Absolute best reef lighting system

[FLREEFER86]

Looking for some feedback on the absolute best lighting system with no regards to cost. I have a Waterbox 65.4 with a Kessil AP700. I like the light but I'm interested in knowing if there is anything better maybe even something that will simulate weather of ocean reefs including clouds, lightning and thunder, sun rise and sunset, moons etc that makes smooth transitions in realistic timing.

 

[kvansloo]

Looking for some feedback on the absolute best lighting system with no regards to cost. I have a Waterbox 65.4 with a Kessil AP700. I like the light but I'm interested in knowing if there is anything better maybe even something that will simulate weather of ocean reefs including clouds, lightning and thunder, sun rise and sunset, moons etc that makes smooth transitions in realistic timing.

Orphek Unveils Revolutionary Natura iCon Reef LED Light: The Future of Reef Aquarium Illumination

 

[bobnicaragua]

Metal halide are the absolute best at growing coral and keeping them healthy. Not sure which light is the best toy. Reefi UNO maybe?

Orphek has a new light that adjusts the lighting period based on the time of year, but that sounds unappealing to me. I feel like my alk demand would be all over the place.

 

[Oldreefer44]

"best" is what fits your needs. There are numerous lights out there that could be described as "best" based on:
How you want to install them
What corals are you trying to grow
How much control you want over them
How their light spread matches the size of your tank
And probably several other things that I'm not thinking of.
Most will try to sell you on what they have because it is human nature to seek affirmation for choices made and they probably all could be described as "best" in some way or another. My suggestion would be to narrow it down to two or three choices and then do as much research as you can. Several of the newer lights that have been introduced do all that you mention. Orphek and ATI being a couple of them.Good luck.

 

[NonstopSoda]

Depends on what type of reef you're thinking of making, but Im very biased to kessil

 

[minus9]

Looking for some feedback on the absolute best lighting system with no regards to cost. I have a Waterbox 65.4 with a Kessil AP700. I like the light but I'm interested in knowing if there is anything better maybe even something that will simulate weather of ocean reefs including clouds, lightning and thunder, sun rise and sunset, moons etc that makes smooth transitions in realistic timing.

What corals are you keeping or want to keep? That will determine what lighting they'll require. I don't like gimmicky lighting features other than having a lunar phase (which isn't necessary, unless you're trying to spawn corals?), so I don't understand why someone would want to pay extra for things the corals don't want or need? We're not actually keeping corals the same way as nature can, so the idea of having clouds, etc is kind of pointless and serves no benefit to them, so these are features that just raise the price. Reef lighting is way overpriced to begin with, so to me, you're just throwing away money that can be used for something else. But hey, it's a hobby, so we're essentially throwing away money anyway, right? Now that I ruffled some feathers, what does best mean to you or anyone? And now we go down the rabbit hole.........

 

[carri10]

I’ll pitch in with migras light bar 3. Has all functions you mentioned with plenty of power and a good selection of colour temperatures.

 

[FLREEFER86]

What corals are you keeping or want to keep? That will determine what lighting they'll require. I don't like gimmicky lighting features other than having a lunar phase (which isn't necessary, unless you're trying to spawn corals?), so I don't understand why someone would want to pay extra for things the corals don't want or need? We're not actually keeping corals the same way as nature can, so the idea of having clouds, etc is kind of pointless and serves no benefit to them, so these are features that just raise the price. Reef lighting is way overpriced to begin with, so to me, you're just throwing away money that can be used for something else. But hey, it's a hobby, so we're essentially throwing away money anyway, right? Now that I ruffled some feathers, what does best mean to you or anyone? And now we go down the rabbit hole.........

I'm looking to do hard corals in the middle of the tank and softies on each side of the tank. I saw the light spread for is best for hard corals at about 36" on the AP700 but I have a 48" tank. That's why I'm planning on doing softies on each side of the aquarium. As far as those additional clouds and lightning features and all that I know it doesn't help the corals but its a personal preference for those type of features for the looks.

 

[FLREEFER86]

Orphek Unveils Revolutionary Natura iCon Reef LED Light: The Future of Reef Aquarium Illumination

Very cool light. This may be the upgrade

 

[NYCMAN]

Yes, I have used Kessils on several tanks. Running two AP9Xs on a Waterbox 125.4 and doing well with it.

 

[NYCMAN]

Running an A360x Tuna Blue on a WB 20

 

[braaap]

Metal Halide and then T5. Nothing can beat them.

 

[NoLarvatusplease]

Orphek Unveils Revolutionary Natura iCon Reef LED Light: The Future of Reef Aquarium Illumination

Nice that they can sync the diurnal and nocturnal phases where I live but what does that have to do with where the corals or fish came from originally in there native habitat? Sync to that!

 

[VintageReefer]

Reefbreeders Meridian 47 worth looking into

 

[BeanAnimal]

Best is highly subjective. Best at what?

Not being obtuse here. Growing corals, visual rendering, ease of maintenance, ease of control, lifespan, finished return of any of those based on cost, support, warranty, aesthetics, physical size, efficiency, long term availability, etc.

 

[rtparty]

“Best” is whatever somebody already bought or is interested in

 

[VintageReefer]

Best is highly subjective. Best at what?

Not being obtuse here. Growing corals, visual rendering, ease of maintenance, ease of control, lifespan, finished return of any of those based on cost, support, warranty, aesthetics, physical size, efficiency, long term availability, etc.

The best light is the one on sale

 

[Reef Wizard]

Looking for some feedback on the absolute best lighting system with no regards to cost. I have a Waterbox 65.4 with a Kessil AP700. I like the light but I'm interested in knowing if there is anything better maybe even something that will simulate weather of ocean reefs including clouds, lightning and thunder, sun rise and sunset, moons etc that makes smooth transitions in realistic timing.

Reefi UNO I love mine. Noopsyche and orphek.

 

[WvAquatics]

If I had no worries and could manage the cost and heat I would run halide and t5. Tried true and corals love them.
Leds I am waiting for more info on the new Quanta Atlas. 3x3spread per light 4x3 for a mixed reef.
Noopsyche k3 are solid lights.

 

[areefer01]

Sun and the moon. What Mother Nature uses is the best. Everything else is personal preference and bias.