I'm new to the hobby and I'm trying to build my tank setup capable of doing both SPS/LPS corals. At the moment I'm starting with a JBJ RL-45 rimless tank, it's 45g and measures 26.5"X21"X19". At the moment I'm looking at Kessil lights, either a A360WE or 2 of the A160WE. Is there a LED out there that might do better? Because I kinda like the simplicity of the Kessil lights, but will consider others if they would work better. :beer:
Best LED for mixed reef tank?
- Thread starter Lion Fish
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Reeferparty
New member
f3honda4me
New member
You can get away with the non PRO G4 too
christiantt
New member
You can compare the PAR values and light spread here. The lights being mentioned here are comparable 
http://www.aquaillumination.com/science/par.html
http://www.aquaillumination.com/science/par.html
Ron Reefman
Active member
The honest to god truth is, they all work except for the really underpowered ones using 0.5 watt leds. The MarsAqua at $100 makes light just as capable of growing coral as a $800 EcoTech Radion. Over the last 6 years I've had some experience with most of them.
What it boils down to is what options you want to pay for. These options don't really make the light they produce any better at growing coral, but they give you more control if you want it.
Basic is 2 channels with manual dimmers, at $100 to $250 and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them, A $100 MarsAqua will grow coral just fine. Then a step up and you get 2 channel fixtures with built-in timers and digital dimmers. The next level gets you a controller so you can do sunrise/sunset/moonlights. This does nothing for the coral, but it's an option many people (me included) like. Finally there are the multiple channel controllers so every color led (6 or 8 typically) can be controlled and ramped up and down individually. So you can really tailor the overall color of the light in the tank. Does this make coral grow faster? In a word, NO. But some of us (me included) think we know so much that we can mix the colors better than the basic 2 channel fixture manufacturers, so we pay through the nose for the chance to try. Or, some of us are so picky about the ascetics or look of the color of the light in the tank that we pay for the ability to make it just exactly what we want (this isn't me)!
In short, your corals really don't care that much, they all work. It's really all about the options you want to play with and the overall look, and to a lesser extent, the quality of the fixture. And 99.9% of the people here will tell you the one they own is the very best. There is no overall best, just the one you like the best for your budget. Those are not the same thing!
What it boils down to is what options you want to pay for. These options don't really make the light they produce any better at growing coral, but they give you more control if you want it.
Basic is 2 channels with manual dimmers, at $100 to $250 and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them, A $100 MarsAqua will grow coral just fine. Then a step up and you get 2 channel fixtures with built-in timers and digital dimmers. The next level gets you a controller so you can do sunrise/sunset/moonlights. This does nothing for the coral, but it's an option many people (me included) like. Finally there are the multiple channel controllers so every color led (6 or 8 typically) can be controlled and ramped up and down individually. So you can really tailor the overall color of the light in the tank. Does this make coral grow faster? In a word, NO. But some of us (me included) think we know so much that we can mix the colors better than the basic 2 channel fixture manufacturers, so we pay through the nose for the chance to try. Or, some of us are so picky about the ascetics or look of the color of the light in the tank that we pay for the ability to make it just exactly what we want (this isn't me)!
In short, your corals really don't care that much, they all work. It's really all about the options you want to play with and the overall look, and to a lesser extent, the quality of the fixture. And 99.9% of the people here will tell you the one they own is the very best. There is no overall best, just the one you like the best for your budget. Those are not the same thing!
It's certainly amongst the most expensive. Not out long enough to draw any further conclusions.
C5Chad
Member
Very curious about this as well. I'm just starting my tank and have a 48" long AquaticLife Reef Edition Edge LED light and have been wondering how it will do for different corals. I'm fairly new to all of this and just bought what my lfs recommended. Which may or may not have been the best idea. Looks good though in my opinion so far in my tank, looks better than just my old T5 setup and has the sunrise, sunset, and moonlight modes with ramping up and down on digital timers. Really cool in my opinion but I'm sure it isn't the best by any means.
Xandernfs
New member
I would agree with this as well. I'd be curious as to what makes this the 'king of the hill'. IMO, Ron said it very well. It really all depends on how much you want to spend, but the corals don't really care that much. Many like the shimmer of the Kessil, others like the price point of the Chinese Black Box, while others like paying for the name.
Ron Reefman
Active member
+1,000,000.... OK, that's enough zeros!
MarsAqua fixture for under $100 grows coral. The rest is just extra expense for toys that we play with.
arowana429
New member
Great information! I will be getting a radion. Will update.
Cajunreefer87
New member
I will say that having a sunrise/sunset setting is nice to please the person, not the corals.
Ron Reefman
Active member
I agree completely, that's why I've had sunrise/sunset ability for the last 5 years. I'm home a lot and I enjoy watching the tank change through the day.
I also just stepped up to a 6 channel system so I can control the color in my tank better. Does it improve the coral growth or health... I seriously doubt it. But I enjoy having the ability.
But neither one is of much, if any, importance to the coral or anything else in the tank.
I switched over from a kessil 160 to a g4 xr15 pro over my 35 cube tank. I do like it and the corals do seem to be getting better color but it did cost a boatload and I've seen Mars aqua LEDs have better growth and color than my tank. I think Ron summed it up pretty well
RegalAngel
Member
I like the design of the lights better on this one.....
The New GHL Mitras LX7 LED
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2621935
Ron Reefman
Active member
Define 'king of the hill'?
One of the most expensive? Yes
Have most or all of the bells and whistles that you don't really need? Yes
The biggest seller? I seriously doubt it
Grow coral faster or healthier than a $100 MarsAqua or any other 3 watt led fixture? No
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