Need advice on a led light

[Smknnoakland]

I have a 72 gallon fowlr with a rbta. Have a 20 gallon sump/refugium. I currently have this light..... http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/orbit-marine-fixtures/orbit-marine/. The 36"-48". Thinking I should of got the 48"-60", since my tank is 48" long. Was loking at this light.....http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/orbit-marine-fixtures/orbit-marine-pro/. The 4113 model. I like this brand. Like the sunrise/sunset option, and programable. Just looking for a good led light for my setup and anemone. Would also like the option of adding corals later. Thanks for any input.

 

[mcgyvr]

In general those lights only work ok with lower light corals in shallower tanks.. You will be ok with softies/mushrooms,etc.. and others but won't be able to put anything you want in there as far as corals go..

 

[Smknnoakland]

Are you saying the light I have is ok for lighter corals, or the light I might get. Tank is 18" deep. My rbta is on the top layer of rock. Maybe about 8" from the light. Can you recommend any other led lights? Really don't want MH lights. Gets the tank way to hot, and I don't have a chiller.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Reefbreeders

 

[TheOtherDB]

Smknnoakland ...
I have Current products on some of my tanks, and live them. I have the ability to change Red Green and Blue as well as Cool White channels with a nifty little hand remote. All in all, pretty cool light.

BUT ...

In my last upgrade, I opted for an Aqua Illuminations Prime. The price point was competitive and it had the same level of channel control as the Current PLUS the ability to program each channel independently for time. So, as I mentioned elsewhere in this forum, I am able to set up what I've been calling a light curve that will emulate a sunrise. I can, for instance, set the red channel only to come on, ramping from 0% to 6% over the course of 2 hours. Then set the blue or white channels to begin ramping up ... and so on. It is infinitely variable and allows the greatest flexibility I've ever experienced in an aquarium light. The controller to run all of the foregoing is free and runs on my PC or smart phone.

The makers of the Prime [Aqua Illumination] also sell Hydra models with greater light output using the same easy, free and flexible controller.

There may be other lights out there that will hit a bulls eye on one aspect of reef lighting or another, but this is the ONLY light that I have found that either is in the bulls eye or very close in EVERY aspect with a price point that isn't as stupid expensive.

 

[TheOtherDB]

PS: "live = love" in my last post here ... wish I could edit ... and my 34 gallon tank is about 24" tall, the light is about 12" above the water line, I have SPS, LPS, 'nems and zoas all doing splendidly well.

 

[TheOtherDB]

PPS: ... and I've seen these [AI Hydra mostly] lights in many local fish stores successfully growing about every imaginable species / variety of coral out there.

 

[allicassydanny]

Would 2 Prime HDs be enough for a 90, mostly soft and LPS corals?

 

[Smknnoakland]

Thanks for all the info. I'm going to start checking them out now. Are they fully programmable? Do they have the sunrise/sunset/moonlight? What I mean is do you have to program the sunrise, or this there an automatic setting for it?

 

[Smknnoakland]

Those aquaillumation lights look pretty nice. Like the moon cycle frim new moon, to full moon. How do you figure out how many you would need for a tank? My tank is 72 gallon bowfront.

 

[TheOtherDB]

I think I'd move up to the Hydra 26s for a 90 gallon tank...maybe 2 (minimum) or 3 of them depending on how long the tank is. I think 2 Hydra 26s would suffice for a 72 gallon, again depending on how long it is. In my humble opinion, potential for overkill is better than just meeting the need ... for a host of reasons. I don't think the small yet mighty Prime is quite up to the task for the two tank volumes above ... well maybe 6 of them LOL!

Having multiple lights, with more capability than you need will: distribute light better (fewer shadows), and lengthen the already crazy long life of the LEDs because you can run the at, say 60%, instead of 100% ... make sense?

My little reef is only 34 gallons and one Prime is enough to keep things happy and growing. But, already on my wish list, is a second Prime to accomplish the second paragraph above.

Another factor in choosing is water depth. My rules of thumb are:

Longer tank = more lights ( distribution )
Deeper tank = stronger lights ( penetration )

In closing, if you have more illumination than you need, you can always throttle back (with LEDs). If you don't have enough illumination, it's more difficult ($$$) to remedy.

So, those are my wholly unqualified thoughts ... you'll find as many opinions out there as there are words in this reply. Part of the fun is figuring it all out, right?

PS: There are Hydra 52s out there as well:

1 cluster (or puck) = Prime
2 clusters = Hydra 26
4 clusters = Hydra 52 (you may be able to tan with this one ... not sure!)
... just sayin'

 

[Smknnoakland]

Thanks again for the info. My tank is 48"l × 18" d

 

[The Phantom]

What LED lighting would you use for a 180 gallon aquarium mixed reef tank

 

[oseymour]

Thanks again for the info. My tank is 48"l × 18" d

My Red Sea Reefer 350 is 48 long by 20 high and I'm running 2 Radion pros.





A single Prime or Hydra will not light the tank properly. The only one that will do it is probably a kessil AP700 and you have to raise it high and coral placement will important. High light corals at the end and lower light ones in the middle. I actually ran this setup for a while.

What LED lighting would you use for a 180 gallon aquarium mixed reef tank

Check out this BRS TV episode on LEDS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7XLgLiA0PM. It will give you coverage and spread on some of the popular LEDS.

If it's a 5 or 6 foot tank you'll need 2 AP700 or 3 or 4 of the other manufacturers. I've never used any of the budget brands but I've seen some great tanks with them and those can be viable options.