Opinions needed for nano lights

Michael W. · Oct 5, 2018

I'm getting ready to start loading up my first saltwater tank but I have been reading up about lighting and there have been some doubts about the usefulness of my stock lighting. I recently purchased a Fluval EVO 13.5 thinking that I have everything I needed besides the skimmer technology-wise. Then, after doing some more research while I was waiting for the weekend to arrive, I found a couple people saying that the stock lighting wasn't enough, or that it caused potentially dangerous temperature fluctuations in the tank.

This is my first saltwater tank, and I would prefer to be properly prepared before I move onto the next step (rock, sand and water), so if anyone has any experience with this tank and lighting it would be greatly appreciated.

Extra information that may help. Fluval gives the light a 14K output, personally, I don't know much of what that means. I would like to be able to play around with lots of types of corals in this tank without having to worry about how strong my lighting is. The tank depth minus space for sand is around 9-91/2 inches. I have already looked into two other lights that could possibly work for this tank, the Current USA Orbit Marine Led light and the AI Prime light. Both these lights get good reviews and seem pretty powerful but its extra money and I do have a fondness for the clean look of the tank with the hood on. I'm willing to go no top with a new light if that is what is needed but I would like some veteran opinions before I take that step. Thanks!

6TankReefer9 · Oct 5, 2018

Can't go wrong with an AI Prime! I'd shy away from the Current USA lights, spend the extra and get the prime lights. They are fully programable through the APP and give you all the functions you need without any extra controller!

vetteguy53081 · Oct 5, 2018

Ai Prime is the best I’ve used . Kessil a150 or A160 also great light. Radion xr15 super but pricey

hart24601 · Oct 5, 2018

I think AI prime is the top dog, so to speak, for nano lights at the moment. Kessil a160 are nice, but for the price and features AI is pretty amazing.

Michael W. · Oct 6, 2018

hart24601 said:
I think AI prime is the top dog, so to speak, for nano lights at the moment. Kessil a160 are nice, but for the price and features AI is pretty amazing.

The AI seems to be the forum favorite by far so I will definitely be adding that into my list for things to get. Is the AI Prime light strong enough to where I won't have to be limited on what I can grow in my tank?

vetteguy53081 · Oct 6, 2018

Michael W. said:
The AI seems to be the forum favorite by far so I will definitely be adding that into my list for things to get. Is the AI Prime light strong enough to where I won't have to be limited on what I can grow in my tank?

MY Ai Prime will grow everything. Especially effective with LPS

hart24601 · Oct 6, 2018

It's 55w at full power so pretty spunky for a nano tank, shouldn't have issues light wise.

Michael W. · Oct 7, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
MY Ai Prime will grow everything. Especially effective with LPS

hart24601 said:
It's 55w at full power so pretty spunky for a nano tank, shouldn't have issues light wise.

This seems to be the general consensus so far. I'm going to price some stuff out but will hopefully be ordering the light pretty soon.

Ron Reefman · Oct 7, 2018

The fixture from Fluval and Current Orbit use 0.5 watt leds which most people don't like or use because their tanks are deeper than yours and they need more powerful leds, like 3 watts. But on your 9" deep tank the stock fixture is certainly enough PAR to grow almost any kind of coral. If the strength (PAR) of your fixture is your only concern, you don't NEED a different fixture.

However, I don't know if your stock fixture has more than one channel (like white and blue) or if it even has dimmers?

If the Fluval fixture doesn't have 2 channels or dimmer ability, and color balance and lighting control is the concern you want to address, The AI will work but it would be considered EXTREMELY powerful over a tank that is only 9" to 10" deep! The Current Orbit has very similar leds, 0.5 watts, to your Fluval fixture. But it has a great ability to vary color with multiple channels (more than just 2) and even sunrise/sunset control. It would work well if the control is your primary concern.

If you think you may be upgrading to a bigger, deeper tank sometime in the next couple of years, the AI would be the best solution over a bigger tank. However, the size of a bigger tank and how many AI fixtures you may need could be an issue. And over a bigger tank there are cheaper and possibly even better fixtures you should consider. So I would get what makes the most sense for your current situation and worry about a bigger, deeper tank when the time comes. Lighting tech changes and improves pretty fast and prices do fall some, but additional features and other improvements are always coming along. Buy what you need now and think about the future needs when the time comes.

Short answer, the Fluval fixture will work just fine if budget is an issue. It's powerful enough and will grow coral. You don't NEED to buy a new fixture just because everybody here says the AI fixture is better. It is better, but only in that you may have better control of color and brightness. But on a 9-10" deep tank I think it's serious overkill. The Current Orbit would do just as well if control is the issue. But your concerns seemed to be more about the strength (PAR) and color (14,000K color temp) of your current light. IMHO it's not perfect, but it will do the job until you decide you REALLY NEED something different.

Michael W. · Oct 7, 2018

Ron Reefman said:
The fixture from Fluval and Current Orbit use 0.5 watt leds which most people don't like or use because their tanks are deeper than yours and they need more powerful leds, like 3 watts. But on your 9" deep tank the stock fixture is certainly enough PAR to grow almost any kind of coral. If the strength (PAR) of your fixture is your only concern, you don't NEED a different fixture.

However, I don't know if your stock fixture has more than one channel (like white and blue) or if it even has dimmers?

If the Fluval fixture doesn't have 2 channels or dimmer ability, and color balance and lighting control is the concern you want to address, The AI will work but it would be considered EXTREMELY powerful over a tank that is only 9" to 10" deep! The Current Orbit has very similar leds, 0.5 watts, to your Fluval fixture. But it has a great ability to vary color with multiple channels (more than just 2) and even sunrise/sunset control. It would work well if the control is your primary concern.

If you think you may be upgrading to a bigger, deeper tank sometime in the next couple of years, the AI would be the best solution over a bigger tank. However, the size of a bigger tank and how many AI fixtures you may need could be an issue. And over a bigger tank there are cheaper and possibly even better fixtures you should consider. So I would get what makes the most sense for your current situation and worry about a bigger, deeper tank when the time comes. Lighting tech changes and improves pretty fast and prices do fall some, but additional features and other improvements are always coming along. Buy what you need now and think about the future needs when the time comes.

Short answer, the Fluval fixture will work just fine if budget is an issue. It's powerful enough and will grow coral. You don't NEED to buy a new fixture just because everybody here says the AI fixture is better. It is better, but only in that you may have better control of color and brightness. But on a 9-10" deep tank I think it's serious overkill. The Current Orbit would do just as well if control is the issue. But your concerns seemed to be more about the strength (PAR) and color (14,000K color temp) of your current light. IMHO it's not perfect, but it will do the job until you decide you REALLY NEED something different.

This is the other side of the argument and you addressed that pretty well. I do understand that there is unneeded money spent on a more powerful light like the AI. It does make it easier to consider buying that light when I see other people with EVO 13.5's using the AI and it working for them. It is money that I am willing to spend if it is a dependable and strong light. Also, there have been complaints about the Fluval stock lid and light causing temperature fluctuations because there is very little space between the light and the water for the heat to dissipate. My plan is to get the AI Prime and order a custom lid from Safe Top Lids.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 7, 2018

You wont regret it

Michael W. · Oct 7, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
You wont regret it

That's the hope! Now i have to decide whether I want to add sand and water to get the cycle started and wait to get the light until the holidays, or get the light now and wait to get sand and water. I'm pressed for money right now so I'm doing this tank in parts.

hart24601 · Oct 7, 2018

Depending on what you want to have I wouldn't say the prime is excessively overpowered, I ran a kessil a160 on a 3 gallon cube 15hrs a day so you might end up using it pretty high eventually. The kessils are 40w so not as powerful, but it's nice to have the option.