Talk to me about your lighting setup

[JCM]

What are you running? Are you happy with it?

I'm in the middle of a soft reboot of my 36x20x20 tank, planning to go mostly SPS. I've mostly run T5's for the last 15 years and currently running a 6x24 T5 fixture on this tank. I'm ready for a change though, I miss the shimmer and need more intensity.

I've used MH in the past which I loved, but this is a rimless tank and I want an attractive, sleek fixture above it. I'm considering LED's which I don't have much experience with, or a T5/LED hybrid setup.

I'd love thoughts from successful acro keepers. Considering Mitras LX7, ATI Straton, 2 XR15 Radions, T5/Kessil combo, Neptune Sky.

Thanks!

 

[thomas_neil]

What are you running? Are you happy with it?

I'm in the middle of a soft reboot of my 36x20x20 tank, planning to go mostly SPS. I've mostly run T5's for the last 15 years and currently running a 6x24 T5 fixture on this tank. I'm ready for a change though, I miss the shimmer and need more intensity.

I've used MH in the past which I loved, but this is a rimless tank and I want an attractive, sleek fixture above it. I'm considering LED's which I don't have much experience with, or a T5/LED hybrid setup.

I'd love thoughts from successful acro keepers. Considering Mitras LX7, ATI Straton, 2 XR15 Radions, T5/Kessil combo, Neptune Sky.

Thanks!

I’ve had good luck with quanta pro light bars. I’m currently running 2 messo blue and 2 reef crest day lights paired with 3 Kessils for shimmer and hot spots for more light dominant acros.
The quanta are pretty easy, just plug them into a timer and you’re good to go. The owner takes all the guess work out of the equation so all you need to adjust is mounting height. I’m not a huge fan of all the guessing with adjusting the higher end led lights.

 

[X-37B]

Long time halide user here.
My 36x24x12 frag system is lit by 3-16hds. My nano cube runs 2 16hds. The color of my coral has increased from the 1 250watt 14k phoenix.
I just got my 80g up and will be running 2 xr15 gen5 pro. The 30g remote fuge will be lit by a 16hd.
The 80 will go where my 120 was.

So from a halide user to leds who will never go back. Leds can grow anything with amazing color today.

On your tank I would opt for 1 xr30 gen 5 pro and be done.
Mulitple 16's would also work.
2 xr15's would also be an option.
My frag and nano stick cube.

 

[JCM]

Long time halide user here.
My 36x24x12 frag system is lit by 3-16hds. My nano cube runs 2 16hds. The color of my coral has increased from the 1 250watt 14k phoenix.
I just got my 80g up and will be running 2 xr15 gen5 pro. The 30g remote fuge will be lit by a 16hd.
The 80 will go where my 120 was.

So from a halide user to leds who will never go back. Leds can grow anything with amazing color today.

On your tank I would opt for 1 xr30 gen 5 pro and be done.
Mulitple 16's would also work.
2 xr15's would also be an option.
My frag and nano stick cube.

Things clearly look happy under your lights. I loved the halides, but I'm not willing to install a canopy or have giant reflectors above this tank. There doesn't seem to be many good looking MH fixtures left on the market.

Someone else mentioned 1 xr30 to me, but I'm suspect that it could cover the whole 36x20 footprint adequately. I've never had one though, so maybe I'm wrong? Seems to me 2 xr15's would be more versatile. The Sky and Straton seem like they'd cover the footprint but I'm concerned they would lack shimmer. The T5/Kessil combo seems like it would give nice shimmer while also covering the footprint but I don't see many serious acro tanks with Kessils. Lackluster PAR maybe? I like the idea of the Mitras, but again it may not cover the footprint.

Appreciate the input!

 

[X-37B]

1 xr15 covers 18x18 for acros so 2 would be a good option.
Im going to run 2 xr15's on my 48x24x16.

 

[rtparty]

My current 120 is 2*250w halides and 2 Blue Plus T5s. My new 250g will be 3*250w halides and 2 XHO bars from ReedBrite.

I'll eventually go back to LEDs but it won't be for 5-7 years at a minimum. Not one out there looks as good as halides to me and I've seen almost every one of them in person or run them.

 

[rtparty]

For 36*20 you will absolutely need 2 XR15s at a minimum.

I ran 2 XR15s on my 120 and couldn't even get 200 PAR at the top of my rocks. SPS never did well

 

[xyzner]

I’m basically setting up the same tank as you and going to jump into the led world for the first time. The 36” length is tricky it seems. I want the Straton but I’m afraid 1 won’t cut it and 2 won’t fit. Might wait on the Straton Pros…

 

[JCM]

My current 120 is 2*250w halides and 2 Blue Plus T5s. My new 250g will be 3*250w halides and 2 XHO bars from ReedBrite.

I'll eventually go back to LEDs but it won't be for 5-7 years at a minimum. Not one out there looks as good as halides to me and I've seen almost every one of them in person or run them.

Have you tried any T5/LED combos? I'm wondering if that would give me what I'm looking for. Full spectrum T5's with the shimmer and controlability from the LED's.

Or maybe I just need to hunt for an old Giesemann Infinity MH/T5 fixture.

I’m basically setting up the same tank as you and going to jump into the led world for the first time. The 36” length is tricky it seems. I want the Straton but I’m afraid 1 won’t cut it and 2 won’t fit. Might wait on the Straton Pros…

Yeah, 36" seems to be a weird in between zone. Too big for most single LED fixtures, too small for two.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I’ve run 4 t5 and kessils in a canopy on a 3 foot tank with good results. You would be fine with a 20 inch deep tank if that’s the route you want to take.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Long time halide user here.
My 36x24x12 frag system is lit by 3-16hds. My nano cube runs 2 16hds. The color of my coral has increased from the 1 250watt 14k phoenix.
I just got my 80g up and will be running 2 xr15 gen5 pro. The 30g remote fuge will be lit by a 16hd.
The 80 will go where my 120 was.

So from a halide user to leds who will never go back. Leds can grow anything with amazing color today.

On your tank I would opt for 1 xr30 gen 5 pro and be done.
Mulitple 16's would also work.
2 xr15's would also be an option.
My frag and nano stick cube.

Good information there, write that down!

 

[Big E]

If you're going to go from a full coverage bright look you get from T5s you're going to sorely disappointed in using one XR30. There will be harsh shadows. The coverage is way overly stated. At best 15x18" is the coverage.

If you want shimmer then I would suggest using a hybrid setup with T5 or LED bars and you still need more than one LED unit regardless of brand.

 

[Dburr1014]

Things clearly look happy under your lights. I loved the halides, but I'm not willing to install a canopy or have giant reflectors above this tank. There doesn't seem to be many good looking MH fixtures left on the market.

Someone else mentioned 1 xr30 to me, but I'm suspect that it could cover the whole 36x20 footprint adequately. I've never had one though, so maybe I'm wrong? Seems to me 2 xr15's would be more versatile. The Sky and Straton seem like they'd cover the footprint but I'm concerned they would lack shimmer. The T5/Kessil combo seems like it would give nice shimmer while also covering the footprint but I don't see many serious acro tanks with Kessils. Lackluster PAR maybe? I like the idea of the Mitras, but again it may not cover the footprint.

Appreciate the input!

This is sleek.
I was a MH user and made the switch 8 years ago. Very happy with my lights. I just upgraded to pro which makes the sunrise/sunset seemless. Easy programming on my phone. I'm only 80% on my blues and 40% on my whites.

 

[LeftyReefer]

if you just want to add some shimmer, Smat Farm LED's are inexpensive ($140 ea) and add great shimmer.
You could add a pair to your hybrid setup for under $300.
Would be able to ramp them up/down and add shimmer to your tank.

I run a pair of them, along with a 470nm led bar over a 36" tank. (will be adding a second LED bar eventually)

i have the Smat Farm lights ramp up/down and have the LED bar come on only during peak intensity hours.

 

[JCM]

If you're going to go from a full coverage bright look you get from T5s you're going to sorely disappointed in using one XR30. There will be harsh shadows. The coverage is way overly stated. At best 15x18" is the coverage.

If you want shimmer then I would suggest using a hybrid setup with T5 or LED bars and you still need more than one LED unit regardless of brand.

Thanks! I had no real intention of a single xr30.

Sounds like a hybrid T5/LED setup may be my best bet. The Aquatic Life setup may work for me, 4 T5's and I could use two kessils, xr15's, or AI 16's. That would hopefully give me a bit of shimmer without going full swimming pool.

 

[X-37B]

I will never run t5 again after running the or3 light bars.
1 bar is equal to 2 t5's.
I ran then to supplement blue on my 120 with halides.
4-6 24" bars over your tank would work.
I startedy 120 with 6 then 8 T5 and it grew everything well but the fixture is bulky and so was my halide system.

 

[rtparty]

Have you tried any T5/LED combos? I'm wondering if that would give me what I'm looking for. Full spectrum T5's with the shimmer and controlability from the LED's.

Or maybe I just need to hunt for an old Giesemann Infinity MH/T5 fixture.



Yeah, 36" seems to be a weird in between zone. Too big for most single LED fixtures, too small for two.

Ran the Aquatic Life hybrid with Kessil, Radion, and Mitras. I'd rather have XHO bars over T5s these days

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

If you're going to go from a full coverage bright look you get from T5s you're going to sorely disappointed in using one XR30. There will be harsh shadows. The coverage is way overly stated. At best 15x18" is the coverage.

If you want shimmer then I would suggest using a hybrid setup with T5 or LED bars and you still need more than one LED unit regardless of brand.

Agree!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Thanks! I had no real intention of a single xr30.

Sounds like a hybrid T5/LED setup may be my best bet. The Aquatic Life setup may work for me, 4 T5's and I could use two kessils, xr15's, or AI 16's. That would hopefully give me a bit of shimmer without going full swimming pool.

Thats what I run on my 120, great set up IMO. Until t5 is out of the picture

 

[neonreef3d]

mounted 3 XR15 G5 radions on my 100gallon, but its not enough for a SPS tank, so Ill be changing the RMS rail to 8020 rail to mount the Quanta pro LED strips on the front and back using the mounting system I designed for @minus9 on his custom 3x3 90 gallon cube tank.
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