Thinking of upgrading lights have some ????

[Jguido1987]

I'm thinking of upgrading my lights on my tank. I currently have a few questions. Hoping some of you fine people can help me out. I currently have the stock lighting from jbj nano cube intermediate just straight
24-1w 14k. Everything seems to be doing ok.
1. I am not looking so spend a huge amount of money and found SB reef lights. I would think the sbox 16 or the sbox 16 pro. Seem like a good lower cost idea based on the what color spectrum they attempt to achieve via their website. Does anyone know anything about them?
2. Does anyone recommend anything else in that price range under $200?
3. I am worried about removing the top lid. Main concern would be rate of evaporation. I can easily get a piece of glass cut to match the dementions of the tank but will the glass hinder any of the light penetration?
4. Coral acclimation would be another concern any suggestions on the do's and do not's?
5. Is upgrading even worth it I am having successful growth and the color seems to be doing ok with my current setup. But will this upgrade make my colors pop. Or give that blue coloration to the water?

 

[happyhourhero]

I think you will see improvement in coloration and growth if you switch to SB Reef Lights. I have been running 2 of the 16" basics over my 65 for about a year and a half. You can grow anything you want anywhere in the tank with them.

I would not add a glass lid. Salt creep can build up and reduce light penetration. Look into the mesh nets or build a lid that the light can rest on. That is what I did.

You will fry your corals unless you start real low. I would start at 50% blues and 25% whites and move up at most, 5% a week until you find your sweet spot. My sweet spot is 60% Whites, 80% Blues.

Feel free to take a look at my build thread. It will give you an idea of what the lights will do over time.

 

[Jguido1987]

So you are able to control the intensity of the lights with SB reef lights?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I had the JBJ pro. Any upgrade will be mind blowing for you.
It might be possible to hack just the board into the JBJ. is 8x16 and keep the dimmers remote if your good at diy. These no heatsink on the sb board, youll need to keep the fans in the hood.