Will this light be adequate for SPS corals

flat6guy · Feb 10, 2019

Hey all. I'm getting back to the salty hobby after a few years. The wife and I both agree that we want a SPS dominated tank this time around. I'd like opinions as to whether or not this light will be adequate for growth and brightly colored SPS corals.

The tank I have is a fluval edge M40. I'm using the light that came with the tank for now and don't mind it if it will give the results I desire. The specs on the light are here in the link. http://www.fluvalaquatics.com/us/pr...rum-performance-led-strip-light/#.XGDMu1xKiLA

I have one SPS frag in there now but it seems pretty brown and the polyps are not as extended as they were when first placed in the tank last week. I'm waiting on the test kits to tell me where the alk, mag, and Cal. levels are. So far my nitrates are 0 or just above. The tank also has a 7.5 gal refugium attached with Chaeto growing nicely in it.

bhuyett · Feb 10, 2019

No not at all, they are more for soft corals. Save your money and spend it on a light that is best known to grow sticks.

pdxmonkeyboy · Feb 10, 2019

short answer... no.

in addition, it will be tough to get sps to thrive in a small tank if you are not used to giving them what they want.

no, not impossible by any means, but a little more difficult

flat6guy · Feb 10, 2019

Can you suggest what light will work for a tank of this size?

HB AL · Feb 10, 2019

Many to choose from, dont skimp on the lights if keeping acropora are in your future. I have Kessil160's and they are simple and work great, recently added a 360 in the center. They work well for my situation. A lot of options nowadays, hopefully some very knowledgeable light guys will chime in for what you need in your tank.

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 10, 2019

flat6guy said:
Can you suggest what light will work for a tank of this size?

Waht size tank and dimensions please

Justfebreezeit · Feb 10, 2019

saltyfilmfolks said:
Waht size tank and dimensions please

Its a 16" cube at 14 gallons. If it were me, and I have zero experience with this light but have heard good things about it, I would get an AI Prime and call it a night. Wifi controllable and plenty of juice.

DesertReefT4r · Feb 10, 2019

AI Prime HD or a XR-15 will work great.

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 10, 2019

Kessil 160 or two of what you have as well.

Manose · Feb 10, 2019

Why not go with the new Noopsyche K7 Pro2 as it has the perfect footprint for that tank and way less than an XR15 with the same performance.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/noopsyche.1066/

pdxmonkeyboy · Feb 10, 2019

14 gallon sps tank??? ummm..

HB AL · Feb 10, 2019

A Kessil 160 on a 16inch 14g cube would be ideal and simple, but you have lots of choices nowadays, you didn’t mention a budget if you have one.

flat6guy · Feb 11, 2019

The tank is actually 23Wx16Tx16W. Not that this is a huge difference but the tank is 26 G with a 7 G refugium plumbed in. I appreciate all the quick responses on this. I'm really trying to weigh out my options as to whether or not this will be a success.

Justfebreezeit · Feb 11, 2019

Ahh my apologies. I googled m40 and that's what came up. It does make a difference though as the extra width can be hard for point source lighting

flat6guy · Feb 11, 2019

If the wife and I choose to go the colorful stick route, we know there are challenges and obviously some equipment to purchase. On the other hand I know the wife wants to see more than just tan, brown and green of a softy tank that we used to have. I've thought about doing a mushroom and LPS tank but again don't know if the light I currently have will be sufficient.

I did look at the lights above. BRS states that 250-350 par is adequate for a SPS dominant tank. Does anyone have opinions to this? If this is accurate then I my next logical purchase will be a par measurement device. Then I can make determinations as to what light will work and at what height above the tank.