Some truth on lighting

[herman_ator]

Hello: I am new to R2R but have had a 120 tank for 10+ years. Sorry to say but I lost interest years back and now have had a rebirth so to speak. Old berlin type tank with only Remora C for skimmer. Long story short I bought a current dual ramp pro led light system years back and I can"t seem to get any info on them. I would like to keep and use these lights but am not adverse to upgrade. This hobby had changed DRAMATICALY since I last paid attention. Some say lights are good and others say lights are weak. Gonna revamp entire system and tank and start over. Lights would be first step. Can you please point me in the right direction. Been looking at HYdra 64's and then I saw Reefi I think it was yesterday. Want to do LPS and some SPS eventually. Advice please? Tks Herman

 

[Silent]

Is this the IC version or not?

 

[herman_ator]

no .... Older 4116 dual pros

 

[Silent]

What do you want to know?

 

[LiveWire]

Welcome to the REEF!! There are many lights on the market that will work very well it will depend on your budget as to what ones we could recommend using along side of your current ones.

 

[herman_ator]

Want to kow if the current lights are any good or do I need to upgrade. Budget is not problem. Correct lights are.....

 

[Silent]

There are much better lights if you want SPS or big nems. Those lights will work for other corals as long as you tank isn't too deep. Some of the best I think are the Orphek atlantic v4.

 

[oreo54]

"PAR" Map (generic) , wattage and beam angles..

https://current-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Orbit_Marine_Light_Specifications.pdf

Can't find the "dual" PAR but you could guess around 2x the"pro" on this sheet:

https://current-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Orbit-LED-PAR-1.pdf

 

[Silent]

Double that info for the dual.

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

Some people are going from LED back T5 or using a hybrid system of both T5 and LEDs. If you are wanting to have SPS I would probably suggest looking into LEDs with T5 lighting.

 

[oreo54]

Double that info for the dual.

Fixed it..

 

[herman_ator]

I have open beam ceiling so hard to hang lights 12ft. orphek must hang it looks like. If I keep the currents do I run them at 100 blue and 100 white? Will they grow sps? I have been told that 100/100 with cook everything but the frags seem to like that for now. If I can save lights then have money for sump/refugium etc. Not trying to skimp bur do it right the first time.

 

[Silent]

Will they work? Probably. Are others better? Yes.

 

[herman_ator]

Used to have halides and dual atinics over the tank. Way hot and noisy fans plus large elec bill that's why I went led. Isn'st T5 a form of dual atinic so to speak? Is there a 48 inch t5 to add to the current set up. I assume those par numbers are for full power so they look good to me but I also think the color would be better with the T5 add on. Suggestions?

 

[Silent]

Yes I agree or at least a led actinic strip.

 

[jda]

Herman - anything that you knew to work a decade ago still works today. You can start with your baseline and then change/adapt as you see fit. Many, many reefers still are mostly the same as what you remember with some changes along the way. More is the same than has changed... and some of the changes are not upgrades, but just changes.

The only must haves of the last decade are Hannah Ultra Low Phosphorous Checker and PE Mysis Shrimp being available and everywhere (maybe these were out). If you are into gadgets the controllers are really cool for some people. All of the rest is just a different way to do the same thing.

 

[herman_ator]

hanna checkers here friday. PE mysis? Any leads on an atinic strip?

 

[jda]

PE Mysis is a food for fish. They are high in fatty acids and also vitamins... remember back when people use Kent Zoe and Selcon to supplement so that fish did not get HLLE and other diseases? ...we PE Mysis are tiny shrimp that has this already. Also, even picky eating fish will take to them quickly.

Actinc Strips can vary. Orphek and Reefbreeders are good and use Lenses. ReefBrite do not use lenses, but have reflectors. To each their own and some people swear and one or the other is CLEARLY superior, but they look the same to me.

 

[Bpb]

Reef breeders are the best coverage/power/value right now I would say. The reef fi is easily the best constructed led unit on the market in my opinion. But it’s fairly new. That being said I still like MH and/or T5HO better than any led option out there right now. Just easier to use

 

[RIC13]

My first light was a current when I started two years ago. We added a toadstool and Xenia a few months later. The light kept them alive, but I didn’t know any better. 12 mos. into the hobby I added a hammer, a couple of zoas and two ricordeas. They languished for 4 months until I bought a second current light. I saw some improvement but decided I needed a better solution. I added an AI Hydra and they improved over night. I’ve since changed to a Kessil and have continued to see vast improvements. Not all LED chips are equal.