Picking a light for 75g

[Akadios]

Hello. I am picking a light for a 75 reef, I was looking at he current USA orbit ic pro. Mainly I started there due to using their light on my 75gal planted freshwater and I like the functionality.

Here is my question, is there a better option for $400 or less all in? The par levels for the current at max depth in this tank for coral (14") is 150.


Better to me means not only in light output but it must have a minimum programmbility. I work in the medical field and am often gone for 16 hours. The current is great on my planted tank because it cycles through a full 24 he cycle.

I would be wanting something similar. It needs to be able to ramp up the blues to full and then sit at tbatblebel for 2 hours before ramping to delight for 6 and then back to blues for 2 hours before dimming to moonlight level for another 4 hours and then shutting off.

Things close to.thia are fine but not just a straight up blue light that has a slow ramp up. That isn' comparable

Thanks

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hello. I am picking a light for a 75 reef, I was looking at he current USA orbit ic pro. Mainly I started there due to using their light on my 75gal planted freshwater and I like the functionality.

Here is my question, is there a better option for $400 or less all in? The par levels for the current at max depth in this tank for coral (14") is 150.


Better to me means not only in light output but it must have a minimum programmbility. I work in the medical field and am often gone for 16 hours. The current is great on my planted tank because it cycles through a full 24 he cycle.

I would be wanting something similar. It needs to be able to ramp up the blues to full and then sit at tbatblebel for 2 hours before ramping to delight for 6 and then back to blues for 2 hours before dimming to moonlight level for another 4 hours and then shutting off.

Things close to.thia are fine but not just a straight up blue light that has a slow ramp up. That isn' comparable

Thanks

What kind of corals are you looking to keep? That is going to heavily negate what light we recommend

 

[Akadios]

Haven't really decided. I will set the tank up cycle it and then worry about what based on the setup. So what matters to me is the programmability and light output. Keeping the cost below the Orbit IC Pro setup (400) would be preferable. Of course if it was 450 and far superior I wouldn' care.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Haven't really decided. I will set the tank up cycle it and then worry about what based on the setup. So what matters to me is the programmability and light output. Keeping the cost below the Orbit IC Pro setup (400) would be preferable. Of course if it was 450 and far superior I wouldn' care.

You could check out the SB reef lights, they're wifi controllable and ramping. A good friend of mine @saltyfilmfolks is a big fan of them, and they've been proven to grow any coral you put under them.
This one is a smidge bit over your budget, but would light your tank and have the control ability you want.
https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-reef-lights/10-sbox-extreme-32-wifi.html

 

[Akadios]

That looks like a nice option, would I have to worry about the divider in the tank with just having 1?

 

[Crabs McJones]

That looks like a nice option, would I have to worry about the divider in the tank with just having 1?

you may want to look at the 16" fixtures then and grab two, one for each side of the divider to prevent shading from it

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hello!
Yea, the SBs are great. Pretty easy. The only drawback for you I see is the mounting. It’s not as easy as the strip style you like.
A 32 in would do just fine for you or one of the SB ultras.

But the current , if you already like it , is not a bad way to got either.

Most of the higher end led are actually pretty easy and have some simple programming , a lot of folks , IMO, make it much harder then it needs to be really. They all come with an easy button.

 

[pluikens]

The par levels for the current at max depth in this tank for coral (14") is 150.

What does your rockscape look like that nothing will be more than 14" deep? I think there's a lot of corals that like the sand bed so you may want to consider the full depth of your tank but yes, you probably won't be needing 200+ PAR at the sand. Have you seen the Orbit Marine IC Pro in person and gotten to play with the scheduling? I'm very curious to know how the scheduling works and adjusting the spectrum.

 

[Akadios]

The tank is 20in high, minus 3 in live sand, minus 2 inch of air because I won' fill it to the brim obviously. Then assume that even if something is on the sand it isn' less than 1" tall.

Equals 14inch

I assume the controls are similar to the manner of control for their freshwater. I don't think it would need to be more. I am not going to try and grow out anything super picky.

Those lights are nice but getting 2 16 inch goes 20% above the cost of the current. However is the 32 inch going to be effected that much by the 3" center brace? Hanging it isn't an issue and it looks nice.

 

[Akadios]

I guess I would rather have the 32 inch if the 3" center brace won' be too much

 

[JimFuller]

On My 75 Gallon, I am using the AI prime HD. I have two that run a good program. I currently run a mixed tank. I will admit to not currently having any SPS, but the corals I do have are doing great.

 

[Akadios]

How many of the AI do you use? They look like you might need a couple for a 75gal.

Salty you think a 32 will be fine with the center brace?

 

[JimFuller]

How many of the AI do you use? They look like you might need a couple for a 75gal.

Salty you think a 32 will be fine with the center brace?

I currently use two. They wirelessly sync. They are about 200.00 a piece. If I was going for an SPS only tank I would use four, but t hen may look at other options. With the two all in the tank are happy and growing, so I will stay with them.

 

[pluikens]

I currently use two. They wirelessly sync. They are about 200.00 a piece. If I was going for an SPS only tank I would use four, but t hen may look at other options. With the two all in the tank are happy and growing, so I will stay with them.

If you were working with 24 inch front to back, would you suggest two 26s or still 4 Prime HDs?

 

[JimFuller]

If you were working with 24 inch front to back, would you suggest two 26s or still 4 Prime HDs?

The AI Prime HD is for a 24 by 24 inch cube. For 24 inches deep at 7 inches off the water. They work well on the 75 with two to cover the 48 by 18 byh 21 deep.

They will not hold SPS except right under the lists, so it would depend on what you plan on haveing in the tank.

 

[PNWReefer17]

On My 75 Gallon, I am using the AI prime HD. I have two that run a good program. I currently run a mixed tank. I will admit to not currently having any SPS, but the corals I do have are doing great.

Have you thought about doing SPS with them yet? I came across a pair of Hydras at a screaming deal a couple months ago and naturally had to snatch them up. They aren't HDs but $350 for the pair was a no-brainer to me, especially since all that they needed was to have one of the fans replaced. I plan on going live with the tank here in the next couple weeks (waiting on some plumbing supplies). Really interested to see how they do.

 

[Akadios]

The AI Prime HD is for a 24 by 24 inch cube. For 24 inches deep at 7 inches off the water. They work well on the 75 with two to cover the 48 by 18 byh 21 deep.

They will not hold SPS except right under the lists, so it would depend on what you plan on haveing in the tank.

Do they sync to each other wirelessly? So I can set they up as a pair and run one schedule on them? How long have you owned them? I like the look a lot.

 

[JimFuller]

Do they sync to each other wirelessly? So I can set they up as a pair and run one schedule on them? How long have you owned them? I like the look a lot.

Yes, they do sync up wirelessly with each other and run a single schedule. I bought the system in July 2017 from an other gentleman. He had them running for 3 months before that. They are about 9 months old, but still running well. They even do a moonlight run at night. I can set the schedule from my phone or computer.

 

[Akadios]

These seem like very much so what I am looking for and better than the Current. I am going to try them out. Do you have any advice? How do I get them to connect to each other, I don't see any 2 packs just single units?

Thanks

 

[Akadios]

Yes, they do sync up wirelessly with each other and run a single schedule. I bought the system in July 2017 from an other gentleman. He had them running for 3 months before that. They are about 9 months old, but still running well. They even do a moonlight run at night. I can set the schedule from my phone or computer.

These seem like very much so what I am looking for and better than the Current. I am going to try them out. Do you have any advice? How do I get them to connect to each other, I don't see any 2 packs just single units?

Thanks