Sky vs others

[mginster]

Setting up my 120g (4x2x2) again and looking to upgrade my lights. I have some 5+ year old reefbreeders black box now so anything is pretty much an upgrade.

The Sky looks like the right way to go especially with the sale BRS has now ($652). I do plan to do mostly LPS, but definitely will have SPS also. I have heard the Sky is overkill for LPS as you would end up setting to like 25%.

Are there any more budget options that will give the same spread these newer lights are moving towards?

 

[Shiva89]

Have you heard of nico bars? They are a bar led, and they are amazing. Better by far than the orphek ones. I think youd be really happy with a set of those. I know the guy that designed them, and run them over my tanks. Super super nice lights.

 

[dschuffert]

There are a lot of good lights out there. I ended up buying and installing two Neptune Skys and am very happy. They replaced my Ecotech Radion XR15 G5s. The 25% off was the trigger for me, along with the integration into my Apex controller.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

The Photon 48-V2 Pro LED Light Fixture would work and you only need one like instead of two skys. There are a lot of good reviews on them and some popular coral growers use them on the farm. I don't use them but did some research on them if I ever upgraded. I found out my Zetlight Qmaven II 210W LED works perfectly and it would be dumb of me to upgrade but I had black boxes before.

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Photon 48-V2 Pro LED Light Fixture

Simple, Effective, and Powerful. ReefBreeders Photon V2 PRO LED Light fixtures are perfect for almost any reef tank. From Fish Only aquariums all the way up to SPS dominant tanks, the ReefBreeders Photon V2 PRO can do it all! The Photon V2 Pro uses the long awaited Reef Nexus app for next...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[mginster]

I was thinking of the photon, but worry about spread and shadows. Optics with no diffuser and lower amount of LED's seem to always have issues with shadows.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

I was thinking of the photon, but worry about spread and shadows. Optics with no diffuser and lower amount of LED's seem to always have issues with shadows.

True but you could always use a cheap led strip or bar to fill in shadows. I also think if you have LPS its not the biggest deal. I have primarily LPS and the some of the LPS that has minor shadowing grows faster then the one getting direct light. I have a few SPS that are great with placement. I also have a mushroom corner that doesn't get as much light which its good for them. Mixed reef vs SPS different requirements.