lights I have on my 55 on top of the new purchase of lights...That still will not be enough?

Depending on the depth of the tank. For high ligh animals , You looking to deliver about 500 par to the top of the tank. And 300 400 par to the top of the rocks.

Then you'll have to see or figure out how much is on the sand. At 400 par at the top, I'd bet you don't get 200 on the sand, 100 or good for zoas , but not Maximas. .

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Also I forgot to mention I could do 3 sb reef lights. I know I get good coverage because I run them on my 180gallon reef and everything is growing well. I was just going to purchase the kessils if they would be enough today due to the doorbuster thing on BRS but if i have to buy 2 kessil ap700 or 4-6 kessil 360we than I guess it is really out of my budget

4 360 imo would work. 1 ap would not.