SB Reef Light Ultra?

[ReeferReefer]

I am building a 120 gallon right now and am considering upgrading my lighting. I currently have a Sunlight Systems Tek T5 36 inch +36 in SBar over my 90 gallon reef and I am not sure if that will be enough light for the new build. It will be a softie dominated tank with some LPS and maybe a monti or two.

I am considering moving over to LED and the SB Ultra 45 is an attractive option since I could light the whole tank for under $500. Any opinions on this? Any other options for lighting my tank for under $500 or should I be spending more?

I also considered just getting another sbar and see how my coverage is but I want to avoid dark spots on the edge of the tank.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I am building a 120 gallon right now and am considering upgrading my lighting. I currently have a Sunlight Systems Tek T5 36 inch +36 in SBar over my 90 gallon reef and I am not sure if that will be enough light for the new build. It will be a softie dominated tank with some LPS and maybe a monti or two.

I am considering moving over to LED and the SB Ultra 45 is an attractive option since I could light the whole tank for under $500. Any opinions on this? Any other options for lighting my tank for under $500 or should I be spending more?

I also considered just getting another sbar and see how my coverage is but I want to avoid dark spots on the edge of the tank.

Should be same spectrum as their black boxes. I'd say you be happy with it.

Let's see what others think.

 

[ReeferReefer]

Should be same spectrum as their black boxes. I'd say you be happy with it.

Let's see what others think.

Yeah, I'm not really sure what separates them. It seems like the 4 channels is the biggest difference.

For me I like that it's a single fixture vs 2 of the standard sb lights.

I have also considered some used higher end lites for kessil or ai but I don't know how many I would need.

 

[Jacked Reefer]

Yeah, I'm not really sure what separates them. It seems like the 4 channels is the biggest difference.

For me I like that it's a single fixture vs 2 of the standard sb lights.

I have also considered some used higher end lites for kessil or ai but I don't know how many I would need.

If you were to use the higher end options you would have more choice in corals. Sb reeflights have very narrow lenses so tend to have hot spots and bleach corals easily

 

[ReeferReefer]

If you were to use the higher end options you would have more choice in corals. Sb reeflights have very narrow lenses so tend to have hot spots and bleach corals easily

Is the reef breeders photon a better choice or are you talking about kessil/ecotech/ai?

 

[rushbattle]

Yeah, I'm not really sure what separates them. It seems like the 4 channels is the biggest difference.

For me I like that it's a single fixture vs 2 of the standard sb lights.

I have also considered some used higher end lites for kessil or ai but I don't know how many I would need.

It’s perfect for a softy lps month tank. It’s chief advantage, imo is that it’s fanless. So it’s silent, and sleek. The greater control over the look is nice too with the 4 channels.

 

[rushbattle]

If you were to use the higher end options you would have more choice in corals. Sb reeflights have very narrow lenses so tend to have hot spots and bleach corals easily

Just hang it high, it will be turned way down for a softy tank. Get a cheap lux meter to get yourself in the right range. I disagree that the 90° lenses are detrimental. If hung a bit higher I think they are a great mix of coverage and energy efficiency.

 

[Jacked Reefer]

Is the reef breeders photon a better choice or are you talking about kessil/ecotech/ai?

I personally love reefbreeders. They have great customer service and the colors the light produces are by far my favorite of any company.

 

[Jacked Reefer]

It’s perfect for a softy lps month tank. It’s chief advantage, imo is that it’s fanless. So it’s silent, and sleek. The greater control over the look is nice too with the 4 channels.

I have built my own led and I wouldn’t go fanless if I did over 24 3w leds. You would need an absoluteley monster heatsunk that was open (which the sb reef lights does NOT have) to get proper cooling. The reeflights would probably need to get changed out like t5s because heat is the main killer of led lights

 

[ReeferReefer]

I have built my own led and I wouldn’t go fanless if I did over 24 3w leds. You would need an absoluteley monster heatsunk that was open (which the sb reef lights does NOT have) to get proper cooling. The reeflights would probably need to get changed out like t5s because heat is the main killer of led lights

That's a good perspective. I didn't think about the passive cooling on the ultras. I might just stick with my 36 in, 6 bulb t5 and add a second blue sBar led and see how my growth is.

If not I guess the cheapest I'd go is reef breeders?

 

[Jacked Reefer]

That's a good perspective. I didn't think about the passive cooling on the ultras. I might just stick with my 36 in, 6 bulb t5 and add a second blue sBar led and see how my growth is.

If not I guess the cheapest I'd go is reef breeders?

I also recommend the ocean revive arctic t247. Only 180 bucks. Two channel programming. Perfect spectrum and spread + not crazy powerful (like the reeflights) so it’s hard to bleach corals with. Also much sleeker than most blackboxes

 

[ReeferReefer]

I also recommend the ocean revive arctic t247. Only 180 bucks. Two channel programming. Perfect spectrum and spread + not crazy powerful (like the reeflights) so it’s hard to bleach corals with. Also much sleeker than most blackboxes

I will check it out. I am still trying to decide if I should upgrade from my 36 inch, 6 bulb t5 fixture w/ sb reef led sbar.

 

[rushbattle]

I will check it out. I am still trying to decide if I should upgrade from my 36 inch, 6 bulb t5 fixture w/ sb reef led sbar.

I think you should stick with T5. You could DIY some nice led light bars to go with what you already have. Or buy some. Or find some cheap used Kessel 160s.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I think you should stick with T5. You could DIY some nice led light bars to go with what you already have. Or buy some. Or find some cheap used Kessel 160s.

I was considering getting a second led bar for the back and to get better led coverage. I am really digging the hybrid system so I might just add some more like your saying.

I was thinking of getting a 160 used as a fuge light so I can play around with that too.

 

[rushbattle]

I was considering getting a second led bar for the back and to get better led coverage. I am really digging the hybrid system so I might just add some more like your saying.

I was thinking of getting a 160 used as a fuge light so I can play around with that too.

T5 is just cost effective. Especially in your case because you already have the fixture. Just to give a comparison, it cost me more than double (for about the same PAR output) via DIY LED compared to the T5 portion of my hybrid fixtures. The T5s are so helpful reducing shaded areas of coral tissue. T5s require more frequent replacement, but that means that you are always near peak efficiency and output.

LEDs have a lifespan as well and decrease in output over time. Particularly the important short wavelength LEDs like royal blue, violet and UV (400-450nm).

 

[ReeferReefer]

T5 is just cost effective. Especially in your case because you already have the fixture. Just to give a comparison, it cost me more than double (for about the same PAR output) via DIY LED compared to the T5 portion of my hybrid fixtures. The T5s are so helpful reducing shaded areas of coral tissue. T5s require more frequent replacement, but that means that you are always near peak efficiency and output.

LEDs have a lifespan as well and decrease in output over time. Particularly the important short wavelength LEDs like royal blue, violet and UV (400-450nm).

Yeah, it really wouldnt
be worth it for me to go with cheap leds and I would probably end up adding t5 lighting anyways lol.

I think I'll just grab a second led bar and use my current hybrid system on the new tank.

 

[rushbattle]

Yeah, it really wouldnt
be worth it for me to go with cheap leds and I would probably end up adding t5 lighting anyways lol.

I think I'll just grab a second led bar and use my current hybrid system on the new tank.

Seems like a good plan to me!