New Tank Setup

[boeingn747]

Hello fellow reefers,
I am setting up a new reef. It's a 120 fat boy, so 48"x24"x24". This will be my 6th reef tank set up.
I was mainly going to make this a FO tank but have decided that I do want coral. I won't be growing acro or any really light demanding sps. My question is on lighting recommendations. I am currently a kessil, AI prime, and Amazon black box user. I have nothing bad to say about the success i have had with the black boxes and for the money are some of the best lights available. I do love everything about my kessils and AI as well.
Keeping in mind that I will only really be growing soft corals and maybe some lps and some easier sps coral what should I go with for lighting?
Would 2 kessil 360s be enough light? Would I be better going with 2 of the AI hydra 32? Or save money and go with a couple more vipar spectra? My main concern is lighting the tank bright enough.
Any thoughts and suggestions would be great. Please don't just shout out a make and model but give me an explanation as to why I should go that route.
Thanks.

 

[landlubber]

I'd consider the mid-priced LEDs myself. A 120 standard is deep enough that merits strong lighting to grow corals at the bottom (even if they're only zoa's and other softies) but you likely won't require the absolute most powerful fixtures.
On a forum people are inclined to defend their own purchases so asking us to suggest a brand to settle on is pretty much just going to encourage everyone to shout out exactly what they're using so my advice would be to just buy whatever suits your eye in terms of spectrum and fits your budget.

 

[boeingn747]

I'd consider the mid-priced LEDs myself. A 120 standard is deep enough that merits strong lighting to grow corals at the bottom (even if they're only zoa's and other softies) but you likely won't require the absolute most powerful fixtures.
On a forum people are inclined to defend their own purchases so asking us to suggest a brand to settle on is pretty much just going to encourage everyone to shout out exactly what they're using so my advice would be to just buy whatever suits your eye in terms of spectrum and fits your budget.

So as far as spectrum, i want the lights strong enough to do exactly what you said, grow any and all soft coral at or near the bottom. So power will be a factor. As for budget. If I have learned anything from being in this hobby is if you can't afford what you need then you can afford the hobby. So as much as I would be happy to spend $500 or less on lights, I am willing to spend $1000-$1500 if necessary to get the desired results. I was hoping to hear from some people who have 24" tanks and get an idea of what lighting they are using. Ideally I'd like to have the power to grow acros if I wanted even though this tank is not going to be that.

 

[Jekyl]

Love Kessil. 2 would be fine

 

[landlubber]

So as far as spectrum, i want the lights strong enough to do exactly what you said, grow any and all soft coral at or near the bottom. So power will be a factor. As for budget. If I have learned anything from being in this hobby is if you can't afford what you need then you can afford the hobby. So as much as I would be happy to spend $500 or less on lights, I am willing to spend $1000-$1500 if necessary to get the desired results. I was hoping to hear from some people who have 24" tanks and get an idea of what lighting they are using. Ideally I'd like to have the power to grow acros if I wanted even though this tank is not going to be that.

well for context I also run a 120 standard mixed reef and it is lit with 2 Gen 5 XR30 Radion Blues and a reefbrite strip. If i chose to grow only softies my lighting would likely be 3 Radion XR15's