Need help with picking a new light

[DJasak]

Hey guys, I currently have a Fluval LED fixture over my 45 gallon tank and although it has been ok for what I've been doing I'm ready to start experimenting with SPS and I know this light won't cut it. The tank is 21 inches tall x 36 inches long x 12 inches front to back, and I have a brace going right down the middle of the tank on the top. The things I'm looking for in my LED light are:
-controllable
-high light output
-dimmable
-even light spread
-something that will offer superior coral growth and coloration.
-durable
-has a great warranty
-not outrageously priced
-simple to understand user face
-easy install & set up

 

[vhuang168]

-not outrageously priced

That's going to mean different things to different people. A budget would help.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ron Reefman]

Look at the new ReefBreeders 32" Photon V2. I think it hits all your criteria (cost may or may not be an issue). But if you really want all of that and think you can find one for less than $500 total... good luck.

I just got the 50" version. Hey, it's not the top of the line, does everything, makes corals jump out of the tank with rapid growth that a few crazy expensive fixtures are (sarcasm). But it does everything that really needs to be done and does them well. I had 3 EverGrow versions of the old ReefBreeders fixture for almost 4 years and they still work great, but they don't fit my new tank. BTW, the new remote with the built in controller is way easier to use than the ones in my old fixture. It took me less than 10 minutes to do a complete 24 hour new schedule over all 6 channels on my first try. My old fixtures were just 2 channels and doing just 1 fixture would take 10 minutes or more! And you had to stand in front of the fixture the entire time. Now you can program it anywhere you can take the remote. When you get back to the fixture, hit a button and it's programmed!

 

[mcgyvr]

I second Ron's suggestion.. That new V2 light looks great..

 

[DJasak]

Thank you!!

 

[Potatohead]

Either a 4 unit ATI fixture or a Hydra 52 depending on which lighting tech you like.

 

[DJasak]

Really like the new radion g4 but not sure I wanna spend that much. Lol

 

[CStrickland]

There's a long thread about the marsaqua LED's in the lighting forum. They're $90 a piece. You might need two given your tank dimensions, they light about a 2' square. Mine are doing a splendid job.

Really consider how often you'll use some of the features that lights advertise. Are you going to be sitting in front of the tank making thunderstorms and dimming around? I don't think fish like that. To me it seems sufficient to be able to dim to the required level, and then have them come on and go off automatically. This is easily accomplished with very cheap lights.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Really like the new radion g4 but not sure I wanna spend that much. Lol

That's what I said. I would have needed at least 2 Radions, maybe 3, for my new tank. That's $1500 or $2250 vs $600 for the 50" Photon V2. And the Photon can do almost anything the Radion can do... why spend the money? What extra are you getting for all that extra cash?

 

[kmbyrnes]

My vote goes to Chinese black boxes.
I have some used Gen1 Radions on my 100g reef that I got when my LFS upgraded. I'm happy with them, but experience has shown me that I paid too much.
I have 3 black boxes on a manual timer on my 125. I had 2 when it was a FOWLR.
Since adding the third, I am able to successfully keeps SPS and all the LPS are growing very rapidly. I've got less than $300 invested in lighting a 6' tank and couldn't be happier.

 

[Chicagoreef2016]

I have a Hydra 26HD on my 60 cube which works well and has a lot of flexibility/control at a good price, but based upon Rons posts that I have followed and your tank dimensions his suggestion is probably the best way to go. You would need the Hydra 52 or 2 Hydra 26s for that length. Ron has posted a lot about lights, so if/when my light goes out I will be looking to see what he recommends at the time.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Ron has posted a lot about lights, so if/when my light goes out I will be looking to see what he recommends at the time.

Thanks.

Hey, 4 tanks and 2 refugiums over the last 6 years (when I started switching to leds). I've had the opportunity to play with some fixtures. But mostly at the low cost end of fixtures with controllers. I think AI, Maxspect, EcoTech all make really good fixtures. But they don't grow coral any faster and now that the Photon has 6 channels of control, if you can't get the look you want, it's unlikely you'll get it with anybody else either. Why pay 2 or 3 times more for a tiny amount of convenience?

 

[DJasak]

Thank you Ron! I have read quite a few of your posts as well and hearing from someone like u that photons are just as good has me convinced...is the photon string enough tho to support sps and let them color up?