Really Struggling with Lighting

MONTANTK · Dec 21, 2020

I’ve posted a bunch about it but I hope this is my end all be all thread. I have an AI Prime 16HD and I’m keeping SPS fine but shadows are an issue. I wanted to add a second and angle bith but I can’t figure out how to mount them without hanging them.

The tank display is about 17”x10” and has a peninsula shape. Depth is about 8-9” I’d prefer not to have any mounting equipment on the 3 viewing sides. I plan on upgrading to a 24” tank in 12-16 months and I will by an ATI T5 fixture

Ideas:
-Hydra 32 HD w/ reefbrites
-G5 XR15 pro w/ reefbrites
-2 angled Kessil A160’s

Anyone input on those ideas or anyone go any other ideas. I’d love to hear from people that are keeping Acros in tanks with similar dimensions.

dank reefer · Dec 21, 2020

Look into the RMS rails. Or see if you can get creative with using extruded aluminum brackets

nbooks · Dec 21, 2020

i 3d printed brackets and mounted a $70 t5 fixture to my prime 16 with diffuser this weekend for all the same reasons...plus finding big issues with a par meter. Ill post some pics tonight,

MONTANTK · Dec 21, 2020

dank reefer said:
Look into the RMS rails. Or see if you can get creative with using extruded aluminum brackets

I thought of buying the Kessil gooseneck and attaching two AI prime hanging kits through the screw holes but wasn’t sure if it was worth the hassle

ryshark · Dec 21, 2020

MONTANTK said:
I’ve posted a bunch about it but I hope this is my end all be all thread. I have an AI Prime 16HD and I’m keeping SPS fine but shadows are an issue. I wanted to add a second and angle bith but I can’t figure out how to mount them without hanging them.

The tank display is about 17”x10” and has a peninsula shape. Depth is about 8-9” I’d prefer not to have any mounting equipment on the 3 viewing sides. I plan on upgrading to a 24” tank in 12-16 months and I will by an ATI T5 fixture

Ideas:
-Hydra 32 HD w/ reefbrites
-G5 XR15 pro w/ reefbrites
-2 angled Kessil A160’s

Anyone input on those ideas or anyone go any other ideas. I’d love to hear from people that are keeping Acros in tanks with similar dimensions.

It may look really funny for 12-16 months but it will save you money and take care of those shadows. Just get the 24" ATI fixture now.

MONTANTK · Dec 21, 2020

ryshark said:
It may look really funny for 12-16 months but it will save you money and take care of those shadows. Just get the 24" ATI fixture now.

Believe me I want to but the problem is I have no way to hang it haha. I’m still at my parents so I can’t hang anything from the ceiling and there’s no wear to screw in a mount on my desk. Whatever light I go with next I’d like to have on my next tank as supplemental lighting with a hybrid fixture

ryshark · Dec 21, 2020

MONTANTK said:
Believe me I want to but the problem is I have no way to hang it haha. I’m still at my parents so I can’t hang anything from the ceiling and there’s no wear to screw in a mount on my desk. Whatever light I go with next I’d like to have on my next tank as supplemental lighting with a hybrid fixture

Can you drill a few holes in the wall? If so, maybe something like this:

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=shelf+bracket

I've done it with the full triangle shaped bracket for extra support.

MONTANTK · Dec 21, 2020

ryshark said:
Can you drill a few holes in the wall? If so, maybe something like this:

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=shelf+bracket

Only option would be to try and mount those on my dresser but not sure the wood is strong enough to hold the screws in

ryshark · Dec 21, 2020

Even if it was strong enough, I don't know if you could mount it high enough.

MONTANTK · Dec 21, 2020

ryshark said:
Even if it was strong enough, I don't know if you could mount it high enough.

That’s a good point too. I was also considering possibly doing two Kessil a160s or just sucking it up and buying a second prime and just mounting both on the side of the tank

ryshark · Dec 21, 2020

MONTANTK said:
That’s a good point too. I was also considering possibly doing two Kessil a160s or just sucking it up and buying a second prime and just mounting both on the side of the tank

Yeah, the T5 idea is not going to work unless you can mount them properly, which I don't think you can.
I don't know anything about that LED, but what if you mounted it on the side of the tank instead of the back? Would that help with the shadowing in the front until your upgrade?

MONTANTK · Dec 21, 2020

ryshark said:
Yeah, the T5 idea is not going to work unless you can mount them properly, which I don't think you can.
I don't know anything about that LED, but what if you mounted it on the side of the tank instead of the back? Would that help with the shadowing in the front until your upgrade?

Yeah I think it definitely would. For now the Acros are doing fine but I might go out and buy another HD and then mount them to the side. Would be cheaper than buying Kessils

dank reefer · Dec 21, 2020

Can you drill into whatever your using as a stand in the back? And is it temporary or long term? Asking if it has to be pretty

MONTANTK · Dec 21, 2020

dank reefer said:
Can you drill into whatever your using as a stand in the back? And is it temporary or long term? Asking if it has to be pretty

Sadly no. The legs serve as bookshelves and they’re triangle shape. There no solid backing for screws if that make sense

nbooks · Dec 22, 2020

hopefully im going to be able to keep some frags alive now, I truly think this is why i keep having losses after 4-6 weeks.

prime is 8" above water line, T5 (geisemann actinic) is 5", SPS are 6-7" below water line - this is not easy for the prime especially with a diffuser.

light schedule below. just managing to get 180-200 par on one spot and 150-180ish on the other

MONTANTK · Dec 22, 2020

nbooks said:
hopefully im going to be able to keep some frags alive now, I truly think this is why i keep having losses after 4-6 weeks.

prime is 8" above water line, T5 (geisemann actinic) is 5", SPS are 6-7" below water line - this is not easy for the prime especially with a diffuser.

light schedule below. just managing to get 180-200 par on one spot and 150-180ish on the other

I bet the screen is taking away a lot of par. I haven’t tested my par but with an open top my SPS are doing fine. Can’t tell if the one is bleaching or coloring up. My light is about 9” off the water line. I really think adding a second prime will help tremendously though

nbooks · Dec 22, 2020

diffuser is a much bigger par eater than the screen. Two primes is a solid solution i think, i just dont have the budget for it right now. fingers crossed this will hold meuntil i can get a 26 or bigger...may add a second fixture on the back.

MONTANTK · Dec 22, 2020

nbooks said:
diffuser is a much bigger par eater than the screen. Two primes is a solid solution i think, i just dont have the budget for it right now. fingers crossed this will hold meuntil i can get a 26 or bigger...may add a second fixture on the back.

I’ve come to realize you’re better off with two primes rather than one 26HD. A lot of people, especially those who mainly keep SPS, will buy 3-4 XR15s rather than 2 XR30s. For me I’ll probably do 2 primes that way I can just add one more when I get my next tank