Cheap Light Recommendation for Red Sea Reffer 250 ( 54 gallon )

[talhashafiq]

Hi guys, Can you please give Recommendation for a cheaper light for Red Sea Reefer 250 ( 54 gallon ). As I am a beginner in this hobby and have very tight budget. I'll plan to start with easy corals. Thank you.

 

[Rtaylor]

165W Viparspectra
VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control Dimmable 165W LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum for Grow Coral Reef Marine Fish Tank LPS/SPS https://a.co/d/0C9enH5

 

[90's reefer]

Take a look at a couple 16hds on the used market. I have 12 and all are used with no issues.
You can start with one and add later.
A reasonably cost effective led that will grow anything.

 

[Spare time]

Noopsyche

 

[alain Bouchard]

popbloom rs90. great light for the price

 

[exnisstech]

Noopsyche K7 pro V3 use code REEF2REEF will get you down to around $200 with mounting arm. One would be plenty to start and you could add another later if needed. I'm running 6 over a 180g and everything is thriving.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Noopsyche K7 pro V3 use code REEF2REEF will get you down to around $200 with mounting arm. One would be plenty to start and you could add another later if needed. I'm running 6 over a 180g and everything is thriving.

Do you mind posting your schedule?

 

[Jekyl]

Welcome to R2R!

How long has the tank been set up?

What's your budget and long term goals?

 

[exnisstech]

Do you mind posting your schedule?

I run heavy blues on this tank. With 6 over a 6ft tank and these setting I'm getting 350 par on the bottom whwt7my clams are. I know it's not all about par but things look really nice and this is the first time I've ever been able to keep clams alive. Probably more about having a par meter than the lights I've run in the past.

 

[sadrobotz]

this is a great thread, lots of information i have been seeking, thank you!

 

[rickyb]

I have had good success with LEDZEAL.

 

[nkusumoto]

Some used AI 26 HD's would be perfect. I think two would be ideal. Controllable with phone, and have great light output. Fairly easy to setup and their customer service has gotten way better. Buying used isn't so bad, just make sure that the seller took care of the item you are looking at.

 

[piranhaman00]

One viperspectra hung 18” above the tank would be perfect.

I always recommend a horticulture t5 fixture with 50/50 blue plus and aqua blue special, with t5s you know that lighting isn’t an issue

 

[Lynnzer]

I lost loads of coral frags when 1st set my tank up. I was using Kessil A160WE lights. I had no idea about salinity ph or anything like that so it was more likely my own fault that things didn't work. A total disaster by the use of toxic glue on the rocks wiped everything out so I set up again and this time followed the proper water condition requirements and all the frags I put in have blossomed well since then.
In the meantime I set up a 2nd tank and after seeing the price of the major lights on sale I bought a pair of Aqua Knights from AliExpress. They have proved very good. In fact I have another pair now just waiting for the arrival of a new D-D 900 Reef tank.
I had a couple frags that had almost died off in the poisoned tank and when I put them under the Aqua Knights they have regained themselves.
I love these lights. They meet the requirements for most people I'd say.

 

[all2insane]

I light my RS 250 with 6 ATI T5HO bulb (5 B+ and 1 C+) using fixture from China. Had it running for 3 years now growing SPS with no issue. I hang it 7" from water surface but sometime got worried that I am over lighting the tank. Cost me around $250 - $300 can't really remember total cost. Only problem is the need to change the bulb. I changed my first set after close to 18 months of usage and only change 2 bulbs at a time across the span of 2-3 months.

 

[FrugalReefer]

Nicrew Hyperreef

 

[Apayson]

Hi guys, Can you please give Recommendation for a cheaper light for Red Sea Reefer 250 ( 54 gallon ). As I am a beginner in this hobby and have very tight budget. I'll plan to start with easy corals. Thank you.

Hi peeps!

I’ve been using a generic SMATFARM 95 watt led light for over 1 year on a nano tank.
Despite being a new reefer & having made every mistake possible since then, my corals have displayed growth over the last year.

The light spectrum on paper looks pretty similar to the ai hydras.
At the moment I’m setting up a red sea reefer 350 system & since I’ve seen growth in my nano tank I’m going to stick with this brand for the time being.

On amazon these lights are currently $145. Can’t beat that price.

The shimmer is nice too.

Anyone else try these?

I’m currently running these on the LPS preset - turned WAYYY down.
Channel A - cold white: 1%
Channel B - dark blue: 8%
Channel C - light blue: 8%
Channel D - purple: 2%
Channel E - infrared: 1%
Channel F - green 1%


On the bigger system I’ll probably multiply these by 25-50% depending on the par tests….+ with 2 lights

 

[reeftivo]

Noopsyche

+1 on the noop

k7 pro is proven, small and powerful with a good app. good support too