Prime hd

[smarcuscofer]

I wanna do a 40 breeder with softies and lps I intend on using the prime hd x 2 but I can only aford to buy 1 light at a time can I start the tank with 1 light and work my way to the second should I raise the light to get better spread or just work under the spotlight for now

 

[ETBReefer05]

I wanna do a 40 breeder with softies and lps I intend on using the prime hd x 2 but I can only aford to buy 1 light at a time can I start the tank with 1 light and work my way to the second should I raise the light to get better spread or just work under the spotlight for now

You can grow softies at like 20-40 PAR depending on the species, I would be wary of LPS until you have the second prime HD. Once you have two the AI Prime is a great light for any softy and LPS in a 40 breeder.

 

[TMB]

^^^ I agree with this. An inexpensive 4 bulb T5 set up would also work great for your intended purpose. Look around they're everywhere.
For that matter a "black box" from just about anywhere would work too. You don't need to invest that much now if you don't want to.

 

[smarcuscofer]

I was gonna go t5 but the fixture is almost 100 then I have to buy bulbs to get started I felt like I was most of the way to a prime hd....I looked at a current orbit but was discouraged from it. ...what's a black box? I'm just getting started so I'm very green to all this. ...much thanks for any info

 

[TMB]

Just search "led reef light" on Ebay. You'll find 100's of them. Then I would suggest reading others reviews and results on here. You will find that most will work just fine. Some are better than others.

 

[WilliamPIII]

40B 2 primes

 

[biophilia]

I've been somewhat happy with the Prime's over my tank so don't intend to discourage you from it, but the spread is not great. Even with two, they put a pretty focused beam down in a 12"x 12" area with each fixture. That's not to say they're not powerful enough to fry even some SPS at full power in that 12"x12" area, but just that you'll get lots of shadowing issues in the outer areas of the tank as things fill in.

Another good and proven option on the cheap if you're looking to save some money: one of the best looking tanks I've seen in person (huge acro colonies growing literally out of the water and over 10 years old to boot) was running Ocean Revive T247 lights. A single T247 costs less than a single prime and would cover the entire area of your tank with much better spread. With just LPS and softies, a single Prime raised up a bit and running at 100% would be fine to get you started, though, if you aquascape so that the corals are mostly in the center two thirds of the tank

 

[smarcuscofer]

I've been somewhat happy with the Prime's over my tank so don't intend to discourage you from it, but the spread is not great. Even with two, they put a pretty focused beam down in a 12"x 12" area with each fixture. That's not to say they're not powerful enough to fry even some SPS at full power in that 12"x12" area, but just that you'll get lots of shadowing issues in the outer areas of the tank as things fill in.

Another good and proven option on the cheap if you're looking to save some money: one of the best looking tanks I've seen in person (huge acro colonies growing literally out of the water and over 10 years old to boot) was running Ocean Revive T247 lights. A single T247 costs less than a single prime and would cover the entire area of your tank with much better spread. With just LPS and softies, a single Prime raised up a bit and running at 100% would be fine to get you started, though, if you aquascape so that the corals are mostly in the center two thirds of the tank

I like the idea of primes because of all the options like the ramp up and down and moonlight settings. ..but they are a little pricey. ..I was thinking of trying out a 160 w mars aqua hung up a little high to get better spread while I save up for and study up on a better light...I'm looking to start my first reef tank and I appreciate the info

 

[smarcuscofer]

Beautiful tank! I assume you like your primes

 

[JBKReef]

If you're just starting, you wont need any light while you cycle. After that easing into the tank with a couple fish, let things get established then start to add corals.

Buy one Prime HD, hang in the center, let the tank and rock establish, then wait for Black Friday and snag one on sale.

Set up your rock and everything like you will eventually have two lights but any first "easy" corals just add centered under the one Prime until you save up the $200 (Maybe $175-$180 on sale, or $120 used) for the second one.

 

[smarcuscofer]

If you're just starting, you wont need any light while you cycle. After that easing into the tank with a couple fish, let things get established then start to add corals.

Buy one Prime HD, hang in the center, let the tank and rock establish, then wait for Black Friday and snag one on sale.

Set up your rock and everything like you will eventually have two lights but any first "easy" corals just add centered under the one Prime until you save up the $200 (Maybe $175-$180 on sale, or $120 used) for the second one.

Thank you this was very helpful I'm trying to figure out how to do all this on a budget have been trying to figure out what's essential and what can be added at later date

 

[JBKReef]

Thank you this was very helpful I'm trying to figure out how to do all this on a budget have been trying to figure out what's essential and what can be added at later date

Honestly put as much on hold as you can until the week of Black Friday. All the major retailers will have sales. If you're cycling your tank still just do a longer cycle ( will benefit everything the longer you cycling it) and pick up the major equipment then. My 25 gallon build thread and a 14 gallon invert/coral QT ive been wanting to set up are on hold until a month from now when I can pick up the gear cheaper. I would say at minimum for stuff thats not MAP pricing it will be 15% off then and MAP stuff you can pick up usually $20 off around then

 

[smarcuscofer]

Honestly put as much on hold as you can until the week of Black Friday. All the major retailers will have sales. If you're cycling your tank still just do a longer cycle ( will benefit everything the longer you cycling it) and pick up the major equipment then. My 25 gallon build thread and a 14 gallon invert/coral QT ive been wanting to set up are on hold until a month from now when I can pick up the gear cheaper. I would say at minimum for stuff thats not MAP pricing it will be 15% off then and MAP stuff you can pick up usually $20 off around then

I've never had a reef tank I had a55 gallon cichlid tank years Ago I cycled for months while I saved up for live stock I've been trying to figure out what the bare minimum was for a drilled 40 B reef tank. .I was thinking of using a 10 gallontank with live rock and a return pump for a sump until I could buy baffles and build a fiji cube sump in a 20 Long then the 10 gallon sump would be converted to qt tank in future...as of now d.t.,live sand, dry rock, over flow box, heaters , oversized return pump, refractometer& a simple test kit are on my must have list have I missed anything

 

[A777flygirl]

I have a prime for my QT and love it! It is only 10 gal