Red Sea Reefer

I did. I liked the clean mounting brackets that came with the Deluxe. This was my first saltwater tank and to be honest I was a little overwhelmed with everything. Not having to decide which lights to get was one less thing to worry about for me.

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Very nice
 
I did. I liked the clean mounting brackets that came with the Deluxe. This was my first saltwater tank and to be honest I was a little overwhelmed with everything. Not having to decide which lights to get was one less thing to worry about for me.

2017-10-23 14.43.57.jpg
Beautiful tank, great work!
 
I have the XL425 and love it. I am running ATI Sunpower dimmable 8x54 over it. I did replace the included ATO with a 5 gallon Trigger systems reservoir. I didn't mind filling the stock one every few days, but had issues with the gravity feed not always working. New reservoir and ATO system and no complaints.
 
I did. I liked the clean mounting brackets that came with the Deluxe. This was my first saltwater tank and to be honest I was a little overwhelmed with everything. Not having to decide which lights to get was one less thing to worry about for me.

2017-10-23 14.43.57.jpg
Wow that looks awesome! How are things growing under the lights for You?
 
I am thinking of the 425xl it seems like a happy medium from the 350 to the 450
One of the thing I love the most is it very quit. I can hear my skimmer but for the most part that's it. The ATO is way to small but a good design. and the sump is a little small but I can live with that.
 
I have the XL425 and love it. I am running ATI Sunpower dimmable 8x54 over it. I did replace the included ATO with a 5 gallon Trigger systems reservoir. I didn't mind filling the stock one every few days, but had issues with the gravity feed not always working. New reservoir and ATO system and no complaints.
So no leds at all for You? I am really interested in that new fixture that is the hybrid t5 and led
 
One of the thing I love the most is it very quit. I can hear my skimmer but for the most part that's it. The ATO is way to small but a good design. and the sump is a little small but I can live with that.
Any room for a fuge in the sump?
 
I like the t5 better but in the long run it cost more because of bulb replacement.
I see this argument all the time and the numbers just don't work like that unless using cheaper LED's. So let's see, if I wanted to go Radion on my tank, being SPS and clams I would need at least 2 XR30 Pro, but I would rather have 3. 2 would be $1600, my T5 fixture was $672, 8 bulbs $124. That is $796 or almost the cost of 1 Radion. Now I need to change my bulbs 6 times, or 6 years to get to almost breaking even on getting 2 Radions. If I went with the 3 I really think is optimal, I then need to change my lights 13 times or 13 years to break even. That is with 8 bulbs, many people would only run 6 so the numbers take even longer to the break even point.

BRS is working on a video of how often we really need to change T5 bulbs and sounds like it may be less often than what we have been told. Be interesting to see what they come up with.
 
I see this argument all the time and the numbers just don't work like that unless using cheaper LED's. So let's see, if I wanted to go Radion on my tank, being SPS and clams I would need at least 2 XR30 Pro, but I would rather have 3. 2 would be $1600, my T5 fixture was $672, 8 bulbs $124. That is $796 or almost the cost of 1 Radion. Now I need to change my bulbs 6 times, or 6 years to get to almost breaking even on getting 2 Radions. If I went with the 3 I really think is optimal, I then need to change my lights 13 times or 13 years to break even. That is with 8 bulbs, many people would only run 6 so the numbers take even longer to the break even point.

BRS is working on a video of how often we really need to change T5 bulbs and sounds like it may be less often than what we have been told. Be interesting to see what they come up with.
I got two hydra 26 HD for 350 each. How many t5 bulbs do you use?
 
I got two hydra 26 HD for 350 each. How many t5 bulbs do you use?
Thought it was in my other post, I use 8 bulbs, I know people who use 6 for same size tank so my numbers were based on my usage. Two Hydra 26 HD wouldn't cut it for me, recommended spread on those is 18x18 with a large drop off on 24x24. I know Red Sea has a deal with AI and pushed those and only 2 on the 350/XL425 deluxe models. Since my other LED's are all Radions, I would have probably gone with Radions. With the AI I would have gone with the 52's and same as with Radions, 2 minimum, 3 optimal. So being slightly cheaper it would have taken a little less time, but still years for me to break even. For some people the numbers work out for LED over T5, for me they do not. I don't worry about the extra couple bucks in the electric bill either. With 5 tanks running, not counting 2 QT also running at times, I wouldn't really notice.
 
Wow that looks awesome! How are things growing under the lights for You?

So far just ok. The tank is just coming up on 6 months old so it is still pretty new. My nitrates are finally at about 8ppm instead of zero and things are starting to take off. I only have softies and LPS in there though.
 
Thought it was in my other post, I use 8 bulbs, I know people who use 6 for same size tank so my numbers were based on my usage. Two Hydra 26 HD wouldn't cut it for me, recommended spread on those is 18x18 with a large drop off on 24x24. I know Red Sea has a deal with AI and pushed those and only 2 on the 350/XL425 deluxe models. Since my other LED's are all Radions, I would have probably gone with Radions. With the AI I would have gone with the 52's and same as with Radions, 2 minimum, 3 optimal. So being slightly cheaper it would have taken a little less time, but still years for me to break even. For some people the numbers work out for LED over T5, for me they do not. I don't worry about the extra couple bucks in the electric bill either. With 5 tanks running, not counting 2 QT also running at times, I wouldn't really notice.
Very interesting debate. I loved the t5 and metal halides combo I use to have back in the day just hated buying and replacing all the bulbs. In my opinion I got better growth out of my t5 and halides then the leds.
 
What did you replace yours with? Something custom or something DIY like a bucket?
On the 350 I bought a 10g Trigger ATO and Tunze 3155. It lasts ~8-9 days.
On the Nano I'm using a 5g bucket and a Neptune ATK (standalone). It lasts forever.

I'm lighting the 350 w/ (2) Mitras 7206. I had (4) AI Primes before that , but it wasn't strong enough light for me (and a bit spotty).
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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