LED fixture for a 30g tank

[digitaljepoy]

Hi all, my tank is about to finish its cycle and I need to decide soon what lighting I should get. Im new to this hobby and I figured that I should start with a small tank, that is why I bought a 30g 24x18x12 inches tank. As of the moment, I am choosing between 2 led fixtures.

1. Dolphin 1 108 watts Cool white, Blue and Moonlight (Chinese manufacturer) cost about $180
http://www.exoticaquacultureaustralia.com/products/dolphin-1-led-aqua-light?variant=1263776119

2. AI Prime http://www.aquaillumination.com/lighting/prime/


The chinese led is nice, it has a programmable lighting too much like the AI and cost almost $100 less. But with my tank being small and all, the chinese led is quite big, it will basically cover all the top open space of the tank. I am also concerned about its power consumption (I want to take it slow with this hobby) and that it might be too much for my small tank.

I am actually more inclined on getting the AI prime since it is small and only draws 40 watts. The only concern I have with this is that it might not be strong enough to grow a tank with mostly LPS corals.

Please help me decided, I love the hobby and im very excited to know how far this hobby would take me. Thank you so much RC!

 

[bmrigs]

Check out the Ocean Revive Artic-SO26 for $136

http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/index.php

 

[digitaljepoy]

Check out the Ocean Revive Artic-SO26 for $136

http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/index.php

thanks, but that is also too big for my tank, but ill put that on my list.

 

[alton]

Try a Buildmyled 14k XB fixture with a manual dimmer.

 

[dendrite]

I have a lovely AI Hydra on my 30 gallon frag tank which manages to grow chalice, gorgonians, and tons of halimeda which just sprouted on the rocks on the bottom, and sps on frag racks mounted on the side walls 1/3 down. It's mounted 8 inches above the water line, and I got it and a wireless controller used here on RC for about 200.00 shipping included