Selecting the right lighting

[allendehl]

Hello folks,

I am considering buying a Read Sea Reefer 350 as my first reef tank. They do sell their "Deluxe" version which cost $700 extra and includes 2 AI Hydra 26 HD LED modules with support. That alone costs $850 separate so, it seems like a good deal on principle.

Is this a good value? I am really looking for nice looking fixtures that go well with the elegant look of the Reefer 350 but before shedding off an extra $700 in lighting I'd like to know if there are better/cheaper options in the market. I don't particular care about being able to control the light from y phone or voice or that super connectivity. Those are the kind of things you do three times and then only as a show off once in a year.

I am planing in having fish and rocks at the beginning but certainly some corals and other stuff in the future, so I am looking for something that I can scale.

Thanks a lot for all the help you have been giving me!

 

[strikeratt]

The question your going to be asked is what kind of corals are you looking at keeping?

This will determine an appropriate light. For example, fish only you could under nearly any light conditions. A SPS tank, you're not only looking at a high quality light, but some high quality parameters as well.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Not sure what you mean when you say you are looking for something you can scale? If you mean something you can start with and then improve on it as you need to... there isn't much out there like that.

If you want good looks, that probably means you don't want any black box fixtures. They are starting to look dated and they sure aren't classy looking. So not a good fit for a Red Sea Reefer system. On a 48" long tank you're going to want 2 standard size fixtures or a single bigger fixture like 32" or even 48". A Reef Breeders 32" is almost $600, and there isn't much in the way of good looking fixtures that are cheaper. If I was in your shoes, I think I'd take the 2 Hydra 26's if you like the look of brackets from behind the tank vs thin legs at the ends.

I didn't get a deal on Hydra 26's so I went with RB Photon V2. I still think it looks just as good. You can see my tank here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24774901&postcount=118

 

[allendehl]

Not sure what you mean when you say you are looking for something you can scale? If you mean something you can start with and then improve on it as you need to... there isn't much out there like that.

If you want good looks, that probably means you don't want any black box fixtures. They are starting to look dated and they sure aren't classy looking. So not a good fit for a Red Sea Reefer system. On a 48" long tank you're going to want 2 standard size fixtures or a single bigger fixture like 32" or even 48". A Reef Breeders 32" is almost $600, and there isn't much in the way of good looking fixtures that are cheaper. If I was in your shoes, I think I'd take the 2 Hydra 26's if you like the look of brackets from behind the tank vs thin legs at the ends.

I didn't get a deal on Hydra 26's so I went with RB Photon V2. I still think it looks just as good. You can see my tank here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24774901&postcount=118

Those are good looking tanks!! And the RB look great on them. The 48" seems to be running at aprox $650, which compares well to the Hydras. How do they compare quality wise?

BTW, By "scale" I mean that now I plan in having only rocks and fish, later on some corals and more complex critters as I learn the hobby. I want something that would work for a highest possible span of uses around that price. Would these two options cover me?

Thanks!

 

[Valentini89]

Those are good looking tanks!! And the RB look great on them. The 48" seems to be running at aprox $650, which compares well to the Hydras. How do they compare quality wise?

BTW, By "scale" I mean that now I plan in having only rocks and fish, later on some corals and more complex critters as I learn the hobby. I want something that would work for a highest possible span of uses around that price. Would these two options cover me?

Thanks!

You would want to go ahead and purchase your high-output lighting now. A reefbreeders photon V2 or AI hydra, or if you have the cash there are the radions but probably more than you're wanting to spend right now at about $800 each.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Those are good looking tanks!! And the RB look great on them. The 48" seems to be running at aprox $650, which compares well to the Hydras. How do they compare quality wise?

The AI Hydras are made by Eco Tech the same as the Radions. AI was purchases by Eco Tech some time ago. They should be very well made. I had a Radion and it was OK, but was a bit over the top with computer control and it ran too warm, but it was only their first generation. I just see their stuff as overpriced for the small improvement in quality.

The Reef Breeders Photon V2 has a simple remote control and can do virtually anything the Radion can do in terms of the light that goes into the water, and that's what you really care about. It just my opinion, but I think the Photon is the best value of all the high end, with lots of features fixtures out there. The Photon is made in China by EverGrow for Reef Breeders (who is in the US. I've met the owners of both companies and they are both very serious about customer satisfaction.

BTW, By "scale" I mean that now I plan in having only rocks and fish, later on some corals and more complex critters as I learn the hobby. I want something that would work for a highest possible span of uses around that price. Would these two options cover me?

Thanks!

Either of these fixtures would do everything from start up to an all sps acro tank. They both have sunrise/sunset control and they both have multiple channels of color control (every color of led has it's own ability to dim). I can tell you from personal experience that the Photon runs VERY cool. I run mine with the 2 blue channels at 90% and the white and violet channels at 40% and it doesn't get warm enough for the fans to even turn on! But I think the Hydra 26's would do you just as well. It probably comes down to aesthetics.

 

[allendehl]

Thanks lot to all of you!!! I definitely landed in the best possible forum!