Recommended light for a 40 breeder

[Khoi_La]

Hello guys, im planning to upgrade my 20 gallon sps heavy tank to a 40 breeder in the future and i was wondering what is the best lighting options.
Right now i currently using 1 AI hd prime 16hd. Do you think that i could do it with 2 16hds for the 40 breeder? Since im planning to add a gig carpet within the next 2 years. Or would i be better investing in a AI 32hd or a black box?
Thank you in advance

 

[Cwentz758]

I would think you would be fine with an additional 16Hd. You can find other 40 breeders on the build forums running the same lights with success. You could always add additional blue bars later if you’re worried about shadowing.

 

[Khoi_La]

I would think you would be fine with an additional 16Hd. You can find other 40 breeders on the build forums running the same lights with success. You could always add additional blue bars later if you’re worried about shadowing.

I was thinking the same, but i've heard multiple people saying that 2 16hd wouldnt be generating enough par for a gig carpet. As for sps i can always place them higher up, but i dont want the nem to also crawl up and sting all of my sps.

 

[jda]

You have researched Gigs, right? You know that they are super high light and can move around? You will need to light that entire tank (edge to edge) with more lighting that you would for nearly every other type of coral. The light will also need to be more white and less blue.

I would look into maybe 2x xr30s or the largest Hydras and also use 4x T5s. ...or just get a 8 bulb Sunpower or some Metal Halides. Gigs are no joke if you want them to thrive, but they are quite easy when you meet their lighting needs... and super beautiful.

Mags and Gigs are a specialty type of organism that you should only really be taking advice from people who have kept them. Other people mean well, but they do not know that what they do will not scale for what you are trying to do. I gave mine away a long time ago to a guy who has tried every light but ends up coming back to 250w Halides for his. However, I have seen a few people keep them under really high output LEDs with more of a 10K spectrum.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ai prime should be sufficient. Hydra 26 ideal

 

[Khoi_La]

You have researched Gigs, right? You know that they are super high light and can move around? You will need to light that entire tank (edge to edge) with more lighting that you would for nearly every other type of coral. The light will also need to be more white and less blue.

I would look into maybe 2x xr30s or the largest Hydras and also use 4x T5s. ...or just get a 8 bulb Sunpower or some Metal Halides. Gigs are no joke if you want them to thrive, but they are quite easy when you meet their lighting needs... and super beautiful.

Mags and Gigs are a specialty type of organism that you should only really be taking advice from people who have kept them. Other people mean well, but they do not know that what they do will not scale for what you are trying to do. I gave mine away a long time ago to a guy who has tried every light but ends up coming back to 250w Halides for his. However, I have seen a few people keep them under really high output LEDs with more of a 10K spectrum.

The local store where im from have kept a gig under 2 c-rays led light for this past 4 years, so i was wondering if it was possible to do such thing with AI Lights or with other cheaper led lights, since eachof the c-ray is like $700 lol.

 

[Khoi_La]

Ai prime should be sufficient. Hydra 26 ideal

Only one hydra 25 for the entire tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Only one hydra 25 for the entire tank?

tank I believe is 36". If you center it, should be adequate coverage.

 

[jda]

AI has lights with similar output to the C Ray. Hydra 64 is $600 and you would need a few... just like they have.

If you want cheap, find a used T5 or MH fixture.

You cannot really be going on the cheap for an animal like this. If you need to go cheap, then get some BTAs or some Flowers from the gulf. They are cool too.

 

[fcmatt]

A gig does just fine under a 6 bulb ati fixture if that helps at all.

They want to attach to rock which means they also tend to be higher up unlike a haddoni. So they do try to get more light.

 

[Khoi_La]

AI has lights with similar output to the C Ray. Hydra 64 is $600 and you would need a few... just like they have.

If you want cheap, find a used T5 or MH fixture.

You cannot really be going on the cheap for an animal like this. If you need to go cheap, then get some BTAs or some Flowers from the gulf. They are cool too.

Thank you for your input, i might change my stocking plan then,

 

[Khoi_La]

A gig does just fine under a 6 bulb ati fixture if that helps at all.

They want to attach to rock which means they also tend to be higher up unlike a haddoni. So they do try to get more light.

Ive never personally use any t5 lights, but i do heard i generates more heat and use up alot more power, but its cheaper than led lights, is that right?

 

[jda]

A 6 bulb ATI wonder use any more power than equivalent LED setup.... maybe less if you have to get a hybrid down the road.

 

[fcmatt]

I do not know enough about LED to comment but par equivalent is what you want to research at certain depths in your tank. Since a gig will attach to a rock and seek out a higher point you can often use a fixture that is not crazy powerful. But it does have to be "good".

 

[45ZoaGarden]

I agree. Two primes will be just enough for some sps up high. As for 32’s you’ll have a bit more brightness but you’ll have to run whites high to get the required par. Thankfully they like whites though. If you wanted something more proper, I would look at a photon or some xr15’s. And yes, you would ABSOLUTELY need Atleast two 32’s to cover that tank. They only properly light roughly 24x24. There’s better options than a carpet anemone. Look at a toadstool if that’s the look you’re going for and don’t want to spend a ton on lighting. If you just want a few sticks up top, 2 primes will do the job.

You have researched Gigs, right? You know that they are super high light and can move around? You will need to light that entire tank (edge to edge) with more lighting that you would for nearly every other type of coral. The light will also need to be more white and less blue.

I would look into maybe 2x xr30s or the largest Hydras and also use 4x T5s. ...or just get a 8 bulb Sunpower or some Metal Halides. Gigs are no joke if you want them to thrive, but they are quite easy when you meet their lighting needs... and super beautiful.

Mags and Gigs are a specialty type of organism that you should only really be taking advice from people who have kept them. Other people mean well, but they do not know that what they do will not scale for what you are trying to do. I gave mine away a long time ago to a guy who has tried every light but ends up coming back to 250w Halides for his. However, I have seen a few people keep them under really high output LEDs with more of a 10K spectrum.

 

[Khoi_La]

A 6 bulb ATI wonder use any more power than equivalent LED setup.... maybe less if you have to get a hybrid down the road.

Ive never heard about hybrid. Ill look more into it. And it use less power than traditional leds? Since i live in a dorm i cant use too much power or generate too much heat

 

[jda]

You need to forget about power and energy if you are going to keep a Gig. No type of light is going to be low powered. A pair of Hydra 64s will be well over 250w, a Metal Halide is 250 watts and 6x T5 is 240ish watts. There is no efficiency in light type unless you just have less output. All of these will make some heat, but nothing that an open top and fan cannot handle.

Hybrid is just 4x T5 bulbs that you put some LEDs in the middle. Aquatic Life is a really popular one. You will have 160w in T5s in this and the LEDs will add more - this is more wattage than a 6x or 8x T5 setup.

The problem with Mags and Gigs is that they do not always settle in to a high light place before they suffer and die. Some of them can just wander forever. This is why you need to light the whole tank very well. Again, consult people who have kept them successfully for the long term.

If power is a huge issue, then skip the Gig for until you are better equipped to handle it.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Skip the Hydra and add another AI Prime. It’s the same light (total of 2 pucks), but you can spread it out better. Then you don’t have to worry about what to do with your current light.

If you get down the road and decide that you need more light then you can add the AquaticLife T5 hybrid

 

[Khoi_La]

You need to forget about power and energy if you are going to keep a Gig. No type of light is going to be low powered. A pair of Hydra 64s will be well over 250w, a Metal Halide is 250 watts and 6x T5 is 240ish watts. There is no efficiency in light type unless you just have less output. All of these will make some heat, but nothing that an open top and fan cannot handle.

Hybrid is just 4x T5 bulbs that you put some LEDs in the middle. Aquatic Life is a really popular one. You will have 160w in T5s in this and the LEDs will add more - this is more wattage than a 6x or 8x T5 setup.

The problem with Mags and Gigs is that they do not always settle in to a high light place before they suffer and die. Some of them can just wander forever. This is why you need to light the whole tank very well. Again, consult people who have kept them successfully for the long term.

If power is a huge issue, then skip the Gig for until you are better equipped to handle it.

Yea i might wait for that when i move out of the dorm then. I'll keep sticking with my btas. 2 16hd should be sufficient isnt it?

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Yea i might wait for that when i move out of the dorm then. I'll keep sticking with my btas. 2 16hd should be sufficient isnt it?

For bta’s, absolutely!