Reef Breeder Lighting Question

[mkoop]

Hello,

I have decided to settle on ordering my LEDs through reef breeder they seem to have fairly reputable reviews. Though I have done everything in my build so far as DIY I think this is one I am going to have to get a bit of help with.

So looking at the products offered I am trying to get a few ideas together for a 180DT.

Obviously I see their budget fixtures, how many of these would be recommended for a 180? I am assuming 3 but what benefits would there be in going with 4?

In addition if I wanted to take a step up from their budget fixtures what would be some other good options for a 180?

 

[AkaSlyGuy]

I have read several people with six foot 180g tanks use 2 photon 32's

 

[AquaTDV]

+1

2-Photon will do the trick. However be prepared to turn them down, they pack a big punch. Especially at only 24" deep.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Two of the IT2080 or Photon32 work great over a 6' tank. I've had mine for 9 months and the corals are doing as well or better than they did under 1000W of MH (where they did very well)!

 

[mwilliams62]

Reef Breeder Lighting Question

Two of the IT2080 or Photon32 work great over a 6' tank. I've had mine for 9 months and the corals are doing as well or better than they did under 1000W of MH (where they did very well)!

Very nice tank....
Did you change out any of the leds for different colors or did you keep it as it was? and which optics did you get?

 

[mkoop]

Thanks for the info I think I may go with the photon 32's actually. They look great (and so does your tank btw)!

What considerations do I need to make in regards to optic angels?

Also are the stock layouts usually optimal or should I be researching different layouts I could do for a custom?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Very nice tank....
Did you change out any of the leds for different colors or did you keep it as it was? and which optics did you get?

Thanks for the info I think I may go with the photon 32's actually. They look great (and so does your tank btw)!

What considerations do I need to make in regards to optic angels?

Also are the stock layouts usually optimal or should I be researching different layouts I could do for a custom?

Thanks for the tank compliments. It just keeps getting better and better as time goes by.

I did a very custom led layout with EverGrow. It's about 3:1 blue to white with a few violet and a couple of red leds. I used both 440nm and 460nm blues and a spread of all 3 whites. If I were doing it today I would do it differently based on what I've learned from my experience and learned from others (a lot here on RC). BTW, my corals are growing just as well as they did under 1000W of MH and 160W of t5.

I used the standard 90 degree lenses and they work OK for a 24" deep tank. I have a small issue with my LR wall going so far up the back glass.I considered taking the back row of lenses off for better coverage, but it's so close to the fixture that it would only help a little bit. Besides, that will change with my next fixtures, hopefully in the next couple of months.

 

[fltekdiver]

I'm setting up a 180 reef tank as well right now, and had a 120 tank which is 4' long, so I ordered the Proton 48" LED with 90 degree optics

Should I order a 16" proton or 24" for my 180?

Or sell the 48" at a loss, and get 2 - 32" Protons

FYI, you can't beat the programming on the Proton series over the value fixtures. I'm. Not sure though if you can program the value series

I also heard Reef Breeders is coming out with a cord, to connect them in series

 

[Stomatopod1701]

A 24 or 16 plus your 48 would work fine. I do not see why you would get rid of your 48 and get two 32s.

 

[fltekdiver]

Ok , not sure if I'm going to build a canopy to hide them. If so I'll go with a 24" plus the 48"
If not, I'll go with a. 16" so I don't get a lot of spill over

 

[Ron Reefman]

I'd go with the 16" anyway. The 48" and 16" will more than cover the tank and leave you a bit of room. The 16" and the 24" have the same number of leds so there isn't any loss in light.

If you decide to go without a canopy and switch to 2 of the 32", you should be able to get a fairly good return when you sell the 48". RB and EG have a pretty good reputation in the market now. It's not like 12-18 months ago when all Chinese lights were looked down on.