Reef lighting
- Thread starter Clownfishdude29
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Ksull72487
Active Member
For the heck of it!
That’s a cheap option if you didn’t want to hang. Fairly new to market but I know people using them. So far so good. Technically Kessil and AI and Hydra are the better brands but costly. ViParSpectra is a brand that has proven itself on Amazon. NiCrew would be your up and comer.
snowbanked
New Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2018
- Messages
- 20
- Reaction score
- 13
I've had really good experience with T5s in a budget fixture. IMO you don't have to replace bulbs as often as is discussed. See the BRS episode on it.
Ksull72487
Active Member
Either way if it’s just softies you don’t need to go crazy and most of those lights listed will handle more than softies.
Ksull72487
Active Member
24 by 24 is the coverage too. Your tank is 30 inches. 3 inches on each end you can get 30 inches of coverage with the right height. So you have a low par reading on that last 3 inches of tank space. It means 1 is all your gonna need.
Ksull72487
Active Member
If all you do is softies you may not need full intensity. So try lower settings they are dimmable. Move corals and watch for bleaching. Cuz I think it’s more than enough for softies but it leaves you room to try other things.
Uncle99
10K Club member
The Visparspectra pushes a ton of PAR, about 1000 par at 8” above the water.
I go 14” above the water for better coverage and blend.
Softies I may go 30%
With LPS, maybe 50%
SPS I go 80%
The good news is that it allows you to move forward with higher light demanding stuff without buying a new light.
Don’t get me wrong, Radions, primes and that group have great light and robust controls down to each channel. You can have the light “move”, adjust any colour independently, lightin* storms and all from your phone, so they demand a higher price point.
In Canada, a radion is in the $500 range and I would need 5.....out of scope for me....
I go 14” above the water for better coverage and blend.
Softies I may go 30%
With LPS, maybe 50%
SPS I go 80%
The good news is that it allows you to move forward with higher light demanding stuff without buying a new light.
Don’t get me wrong, Radions, primes and that group have great light and robust controls down to each channel. You can have the light “move”, adjust any colour independently, lightin* storms and all from your phone, so they demand a higher price point.
In Canada, a radion is in the $500 range and I would need 5.....out of scope for me....
Ksull72487
Active Member
your gonna have room to grow for the price point. You never want just enough you want more than enough and the ability to turn down. This way you can add more when the day comes or do more. My wavemaker only runs at 40% but it’s nice to know I can ramp it. On my Fluval Evo 13.5 that light is idiot proof for softies. But the Acintic sucks so corals look bland. You’ll pay about the same for a good brand light and get less par.
Ksull72487
Active Member
You came here asking for a cheap light just for softies. Lol you got some options for a cheap light that’ll do everything. Lol. That’s the way to go. By far.
45ZoaGarden
2500 Club Member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2019
- Messages
- 2,672
- Reaction score
- 2,220
I’d check out ocean revive. You can get them for around $170 and they come with legs. They are a bit nicer than vip IME. Personally, I’d get a few used Ai primes.
