Suggestions small light for SPS on frag rack

exnisstech · Mar 21, 2022

Hey all. I have a reefer 170 24"x20"x20"deep. I'm running a hydra 26 on the redsea mounting arm so it's a nice clean set up. I have a couple of magnetic frag racks on the side and am starting to dabble in some SPS frags. I have some nice large LPS most on the bottom that are doing great. I'm looking for a small light I may be able to mount that can be directed at the frag racks without overwhelming the LPS with too much light. I'm hesitant to crank up the existing light since the current stock is doing so well. Any suggestions on a small light with a somewhat narrow pattern of light I may be able to rig up to shine mostly on just the frag racks? Attached is a pic of the tank showing the racks on the right. They can be moved if needed if I can find a light to use.

blaxsun · Mar 21, 2022

Are you certain the frag racks aren't getting enough light?

exnisstech · Mar 21, 2022

I have a couple of monti frags on the top rack that have pretty much lost color and are brownish so I figure it's from lack of light?

shakacuz · Mar 21, 2022

exnisstech said:
I have a couple of monti frags on the top rack that have pretty much lost color and are brownish so I figure it's from lack of light?

judging by your other corals, that may be the case. i have two monti's on my frag rack that lost color, but i know for a fact it was lack of light. my other parameters are in line.

exnisstech · Mar 21, 2022

My parameters are also good and very consistent in this tank.

exnisstech · Mar 22, 2022

For $65 I'm gonna give one of these a try. Figure with a gooseneck I may be able get it aimed right at the sps on the top rack.

Spare time · Mar 22, 2022

You could add a reef brite strip to the side.

shakacuz · Mar 22, 2022

Spare time said:
You could add a reef brite strip to the side.

with the reef brite strip kit for the hydra you can definitely aim the one side there

exnisstech · Mar 22, 2022

That's why I came here to ask. I wasn't even aware of them. This would be much cleaner looking than having a gooseneck sticking up. Thanks!

shakacuz · Mar 22, 2022

exnisstech said:
That's why I came here to ask. I wasn't even aware of them. This would be much cleaner looking than having a gooseneck sticking up. Thanks!

keep in mind, because of the design, you will have to position your light vertically, rather than horizontally, so you can be able to position the reef brite light towards the frag rack. either this, or moving the frag rack under the weir/drain, but now you run the risk of your BTA stinging the frag rack.

ReefRxSWFL · Mar 22, 2022

exnisstech said:
Hey all. I have a reefer 170 24"x20"x20"deep. I'm running a hydra 26 on the redsea mounting arm so it's a nice clean set up. I have a couple of magnetic frag racks on the side and am starting to dabble in some SPS frags. I have some nice large LPS most on the bottom that are doing great. I'm looking for a small light I may be able to mount that can be directed at the frag racks without overwhelming the LPS with too much light. I'm hesitant to crank up the existing light since the current stock is doing so well. Any suggestions on a small light with a somewhat narrow pattern of light I may be able to rig up to shine mostly on just the frag racks? Attached is a pic of the tank showing the racks on the right. They can be moved if needed if I can find a light to use.

Kessil A80 Tuna Blue. Its only 15 watts, so it will add light where you need it, and it may add only 10-20mmols of PAR on those LPS on the bottom, which will barely be noticeable to them. Plus, because all led chips are under the same lens, there is no possibility of spectrum separation with the light being directly over the corals. With the mount, youre only looking at about $150

ReefRxSWFL · Mar 22, 2022

shakacuz said:
keep in mind, because of the design, you will have to position your light vertically, rather than horizontally, so you can be able to position the reef brite light towards the frag rack. either this, or moving the frag rack under the weir/drain, but now you run the risk of your BTA stinging the frag rack.

That fixture is not compatable with the Red Sea arm on the Hydra. The arm mounts to the back of the Hydra and the rear strip will interfere with the arm. It also wont spread the light that far.

ReefRxSWFL · Mar 22, 2022

shakacuz said:
with the reef brite strip kit for the hydra you can definitely aim the one side there

Wont fit with the rRed Sea mount

shakacuz · Mar 22, 2022

ReefRxSWFL said:
That fixture is not compatable with the Red Sea arm on the Hydra. The arm mounts to the back of the Hydra and the rear strip will interfere with the arm. It also wont spread the light that far.

good catch. totally overlooked that part in the OP's post.

ReefRxSWFL · Mar 22, 2022

blaxsun said:
Are you certain the frag racks aren't getting enough light?

Not from the Hydra. Not enough spread

ReefRxSWFL · Mar 22, 2022

shakacuz said:
good catch. totally overlooked that part in the OP's post.

I had to add Orphek strips with the Orphek mounts on my Reefer 350 because of those mounts.

Spare time · Mar 22, 2022

PS I was simply saying that you could place a reef brite or similar bar on top (not necessarily use the hybrid kit)

ReefRxSWFL · Mar 22, 2022

exnisstech said:
For $65 I'm gonna give one of these a try. Figure with a gooseneck I may be able get it aimed right at the sps on the top rack.

Get the Kessil a80. With the mount its $150. Its not a cheap setup, so dont add some cheap unpredictable light that you have no idea of power or spectrum. SPS corals dont like it if the spectrum isnt right. You have corals worth 5x that light.

Spare time said:
PS I was simply saying that you could place a reef brite or similar bar on top (not necessarily use the hybrid kit)

then you have the lip of the mount sitting over the front glass.

exnisstech · Mar 22, 2022

Thanks for all of the input and advise. I'll research a bit more. A Kessil A80 was what I thought about first but wanted to see if there were other options. It will be kind of temporary till the frags grow out so I could always repurpose the Kessil to my frag section of my sump in the basement which is currently under a black box. And I have a gooseneck from a previous A80 that went swimming so can save a couple dollars there. A buyer just came into the shop and bought $310 worth of old key fobs I had in my tool box so I don't have to skimp now

exnisstech · Mar 23, 2022

Got the A80 set up. Really doesn't look too awful. Tank is in our bedroom so only we see it. Going to try the photone app for the first time to set things up. Should have kept that apogee that I sold.