2ft cube lighting options

[skyecw]

Hi there - I’m setting up a 60cm cube tank at the moment and my last purchase needed before getting everything up and running is a light! I’m looking at both new and used options and my budget is £400/$500 but would rather stay below that! I haven’t much clue about lights so would love some input/suggestions!

I primarily will just have LPS and softies but the option to keep a couple of SPS in the future would be fab. Apart from that I want to hopefully stick to one singular light rather than multiple. I do have a kessil spectral controller and gooseneck so have been looking at the Kessil A360W E Tuna Blue. Additionally have been looking at the AI Hydra 32HD. Any opinions on these or suggestions of others would be greatly appreciated!

 

[reefsaver]

Considering you have the arm, I would probably go with the A360W it has good penetration and is suitable for SPS and LPS. Because of it's Beam style light I'd worry about coverage. Personally I'd get an XR15 G6 Radion for the spread but I think the repurposability of an A360W for a deeper larger tank down the line makes it a great addition to any reefers arsenal. The A360W is a great light, a little pricier than the XR15 but still both lights are high quality and top of the range in the industry of Reef lighting so you can't got wrong with either. As for the Hydra 32HD, I've read that it can grow a mixed reef of SPS, LPS and Softies well, in a 24 inch by 24 inch area.
They're all good lights and when you break them down can be used for specific purposes like punching deep in a tank or spreading light across a frag area.

 

[twentyleagues]

Check out these https://www.reefi-lab.com/product/reefi-uno-2-0-pro/
I currently use one with the 120 degree lens on a 28x28x24" tank. Its a great light. I am using 155w at peak power out of 270w possible getting over 200 par at the top of the rock over a good portion of the tank, rock surface is about 10-12" below the surface. This would also be able be moved to another tank in the future should you choose to upgrade tanks.

Kessils are great lights also. A little more limited versus other designs but would probably cover your tank until your have a bunch of growth. But this is with any light you will choose.

 

[reefsaver]

The Reefi Uno Pro looks awesome, new to me

 

[twentyleagues]

The Reefi Uno Pro looks awesome, new to me

Very nice light. You can check out some poor quality pics and vids in my tank thread.

 

[Northern Flicker]

What about the Photon 16 or 24? Comes with mounting legs.

 

[oreo54]

There is probably a dozen or more "useable" LEDs for a tank like this. I assume 24" depth as well.

GHL Mitras,Kessil, Radion, Reefi, Reef Factory even Micmol G4 aqua pros are $400-+ $500 in the more useable sizes depending on what comes with them. Mounts , controllers ect.

Go Nicrew, Noopsyche, "Black Box" or Chinese direct clones of popular brands if saving money is the issue.
$130 gets you a Wills black box with timer/remote and even a thermometer. 110 watts half of which is not blue..

WILLS Aquarium Light, Remote Dimmable Full Spectrum Fish Tank Light with 3 Dimming Modes, 55 Premium SMD Chips, LED Touch Screen & Timer for Saltwater Freshwater Coral Reef Plant (15.7"x8.2"x2.7")​

You could pick by power, or spectrum or features or mount types or " focus" or even looks.
You need to decide which of those is a need or a want.

Having some Kessil parts may make the 360x appealing but depends on what I said above. And it will still be in the same range price wise as others.


10 people will have 10 opinions of which is the best light .

 

[MIke Wood]

I currently have a 24x24x24 cube and use 2 nicrew 100 hyperreefs with an aquaticlife t5 hybrid fixture. This is alot of light and i have the nicrews just above 50%. not sure if nicrew is an option in Scotland but worth a look. they come with the mounting arm which i did not like and didn't need since they are mounting in the hybrid fixture, but i think with some work they are useful.

 

[oreo54]

I currently have a 24x24x24 cube and use 2 nicrew 100 hyperreefs with an aquaticlife t5 hybrid fixture. This is alot of light and i have the nicrews just above 50%. not sure if nicrew is an option in Scotland but worth a look. they come with the mounting arm which i did not like and didn't need since they are mounting in the hybrid fixture, but i think with some work they are useful.

Nicrew is available at Amazon UK.
O/t...
Did you buy the controller?

 

[thaifood]

I have a Red Sea 200 G2, which is close to a 2 foot cube. I started with a Red Sea 90, but it did not give me the par I wanted for SPS and I had a lot of shadowing. I replaced it with 2 AI Grows and 1 AI Glow. I love them. I have them dialed back on intensity, so I have room to increase the par should I want to. I also have no shading issues now. I have them sitting on the tank with the included brackets, and I like the low profile as well.

 

[MIke Wood]

Nicrew is available at Amazon UK.
O/t...
Did you buy the controller?

I run mine off my apex. it was a cheaper option and gives me more points of adjustment. the nicrew only has 6 points of adjustment.