TOO many lighting options- UGH! help!!!

[acropora4u]

okay, for a new build, 60" long x 36" wide x 24" tall ( 225) gallon all SPS reef- what lights would you buy?

ecotech radion gen 6 pro - 3 units
ecotech radion gen 5 pro ( on sale)- 3 units
neptune sky- 3 units
kessil A500x- 4 units

?

thanks

 

[biecacka]

You setting up a second tank??!!! Lucky man my friend, following along this build too.


corey

 

[neonreef3d]

G5 with quanta pro strips

 

[acropora4u]

You setting up a second tank??!!! Lucky man my friend, following along this build too.


corey

yes, going to propogate and sell, why not

 

[jda]

You gonna wall-to-wall that thing with frags, or just kinda keep them in the middle?

24" tall is hard ask for those to spread that much. 12" might be better for a farm type of tank.

You might need twice that many lights to effectively farm at 24" of depth with 36x60. Reflectors might be your friend if you want to keep with those dimensions. I have never tried to use LEDs to accomplish this, but a pair of 8 bulb T5s or 3x 400w MH would likely be needed to actually cover this well... so a lot of light. At 12 inches of depth, you might not even need half this much.

 

[acropora4u]

You gonna wall-to-wall that thing with frags, or just kinda keep them in the middle?

24" tall is hard ask for those to spread that much. 12" might be better for a farm type of tank.

You might need twice that many lights to effectively farm at 24" of depth with 36x60. Reflectors might be your friend if you want to keep with those dimensions. I have never tried to use LEDs to accomplish this, but a pair of 8 bulb T5s or 3x 400w MH would likely be needed to actually cover this well... so a lot of light. At 12 inches of depth, you might not even need half this much.

thanks, the frags will all be within the top 12" of tank...nothing below that. going with 24" so the fish have plenty of space

 

[blaxsun]

Two G6 Radion XR30 Pros.

 

[jda]

Go and watch thermans ReefBum videos and look at his frag tanks. He covers the tops with panels in dual rows. He is as a better farmer than most. If want to have acrpora frags in all of that 36" then you are going to need good coverage - assume acropora with your username. You just cannot light frags from the sides with too-few panels and expect to do well. If you just want to have frags down the middle, then that is different.

 

[bnord]

I will see your G6 XR30's and raise you a 4 piece ATI hybrid

 

[bnord]

honestly, with that width, the spread will be noticeable

 

[acropora4u]

okay, how about this, i have 2 x 250w hqi halides, 1 x kessil a500x, a hybrid led t5 4 bulb 80w and 2 orphek light bars as spare lights...what addtional lights would i add to make the whole tank viable for acropora?

 

[jda]

Use those. Put the HQI over 24 inches of the tank, the 4 bulb over the other 12 inches and then fill in with the Kessil and the light bars.

You should not need any more lights.

 

[acropora4u]

Use those. Put the HQI over 24 inches of the tank, the 4 bulb over the other 12 inches and then fill in with the Kessil and the light bars.

You should not need any more lights.

how high above the water surface for each light?

 

[jda]

With the corals about 12" under the water, then hang them all 8-12 inches. Then, take a PAR meter and figure out where your higher and lower areas are and you can keep the appropriate things where you need to. You could go as low as 4-5 inches or as high as 16. At 12 inches of depth, you have a lot of options.

I mostly hang my lights to avoid spill. I do use MH and don't have to worry about light burn or anything.

 

[acropora4u]

thanks jda

 

[jda]

You can also adjust your racks up/down as you need to.