Aquarium Lighting questions.

[Sharkbee]

Hello!

I'm currently setting up my first reef tank (15g waterbox peninsula) but am absolutely lost on lighting, I don't know if/what kind of wattage i should be using or if it even matters.
I've seen people say that 3-5w per gallon is what you should aim for but I'm not sure if that's accurate. The guys at my LFS tried to get me to buy a 150w light and I'm fairly certain that's overkill and would bleach the corals I get in the future.

Thank you for any help!

 

[oreo54]

Hello!

I'm currently setting up my first reef tank (15g waterbox peninsula) but am absolutely lost on lighting, I don't know if/what kind of wattage i should be using or if it even matters.
I've seen people say that 3-5w per gallon is what you should aim for but I'm not sure if that's accurate. The guys at my LFS tried to get me to buy a 150w light and I'm fairly certain that's overkill and would bleach the corals I get in the future.

Thank you for any help!

First, this one?

Second:
What do you want to have?
Third:
Good leds are dimmable so max wattage is somewhat irrelevant on the low end.
Fourth:
What do you want it to look like and do?
Last but not least:
Budget:
A 50 Watt Nicrew is $100 plus $50 for the controller.
A GHL LX 7204 (131 dimmable watts) or 7504 (more blue) is $500 plus mount.

And there
are lights scattered in-between both of these depending on what you would need.. or want.

In the "old days" (2 years ago LOL) you'd have a discussion between a Kessil and an AI Prime.

What light should I choose for new Waterbox peninsula mini 15 build

Thanks for the feedback! That’s the info and reassurance I was looking for. AI it is! Which mount are you using? I have the hard metal 90 degree one that clamps with a screw to the back rim, I ended up putting the Aquamaxx nano skimmer (another big + recommend) in the middle chamber so I took...

www.reef2reef.com

Since your more an effective 14" cube I'd stick with single puck lights. A want not a need.

 

[William Chiavetta]

First, this one?

Second:
What do you want to have?
Third:
Good leds are dimmable so max wattage is somewhat irrelevant on the low end.
Fourth:
What do you want it to look like and do?
Last but not least:
Budget:
A 50 Watt Nicrew is $100 plus $50 for the controller.
A GHL LX 7204 (131 dimmable watts) or 7504 (more blue) is $500 plus mount.

And there
are lights scattered in-between both of these depending on what you would need.. or want.

In the "old days" (2 years ago LOL) you'd have a discussion between a Kessil and an AI Prime.

What light should I choose for new Waterbox peninsula mini 15 build

Thanks for the feedback! That’s the info and reassurance I was looking for. AI it is! Which mount are you using? I have the hard metal 90 degree one that clamps with a screw to the back rim, I ended up putting the Aquamaxx nano skimmer (another big + recommend) in the middle chamber so I took...

www.reef2reef.com

Since your more an effective 14" cube I'd stick with single puck lights. A want not a need

This is a very important post for this question

 

[paragrouper]

I have one of these, from Reef Breeders. It is a good light.


https://reefbreeders.com/reef-breeders-reef-nano-led/

 

[Sharkbee]

First, this one?

Second:
What do you want to have?
Third:
Good leds are dimmable so max wattage is somewhat irrelevant on the low end.
Fourth:
What do you want it to look like and do?
Last but not least:
Budget:
A 50 Watt Nicrew is $100 plus $50 for the controller.
A GHL LX 7204 (131 dimmable watts) or 7504 (more blue) is $500 plus mount.

And there
are lights scattered in-between both of these depending on what you would need.. or want.

In the "old days" (2 years ago LOL) you'd have a discussion between a Kessil and an AI Prime.

What light should I choose for new Waterbox peninsula mini 15 build

Thanks for the feedback! That’s the info and reassurance I was looking for. AI it is! Which mount are you using? I have the hard metal 90 degree one that clamps with a screw to the back rim, I ended up putting the Aquamaxx nano skimmer (another big + recommend) in the middle chamber so I took...

www.reef2reef.com

Since your more an effective 14" cube I'd stick with single puck lights. A want not a need.

First, this one?

Second:
What do you want to have?
Third:
Good leds are dimmable so max wattage is somewhat irrelevant on the low end.
Fourth:
What do you want it to look like and do?
Last but not least:
Budget:
A 50 Watt Nicrew is $100 plus $50 for the controller.
A GHL LX 7204 (131 dimmable watts) or 7504 (more blue) is $500 plus mount.

And there
are lights scattered in-between both of these depending on what you would need.. or want.

In the "old days" (2 years ago LOL) you'd have a discussion between a Kessil and an AI Prime.

What light should I choose for new Waterbox peninsula mini 15 build

Thanks for the feedback! That’s the info and reassurance I was looking for. AI it is! Which mount are you using? I have the hard metal 90 degree one that clamps with a screw to the back rim, I ended up putting the Aquamaxx nano skimmer (another big + recommend) in the middle chamber so I took...

www.reef2reef.com

Since your more an effective 14" cube I'd stick with single puck lights. A want not a need.

Yes, the Peninsula 15. I would like to stay below $200 ideally.

Id like to have a bit of coral, from what i can remember off the top of my head I have a few different Zoa's, a Neon star Polyp, Cyphastra and, a Rhodactis that i was looking at.

At the moment im not sure if i want to lean in to a full coral garden but incase i do i am fully willing to put much more towards a decent light and wavemaker/powerhead

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I have one of these, from Reef Breeders. It is a good light.


https://reefbreeders.com/reef-breeders-reef-nano-led/

+1 on reef breeders.

 

[VintageReefer]

I have one of these, from Reef Breeders. It is a good light.


https://reefbreeders.com/reef-breeders-reef-nano-led/

I had that light on my Waterbox 15 peninsula (and fluval evo prior) and was very happy with it and it did a great job. It had a built in sunrise / sunset effect that could be altered, minimally. Basically set lights on time and values. Peak time and values. And sunset time and values. And it auto would ramp up and down. Everything worked great

I got greedy and felt I wanted more control over the spectrum and channel settings. I got an ai prime. I’ve never been happy with it compared to my prior light. The prime then melted its lens without any channel ever going over 80%. And now the fan is starting to buzz. It’s a cheaply made light imo and whenever I want to make a tweak I need to open the app and connect to Bluetooth.

If I could find the power supply to my old light I would switch back in a second. I liked having buttons and a screen and being able to make changes without taking out another device

 

[VintageReefer]

My pico is 1.1 g and while not exactly comparable, I use the reefbreeders pico v2 which is 15w and it does a great job as well. I set the values and start time and duration. Everyday it turns on and every night it turns off, and my corals grow and look great.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The watts per gallon doesn't really work with led lights, its a guideline for t5 and MH lighting. And 150 watts would be way too strong for a 15 gallon tank, everything will be cooked by the light.

My 15 gallon has a AI Prime 16, I like it on this size tank.

 

[MIke Wood]

you could look into this light. it has the mount, light and control for under $90. this would be more than enough for your tank.

Noopsyche K7 Mini 60W APP wifi control

Noo-Psyche K7 Mini is an Brand New Marine Aquarium coral light with Smart App WiFi Control. Category: Pet light for aquarium reef illumination Size: Φ116*55 mm Weight: 0.35 Kg Power: 60 W Voltage: 100-240V 50/60Hz 1.5A Warranty: one year

noopsychereeflight.com