SB reefs vs Reef breeders???

[linelife1474]

OK so I'm wanting to upgrade my light on my 55 and my budget is less than 500 I have read on both but being new to hobby not sure what one is better of if there is a better option.

Models sbox pro 32 (sbreefs) and photon 32 (reef breeders)

Any help would be appreciated also if u have been light for that price range let me know

 

[linelife1474]

Some of the specs

 

[linelife1474]

Nothing?

 

[sde1500]

I don't think they are selling the photon 32 you have pictured. Reefbreeders just released their V2 of it. I have the V1 you pictured there and am so far very happy with it.

 

[linelife1474]

OK I saw the v2 on there didn't know they discontinued the v1 I am leaning towards SB reefs 16" pro ramping the more I read tho

 

[Ou8me2]

OK I saw the v2 on there didn't know they discontinued the v1 I am leaning towards SB reefs 16" pro ramping the more I read tho

16 would be too small for a 55... unless I'm misunderstanding you.

 

[Devaji108]

I think RB are still have V1 for sale intil out of stock...might just need to to contact Logan and see.

the V2 are looking slim and sexy + the 6 channels. I am about to pick one up in a cpl weeks

 

[lobstergrabber]

The SBReeflights come from right down the road and he brought one to our meeting last week and spoke about lighting. Sharp looking light, well built, and in exactly the right spectrum to give you all the light you need for years to come. And they are cheap compared to most others as well. Don't forget to look at warranties, SBReeflights are two years on the entire unit.

Richard

 

[linelife1474]

The SBReeflights come from right down the road and he brought one to our meeting last week and spoke about lighting. Sharp looking light, well built, and in exactly the right spectrum to give you all the light you need for years to come. And they are cheap compared to most others as well. Don't forget to look at warranties, SBReeflights are two years on the entire unit.

Richard

Great to hear for the price I agree seems like the best choice and warranty

 

[Devaji108]

I have never heard of them before this post. looks like there nice lights but there a bit bulky for me tho..IMHO

 

[linelife1474]

They are on the larger side but for the price and capabilities worth it to me

 

[loui]

I just got my reef breeders photon 48 V2 and I am very impressed with this light so far. I have asked Logan several questions, so far and he always gets back to me with in a reasonable amount of time. It also has a 2 year warranty. I was stuck between SB reef 32, ap700 (to much money) and the reef breeders one that I got. My deciding choice was the reef breeders after asking SB reef if the 32 inch version is good for a 48 inch length tank (75 gallon) it was suggested they needed to be suspended above the tank higher then the feet that they provided and I have no desire to suspend them. I am also glad that I went reef breeders the unit is a lot thinner and I think will look nicer when I finally get it set up. As far as to what light may better at growing corals I will never be able to comment on that.

 

[fernalfer]

do the lights have that shimmering some leds give to the water?

 

[sde1500]

I don't think the shimmer is that bad from mine. The layout is different for the v2 though so can't speak to that.

 

[loui]

Finally got my photon 48 V2 light set up and I am very pleased with it. I have mine at the top level that the feet allow up to go which is about 9 inches. I am running the blues at a max of 60 percent for about 6 hours and the whites at a max of 30 percent for about 2 hours with gradual adjustments up and down though out the photo period. I will probably max out at 75 percent blues and 50 percent whites (for 2 hours).The moon lighting is really neat running at only 3 percent really shows the tank in a whole different way, i run it like that for a couple of hours. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with this light. Wish I could get better pictures may be my next project to learn how to take a good picture. The shimmer is there and I like it, but it is no where near some of the videos I have seen of the AP700, which I thought was to much.

Also I never realized how loud the fans where on my 165W Chinese LEDS until I removed them. This light is very quiet, but I am running pretty low, so it may get louder when I increase usage.

<a href="http://s284.photobucket.com/user/louiloui40/media/IMAG0777_zpscfoucjk7.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll30/louiloui40/IMAG0777_zpscfoucjk7.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMAG0777_zpscfoucjk7.jpg"/></a>

Also here is an email from Logan explaining his recommendations.

Channel 5 is the 480nm blue, I would recommend using those as moonlights for a couple hours before the rest of the channels come on/after they go off.

It is a big more complex to program 6 channels. The most important channels are the 450nm royal blues (CH3), the 420nm violets (CH6), the 5500K nuetral whites (CH4), and the 480nm blues (CH5). To make it easier, you can keep CH3, 6, and 5 at the same power, and then set CH4 to the desired kelvin rating (more power to CH4= lower kelvin rating). Then CH1, which is the reds, can be run at whatever looks good without adding too much purple (lets say 70% of what you are running the blues at as a good rule of thumb) and you can leave CH2 off if you want, green isn't really that useful.

 

[marinelife]

I tested a SB light over my tank, the knobs can bent, the corners of the housing was not smooth. The PAR in the middle of my tank was 250 compared to 450 of another light I was testing. More blue than I think you need as well but that is just my opinion, some people believe and like the really blue look to their tanks. I also do not believe there is just one good spectrum of light. Different corals need different spectrums. The key is finding the right mix for the corals you are wanting to keep.
If I was only picking one of those two I would go with the reef breeders.

 

[AgeDynasty]

The SBReeflights come from right down the road and he brought one to our meeting last week and spoke about lighting. Sharp looking light, well built, and in exactly the right spectrum to give you all the light you need for years to come. And they are cheap compared to most others as well. Don't forget to look at warranties, SBReeflights are two years on the entire unit.

Richard

+1, I definitely agree that the SBReef lights are very sharp and are capable of hitting every spectrum that corals need, I saw the guys tank that produced them and all I can say is WOW, his SPS we very nicely colored and his lps and softies look just as good, I would say you couldn't go wrong with them and the warranty is out of this world