SB or Reef Breeder LEDs

Dave Dumanski · Dec 31, 2017

I'm looking to upgrade my 4 bulb T5 light on my 44 Gallon 36Lx12Wx24H tank with softies and lps but will probably put some lps eventually

. I'm torn between the SB 32 Elite, SB 32 Extreme, Photon 24-V2 or Photon 32-V2. Looking for all of your opinions and thank you!

Flippers4pups · Dec 31, 2017

Ether one would be excellent. Quite a lot of reefers here have one or the other and do very well with them.

I'm partial to SB reeflights.

Dave Dumanski · Dec 31, 2017

awesome thank you for your input

elisa h · Dec 31, 2017

I have the reefbreeders photon v2 24 but I don’t have any experience with sb. I debated between the two also but ultimately went with reefbreeders because the actual lights look much better and slimmer, more like a high end light than like black box sb has

It also comes with an easy to use controller, you don’t have to pay the premium to get the timer or controller as with with sb. I also get very quick replies from the owner Logan but had trouble getting responses from sb for some reason. I love the reefbreeders light so far but I’m sure sb lights are also very nice. For me it came down to the ascetics and costumer service.

Dave Dumanski · Dec 31, 2017

has anybody here used the sb sBox Extreme 32" Wifi and is there any big difference between that and the sBox Elite 30" (Ramping)

Fishfinder · Dec 31, 2017

Reef breeders has great customer service and excellent products. I'm using reef breeders on my 200 and they will be on my 325 also. Love the color

Dave Dumanski · Dec 31, 2017

elisa thank you for your response, i agree i love the way they look and yes logan is very helpful

what size tank do you have your 24 over because i'm torn on the 24 or 32 v2

Dave Dumanski · Dec 31, 2017

thank you fishfinder input

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 31, 2017

Two of my favorite Lights.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/y...45-or-rb-aquahelios-120r.346946/#post-4327013

If you go SB , get the ramping. Sounds easier than the WiFi. I have a 16 ramping in my 30cube. Grows acros like I know what I’m doing.
I went with 3 more on my 55.
At a 1:1 color ratio it looks almost exactly like this , but a tiny bit magenta.

If you go RB, it’s may have more color adjustment channels. Not sure.

Both are about the same par I belive with the stock lenses.
The SB you can get 120s and also go no lens and still have plenty of power.

lbacha · Dec 31, 2017

I have the 16" elite SB and I like it. More than enough par (there are some hot spots in the center but you can't have it all). The color is great and the elite is fairly easy to use and you can create any schedule you want with it.

chamjack · Dec 31, 2017

I have two 24” RB Photon 2’s over my 6’ 125 gal and get plenty of light(mixed reef, mainly LPS). They are mounted about 10” above the water line. This was recommended to me by Logan last year when I was torn over the size to get. I really like them, but they were my first step into Led so I have nothing to compare them to. I had T5 for the prior 7 years over the same tank.

Fishfinder · Dec 31, 2017

I have never had SB lights. RB were my first "expensive" lights. But I have been very impressed with the colors I get. They are super easy to set up. 6 channels, and tons of power. I have then mounted at 14" and set at 60% my acros are getting 400 PAR. The only thing..... they don't have ramping. They increase/decrease in 1 hour increments. Which is fine with me. Ramping is for the people not corals.

elisa h · Jan 1, 2018

Dave Dumanski said:
elisa thank you for your response, i agree i love the way they look and yes logan is very helpful what size tank do you have your 24 over because i'm torn on the 24 or 32 v2

I have an approximately 30 tall by 33 long hexagon tank and it covers perfectly. If I remember correctly the 24 covers up to 36 long tanks. It would depend on the length of your tank and what kind of corals you want to keep

Susan Edwards · Jan 1, 2018

I'm in this same boat. For RB's how many would I need for a 6' 125 gal? Someone above has 2 24's. Is that enough? My current tank is an aio so I didn't have to choose lights. I have what the hood came with.