Reef Brite Metal Halide Hybrid Suggestion

Suarez_Leslie · Dec 3, 2023

Hello everyone,

I’ve been reading through the forums and currently have 3 XR15’s and 1 XR30 lighting my 48x30x20 Peninsula Tank. However, since my XR30 has died for the second time, I’m considering a different approach. I intend to sell my XR15’s.

I’m interested in Metal Halide Hybrids, specifically 250W, and I’m in the process of constructing a floating canopy to accommodate them.

Considering my tank, I’m seeking advice on whether I should opt for:

• 2 Reef Brite 15” Metal Halide Hybrids
• 1 Reef Brite 36” Metal Halide Hybrids
• 2 Reef Brite 15” Metal Halide Pendants paired with 2 48” XHO led bars
Or should I keep 2 XR15 units for LED supplementation alongside the metal Halides?

Thank you in advance.

Kfactor · Dec 3, 2023

Suarez_Leslie said:
Hello everyone,

I’ve been reading through the forums and currently have 3 XR15’s and 1 XR30 lighting my 48x30x20 Peninsula Tank. However, since my XR30 has died for the second time, I’m considering a different approach. I intend to sell my XR15’s.

I’m interested in Metal Halide Hybrids, specifically 250W, and I’m in the process of constructing a floating canopy to accommodate them.

Considering my tank, I’m seeking advice on whether I should opt for:

• 2 Reef Brite 15” Metal Halide Hybrids
• 1 Reef Brite 36” Metal Halide Hybrids
• 2 Reef Brite 15” Metal Halide Pendants paired with 2 48” XHO led bars
Or should I keep 2 XR15 units for LED supplementation alongside the metal Halides?

Thank you in advance.

on my 90 i did one kessil in the middle and 2 reefbrite hybrids on the sides . i used the kessil a 360x for ramp up and down . i want to ditch the leds on them and get 2 36' blue messo bars

Reefering1 · Dec 3, 2023

The 36" reefbrite is simply 2 single reflectors mounted together. Personally, i would keep the leds to supplement the halides. For the dusk/dawn effect and to tune the spectrum. I run 2 hqi halides surrounded by 3 hydra64s. Not necessary but I like the dusk/ dawn ramp

ronnie · Dec 3, 2023

@Yazannreef may have a 36” MH reef Brite available if it isn’t sold. I just bought one of two he had for sale.

I’m moving to a 36” tank, but previously had the aquatic life 24” 4 bulb T5 with an XR15 on my 40G cube. I’m excited to get back to MH.

tmc13 · Dec 4, 2023

When I had my 120 gallon setup (48x24x24) I used the 250 watt 36" reefbrite flanked by two XHO actinic strips on either side with no issues.

YOYOYOReefer · Dec 4, 2023

I’m actually playing with the lighting on our 300 predator tank. im going to hook up 2 250 halides flanked by 2 g5 xr30s and a single 400 flanked by 2 xr30s. i bought a couple xr30s to try halides .I do not like them at all,nobody seems to want them , so might as well use them on the predator tank. I think the 250s might work, next to an xr30 but the 400 will probably overpower the leds too much

Reefing102 · Dec 4, 2023

I think you would be good either way. I don’t know if you’d get adequate coverage (end to end) from the XR15s if they were mounted towards the end of the 36” fixture or even in between 2 single fixtures. I’d probably go with 48” bars. I believe @JCOLE is running LEDs between his halides.

I run AliExpress PopBloom LED bars on my 65 with my 250w 10k halides and the halides mostly overpower them (minimal spectrum difference during the day).

PeterErc · Dec 4, 2023

If it were me I would do the 250w pendants, then add bars seperate. If one component breaks, that part can be replaced. Would also be easier to sell if decided to go a different route, but I doubt it.

JCOLE · Dec 4, 2023

Reefing102 said:
I think you would be good either way. I don’t know if you’d get adequate coverage (end to end) from the XR15s if they were mounted towards the end of the 36” fixture or even in between 2 single fixtures. I’d probably go with 48” bars. I believe @JCOLE is running LEDs between his halides.

I run AliExpress PopBloom LED bars on my 65 with my 250w 10k halides and the halides mostly overpower them (minimal spectrum difference during the day).

I used to run black box LED's down the sides. Now I have 4 rows of T5's running end to end on each side of the halides. I like this much better.

jda · Dec 4, 2023

You can spread out two singles to you liking. Do that.

Try and find a bulb that does not need supplemented. Then you can just run the supplements when you want to view and save the hours on the supplemental lights - bulbs and LEDs can last for years and years like this and you save power too.

YOYOYOReefer · Dec 4, 2023

jda said:
You can spread out two singles to you liking. Do that.

Try and find a bulb that does not need supplemented. Then you can just run the supplements when you want to view and save the hours on the supplemental lights - bulbs and LEDs can last for years and years like this and you save power too.

Good advice. My frag tanks are shallow and I run all 150 de halides without any supplemental. The Phoenix 14 k Look good all by themselves. I’ve beeen trying some cheap Chinese 10k and I don’t like the color but they do work for growth.

minus9 · Dec 4, 2023

I would do two pendants, which will give you the flexibility to move to your needs (as mentioned above) and supplement with LED bars. I'm using two RB pendants with 14k bulbs (SE) and Quanta Pro Meso Blue bars and couldn't be happier with the results. Fish look amazing under 14k's and true blue acropora and clams looks awesome. I'll post some iPhone "crappy" pics for reference. Don't waste your money on XHO's, Quanta's out-perform XHO's and Orpheks combined (I compared xho's and OR2's to the Quantas when I got them).

minus9 · Dec 4, 2023

Non filtered iPhone pic.

I’ll post a picture when the halides turn on to give you a better idea how it looks in person to me.

bobnicaragua · Jan 18, 2024

Well @Suarez_Leslie, let’s see the new light set up!

Suarez_Leslie · Jan 19, 2024

I’m still playing around with it because I am also in the process of getting ready to move from Tennessee to Florida for work and the logistics of moving my tank again. But I have 2 XR15’s and one Reef Brite with Ushio 20k running right now.
When I moved and get everything set up it will be 2 reef brites with Ushio 20k (the other pendant is in the box.) and I am going to with two quantra led bars. @bobnicaragua. And once I move, my nems and clowns are going into a new tank and I will be restarting this tank for SPS.