Lighting for Deep Blue 80g "Frag Tank" Shallow Reef Tank

[antciam]

I am starting to gather equipment for a new office tank. I am planning on replacing my 40 breeder with a Deep Blue Rimless 80g "Frag Tank". The tank will be a mix reef with focus on SPS once the tank recycles.

I need help on the lighting. I want to go the LED route and I am torn between the options: two Kessils A360W, two AI Hydra 26 HD, or two ZT-6500A?

Thank you for your help.

 

[brandoncoelho30]

Personally i would go hydra, im setting up the same tank soon and i will be using hydra 26 hds

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk

 

[Greybeard]

Just set the same tank up at a local aquarium shop, 2x Kessil A360's do a heck of a job.

 

[antciam]

I have a feeling I am going to have a hard time deciding between the Kessils and the AI.

 

[antciam]

Anyone use AQUATIC LIFE HALO LED lights?

 

[ReefCowboy]

I would go Ai. Own both, although Kessils have the best blues, feel AI is a better light

 

[antciam]

I think it will basically come down to price and what accessory will I need to buy.

 

[JamesHolt]

What size is that tank 2'x4'x12"??
I have one is why I am asking, trying to decide on lights myself

 

[antciam]

Its 4' long, 2' wide and 16" tall

 

[JamesHolt]

Nice, the way mine is setup now I have an ugly Atlas highbay fixture with 6 bulbs about 16" of the water getting about 120par on the sand...
Wanting to tear it down and make it nicer looking...

 

[Yolly416]

I would go with AI

 

[Greybeard]

Anyone use AQUATIC LIFE HALO LED lights?

Yup. I have one over my 60g cube.

Love the form factor, love the mount, love that I don't have to have an external controller. No 'disco ball' effect, easily adjustable... The 2 channel timers do what I need them to do, and it's been perfectly reliable for me... had it almost a year now.

Coral coloration has been excellent. The first coral I put in this system, 10 months ago, was a $5 brown acro frag. Just to see if it'd like my tank. it's now a deep, brilliant green. My red planet is still nice and red, hammer coral at the sand bed is growing like a weed. Monti cap is, as well.

I have to say, I'm not getting the growth rates I used to get under halides, but I'm not sure if it's light, or some other factor.

The other downside is spotlighting effect. Just like a Kessel, it's a single pinpoint source. Shadowing can be a problem. In a frag tank, that's less likely to be an issue.

 

[m_alrkyan]

If your looking for growth go for T5 or if you want led use high par intensity led like AI hydra 26 or 52 even zetlight is good

 

[billdogg]

I have and use both a pair of A360w's and a pair of AI Sol Blues. The AI's are on my 120g DT, the A360w's on my 60g frag tank (4 x 2 x 12") Either will be fine. I'd be surprised if you have to turn either up past 60% or so. IMHO, they are both great lights. One of the reasons I went with the A360's on the frag tank was so that If I decide to go to a swap I can easily take one with me.

 

[WaReefer458]

If you are dead set on SPS I would not go LED as the only lighting without saturating the tank. On the other hand 2 kessils with a couple t5 retrofits work really well on my LFS's displays but they are all LPS and softies. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Go with the tried and true MH and t5 to get the growth and color I am guessing you want

 

[ReefCowboy]

I agree with the above statement,but must say have seen some really nice led only tanks with incredible colors. I believe if you start out with frags of sps instead of colonies, chances are higher that the piece will do better and develop its full potential vs a colony kept under mh/t5 being switched to leds..