Lights

[Switch08]

Hello all,

First, thanks for your time reading this.

I been in this hobby for almost a year now, not sure if I'm still a newbie as i been reading for like 2 years but I think practical experience is what really make you better at anything.

Now to the point:

My system consist of 2 tanks one that measure 150cm x 50cm x 50cm and a smaller one that is just 120cm x 25cm (bottom to top) x 27cm (front to back) this is all set up with a sump of around 45 gallons.

So, I want to change the lights in the bigger tank, i want to switch to LEDs but I'm concerned about what should be ideal, so far not interested in SPS and my lights are doing fine for softies but want to make sure I wont be killing LPS and that in some time in the future some SPS, may be the ones with lower requirements, can be happy on my system.

I have someone that build lights but he want me to give the exact parameters i want the new lights to have.

If there someone with experience in lights or even if anyone can point me in the right direction it would be awesome.

Thanks again for your time.

 

[jml1149]

Not to be snarky, but have you googled DIY reef tank lights? There's hundreds of threads and articles. However, it's gotten to the same point where the cost of DIY LED's is almost the same as a cheap fixture. What's your budget?

All that being said, the difference between good enough and great in my tank was the a. The switch to Kalk and b. Upgrade from knockoff LED's to Kessil A160.

Had I my time back, I would have just gone with the Kessils from the get go.

 

[Ron Reefman]

You can buy well made fixtures for less than the cost of a DIY fixture these days. I have a 180g tank with 2 Chinese (EverGrow/ReefBreeders) 32" fixtures. In 3 1/2 years my sps have done just as well or better than when I had 1000 watts of MH and 160 watts of t5 lighting. Three MarsAqua fixtures would let you keep anything in the tank and would cost you about $270. That's the bottom end starting point and prices, quality and features go up from there.

 

[tomreefer]

here is a good video on LEDS's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7XLgLiA0PM

I am leaning towards Hydra 26's

 

[Switch08]

Thank you all for your input.

Quick clarification, I’m not in the states so prices may be different, getting lights here in Costa Rica from any overseas provider is very expensive, taxes are crazy, I.E. what in Amazon says $200 may end up in $380 so I want to make it right, my 2 options are 1- get good lights or waste the money invested 2- get someone to build lights with parameters similar to some brand/fixture, my concern is mainly how to make sure the power of the lights will be enough for a tank 50cm deep, I got some LEDs from Amazon when I started and I still have them just, they aren’t strong enough, I know it was my mistake for buying something I know nothing about so I’m trying not to make the same mistake again.

Thanks again

 

[Switch08]

Not to be snarky, but have you googled DIY reef tank lights? There's hundreds of threads and articles. However, it's gotten to the same point where the cost of DIY LED's is almost the same as a cheap fixture. What's your budget?

All that being said, the difference between good enough and great in my tank was the a. The switch to Kalk and b. Upgrade from knockoff LED's to Kessil A160.

Had I my time back, I would have just gone with the Kessils from the get go.

the issue is exactly that there are hundreds if not thousands of guides and reviews, I'm looking for a more, lets say, personal response tanking into account my specific tank measures.

Thank you.

 

[tomreefer]

Well the Radion's will give the most par and probably the beast of the LED. However, the price is high. The Hydra is probably next with par values and has a nice spread of light. The Kessils give the best shimmer effect if you like that. I didn't like the Kessils at all.

I went to my LFS and he had both Kessils and Hydra 26 on his tanks. He told me that both will give you corals growth, but the hydra's are better in his opinion. I liked the colors better on the Hydra as well than the kessils.

 

[Switch08]

So, adding up, found this:

https://www.amazon.com/Galaxyhydro-...t_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Z8GGGY857CPBXWJVZFC6

they recommend those for a 20 to 50 gallon tank, so if my tank is around the 100 can I get away with 2 of them? Like I said: in this regard I'm a newbie, thanks for your input guys.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Well the Radion's will give the most par and probably the beast of the LED. However, the price is high. The Hydra is probably next with par values and has a nice spread of light. The Kessils give the best shimmer effect if you like that. I didn't like the Kessils at all.

I went to my LFS and he had both Kessils and Hydra 26 on his tanks. He told me that both will give you corals growth, but the hydra's are better in his opinion. I liked the colors better on the Hydra as well than the kessils.

I'd like to know where you get your PAR specs to rate different fixtures as being high or low PAR.

I have a PAR meter and my first hand experience doing tests with dozens and dozens of club members over the last few years doesn't line up with your comments. I had a Radion and I have several different inexpensive Chinese made fixtures and they make just as much PAR as the Radion or AI or Maxspect.:headwally: