Setting up new frag tank and need advice for lighting

[dank reefer]

Hello fellow Reefers!

I know I could of posted this in the lighting section of the forum, but I wanted to get the opinion of the SPS fam!

So I was able to acquire a low boy frag tank and stand for a steal and I'm getting my plans in motion to get this puppy setup, but would like some serious advice on lighting. It's going to be a sps dominant frag system.

And....

I'm in a toss up between a 4ft 8bulb t5 , or 2-3 Radion xr30.

I know with either setup I'm going to get great par, but if there are other recommendations (besides MH) I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[lolmatt]

I mean the t5 is way cheaper. If you're stuck between those two, why not get 3 xr15 and put them in a hybrid fixture like the aquatic life?

 

[dank reefer]

I mean the t5 is way cheaper. If you're stuck between those two, why not get 3 xr15 and put them in a hybrid fixture like the aquatic life?

I currently use a AL hybrid on my main DT with 3 Hydra26 HD, and love the look and the lighting it puts out and my corals love it. Was just looking for other options, and the one you posed is a good one. But do you think the xr15 would be enough? Tank dimensions are 4ft by 2ft by 10in deep.

 

[lolmatt]

I currently use a AL hybrid on my main DT with 3 Hydra26 HD, and love the look and the lighting it puts out and my corals love it. Was just looking for other options, and the one you posed is a good one. But do you think the xr15 would be enough? Tank dimensions are 4ft by 2ft by 10in deep.

I've got the same low boy (amazing tank for a hundred bucks btw) and I light it with a 24" reef breeders photon v2 mounted at like 18" or higher. The middle of the tank gets a lot of light, 300-400 par on the bottom, and I put lower light or acclimating corals and a little bit of rock around the edge. I use photon v2s on my dt with a t5 retro kit. I'll add t5s to the frag tank if I end up needing them.

I think it's super nice to use the same lights on the frag tank and dt and try to match par as well, so when moving corals between you don't have to acclimate to different lights. Based on that, since you're happy with that fixture and the 26hd on the dt I would 100% do the same on the frag tank. I think you could do three ai prime or 26 if you want to spend more cash, plus the t5s, and have really nice light for about a grand. It also depends how presentable you want the frag tank to be. You could do a retro kit or bare t5s with reflectors if you don't need a professional fixture and save a few hundred. Check out the brs videos on ai prime par, you'll be surprised imo.

 

[dank reefer]

I've got the same low boy (amazing tank for a hundred bucks btw) and I light it with a 24" reef breeders photon v2 mounted at like 18" or higher. The middle of the tank gets a lot of light, 300-400 par on the bottom, and I put lower light or acclimating corals and a little bit of rock around the edge. I use photon v2s on my dt with a t5 retro kit. I'll add t5s to the frag tank if I end up needing them.

I think it's super nice to use the same lights on the frag tank and dt and try to match par as well, so when moving corals between you don't have to acclimate to different lights. Based on that, since you're happy with that fixture and the 26hd on the dt I would 100% do the same on the frag tank. I think you could do three ai prime or 26 if you want to spend more cash, plus the t5s, and have really nice light for about a grand. It also depends how presentable you want the frag tank to be. You could do a retro kit or bare t5s with reflectors if you don't need a professional fixture and save a few hundred. Check out the brs videos on ai prime par, you'll be surprised imo.

I want it to look super sharp as the frag tank will be right next to the DT. And will also be plmed as 1 unit. I also have a 36 bow front and its lit by a xr30 gen 3 non pro. As to the reason for my toss up, cause I have different variations of lighting going on, and I like all 3 of them. I've seen tanks that grow beautiful SPS running all of these light on the forum, but if I'm going to spend the money on lighting, might as well do it as right as I possibly can.

 

[lolmatt]

I want it to look super sharp as the frag tank will be right next to the DT. And will also be plmed as 1 unit. I also have a 36 bow front and its lit by a xr30 gen 3 non pro. As to the reason for my toss up, cause I have different variations of lighting going on, and I like all 3 of them. I've seen tanks that grow beautiful SPS running all of these light on the forum, but if I'm going to spend the money on lighting, might as well do it as right as I possibly can.

Yeah, tough decision. If you won't have a hood I think just the radeons or hd26 mounted from behind will look the best. Functionally, if you were going led only I'd say radeons, but I think the led/t5 combo is a better option and I don't think radeons are worth the cost if you're adding t5s.

Whichever of these options you go with, you can't go wrong imo. It's also worth noting that there are definitely other options that are cheaper and potentially better or at least just as good (aforementioned reef breeders photon v2, the new lights from noopsyche, kessil, black boxes of varying quality, etc).

 

[dank reefer]

Yeah, tough decision. If you won't have a hood I think just the radeons or hd26 mounted from behind will look the best. Functionally, if you were going led only I'd say radeons, but I think the led/t5 combo is a better option and I don't think radeons are worth the cost if you're adding t5s.

Whichever of these options you go with, you can't go wrong imo. It's also worth noting that there are definitely other options that are cheaper and potentially better or at least just as good (aforementioned reef breeders photon v2, the new lights from noopsyche, kessil, black boxes of varying quality, etc).

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll do some research on the Photons. I know Adam from Battlecorals uses them for his grow out. Just don't know if he uses just photons, or has them paired up with some other light as well.

 

[lolmatt]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll do some research on the Photons. I know Adam from Battlecorals uses them for his grow out. Just don't know if he uses just photons, or has them paired up with some other light as well.

As far as I know he uses the photons only, with blues and whites both at 100%. Should be a thread on his forum where he discusses it. Love the lights honestly, and I've had good success with them on three different tanks now. Let me know if you've got any questions.

 

[dank reefer]

Decided to go with the Radions for the frag tank.

 

[X-37B]

Nice setup!
I would plumb the frag tank seperate from the display. Doing that with mine as insurance. If your dt has an issue you will have the same issue with the frag tank.
Have seen this happen with home systems and at lfs's. Multiple frag tanks that are connected to the main display got bubble algae. Now the main display is covered with it. It is so big the only way to rid it is a complete tear down. That wont happen though. I remove all frags from the plugs and remount.
Another lfs had a titainium heater split and it killed everything in all connected tanks.
Something to think about!

 

[dank reefer]

Nice setup!
I would plumb the frag tank seperate from the display. Doing that with mine as insurance. If your dt has an issue you will have the same issue with the frag tank.
Have seen this happen with home systems and at lfs's. Multiple frag tanks that are connected to the main display got bubble algae. Now the main display is covered with it. It is so big the only way to rid it is a complete tear down. That wont happen though. I remove all frags from the plugs and remount.
Another lfs had a titainium heater split and it killed everything in all connected tanks.
Something to think about!

Frag tank is plumbed to the main system already. I understand that if something craps out in 1 tank, the other will be affected, but it's the chance I am taking at this moment. If that's the route I'll take in the future I'll just have to find a sump amd a doser for it.