Rate my lighting setup!

[chappy86]

I have a coralife T-5 dual lamp (both 10k daylights) 56 watts total and a Current Usa Orbit reef capable leds 96 Dual Daylight/96 Dual Actinic LEDs, 192 LEDs Total. I think its 42 or 46 watts.

What do ya'll think about this ofr a mixed tank?

 

[hann1bal]

If you havn't already - remove the coralife bulbs and replace them with ATI. I like Coral+ and Blue+ personnaly but they make a HUGE difference IMO.

 

[chappy86]

I've already replaced those bad boys. You think its a good setup for a mixed tank?

 

[Bpb]

What's the tank size


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chappy86]

75gallon.

 

[Lsufan]

I would think u may be ok with softies but I think u will be pushing it with lps. Maybe a couple lps up high in the tank but definetly no sps or clams. With the wattage u are saying then the t-5 must be 24" ? I would think u would need a 48" 4-bulb t5 (which will be 216 watts)to be able to have lps towards the bottom. That led just isn't powerful enough to really penetrate to the bottom. Usually u want a led fixture that has 3 watt LEDs.

I'm no lighting expert so see what others have to say but I think u will be pushing it with anything other then softies.

 

[Bpb]

Lsufan is right. You are drastically underpowering that tank lighting wise. If you bought this stuff retail you paid an arm and a leg and for that I am sorry. Coralife and Current charge criminally high prices for what is essentially entry level gear really only suited for fish only and the absolute lowest of light corals such as mushrooms and certain other undemanding softies. I wouldn't hold out hope for a well filled mixed reef though. In order to keep a wide variety of lps, sps, and some softies you'll want like mentioned a minimum of a 4x54 watt t5ho fixture with quality reflectors, of a pair of 165 watt Mars aqua led boxes. That's about as cheap as you'll be able to go but still provide enough light and a quality enough spectrum to fill the tank with any desirable variety of corals. The good news is that you're only looking at $150 investment maybe, if you purchase that all brand new. Offset that cost with whatever you can sell your current lighting for and you're even invested even less. It doesn't have to be real expensive to get good lighting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ron Reefman]

+1 for what Bpb said

There are a ton of threads here at RC about Current, and Marineland leds, but people keep buying them. I think it's criminal. There marketing propaganda isn't a lie, but it sure doesn't tell the whole story and they charge the same thing for their 0.5 watt leds as other companies charge for good quality 3 watt leds. It's a shame.

 

[Keelo]

I also have a 75 gallon assuming you have the standard 75 tank I went with 2 hydra 26 hd prime. They have controllability and ease of use that I think goes unmatched in the led lighting side and they aren't too bad on pricing either. I have good par spread in my tank enough for sps in the sand and I only have them cranked up to about 75% total power


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk