Reef Lighting Help

[Ryanj_426]

I am looking into upgrading to a 20 Gallon tank (preferably a 20 long but a 20 high would also work). My choice is dependent on the info I get here. I would like to have corals, nothing crazy, just lots of soft corals. What lights would be good? The cheaper the better but I realize it will still be costly haha. All the lights I found on Amazon seem sketchy and the reviews are not promising. Any help is welcome! thanks!

 

[blaxsun]

I like the AI Reef 16HD myself.

 

[Reef Psychology]

Another vote for a 20g high + AI 16HD.

 

[mizimmer90]

I got the 100W nicrew lights on Amazon for my 20 gal (2 ft long) and love them!

Pleasantly surprised at how well they work. I also got the controller for ramping effects. This option doesn't give you all the bells and whistles of an AI prime or hydra, but it's just as powerful and adept at growing corals; at a fraction of the price!

 

[mizimmer90]

Link to my par levels

I'm using the 100W Nicrew lights I got on Amazon for $150. I'm quite happy with them!!

They seem to be a cheaper version of the AI hydra 32 HD series. They don't have the same level of control (just a simple timer that ramps between 6 time points) but they're powerful! You can also control the power of blue lights (a mix of blue and purple shades) and white lights (a mix of cool, warm, red, and green). I rented a PAR meter from my LFS and was pleasantly surprised.

Running 100% blue/white lights:

I'm running them at 60% blue and 20% white:

 

[pshootr]

Link to my par levels

Very impressive for the money. Is it the flat strip that goes across the whole tank? Or is it the one with the gooseneck on the back of the tank?

 

[mizimmer90]

Very impressive for the money. Is it the flat strip that goes across the whole tank? Or is it the one with the gooseneck on the back of the tank?

I have the 100W hyperreef model. I went with the 100W over the 50W to help with spread across the 2ft. More than enough power and I find the spread of the 2 pucks pretty good!

 

[mizimmer90]

I have the 100W hyperreef model. I went with the 100W over the 50W to help with spread across the 2ft. More than enough power and I find the spread of the 2 pucks pretty good!

Not sure if the Amazon link worked, but you can look at my build thread to see a pic of them. Neither the strip or a goose neck but a metal bracket that hangs over tank

 

[pshootr]

Not sure if the Amazon link worked, but you can look at my build thread to see a pic of them. Neither the strip or a goose neck but a metal bracket that hangs over tank

The link didn't work but I was able to find them. Thanks a lot for the info!