I need help with lighting PLEASE

[vetteguy53081]

My budget is around 2200. With that being said, do you have a different recommendation?

Orphek Compact or one atlantik

Ecotech Radion XR15 G5 or G6

Reef Breeders Photon

 

[sjslanina1992]

Orphek Compact or one atlantik

Ecotech Radion XR15 G5 or G6

Reef Breeders Photon

So if you were to go with the radion XR15s, how would you set them up above the tank and how many would you buy? Also I don't know anything about Orphek or Reef breeders. Why specifically those? Thanks for the help btw

 

[nereefpat]

I always have some opinions on lighting. Keep in mind that I'm a T5 user since about 2011, and Power Compact before that. Anyway...

I would echo comments about 3 ft width being tough to light with LEDs, and it basically means that you need 2 rows of lights.

A lot of people use and like Radions. If you are going to use XR15s, I would at least start with 4 arranged 2x2. That of course will use all of your 2K budget. I definitely like 4 XR15s over 2 XR30s, because you can spread them out and possibly add more later if needed.

If I had to light a 4x3 tank with LED only, my short list would be:
2 48" Reefbreeders Photons
4 Reefi Unos

 

[sjslanina1992]

I always have some opinions on lighting. Keep in mind that I'm a T5 user since about 2011, and Power Compact before that. Anyway...

I would echo comments about 3 ft width being tough to light with LEDs, and it basically means that you need 2 rows of lights.

A lot of people use and like Radions. If you are going to use XR15s, I would at least start with 4 arranged 2x2. That of course will use all of your 2K budget. I definitely like 4 XR15s over 2 XR30s, because you can spread them out and possibly add more later if needed.

If I had to light a 4x3 tank with LED only, my short list would be:
2 48" Reefbreeders Photons
4 Reefi Unos

This is very helpful. That's what I was trying to figure out if I needed 2 rows or not OR get 2 XR30s and have them going long ways front to back of tank

 

[vetteguy53081]

So if you were to go with the radion XR15s, how would you set them up above the tank and how many would you buy? Also I don't know anything about Orphek or Reef breeders. Why specifically those? Thanks for the help btw

Two and one left and right
The photon and orphek PAR, colors and coverage are fantastic

 

[52728299]

After seeing budget, people's advice here, and dimensions of tank I would go for 2x photons. Seems like a nice fit

 

[sjslanina1992]

You think 2 XR15s would be enough? That doesn't seem right?

Two and one left and right
The photon and orphek PAR, colors and coverage are fantastic

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

After seeing budget, people's advice here, and dimensions of tank I would go for 2x photons. Seems like a nice fit

Or even one photon and add led strips to either side...

 

[sjslanina1992]

After seeing budget, people's advice here, and dimensions of tank I would go for 2x photons. Seems like a nice fit

Are you suggesting the photon 48 v2? And 2 of them? Orientated how? 2 rows length wise?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Are you suggesting the photon 48 v2? And 2 of them? Orientated how? 2 rows length wise?

Yes... They aren't very wide so orienting them front to back will still leave a big gap.

 

[sjslanina1992]

well now I'm going to need to do some more research. I've spent most of my time looking at the Neptune sky and Radions. Never heard of photon before.

 

[sjslanina1992]

Does the photons work with apex?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Photons are surprisingly heavy compared to the Radions, Hydras, etc. They can be used with tank mounted legs or hung from above. I have an older model without the web/app interface but the remote controller is not too bad.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Are you suggesting the photon 48 v2? And 2 of them? Orientated how? 2 rows length wise?

One V2 will do well

 

[52728299]

Are you suggesting the photon 48 v2? And 2 of them? Orientated how? 2 rows length wise?

Yea, one light will cover 48x24x30 for an sps tank according to the website. So I would get 2 and have them placed evenly over the depth of the tank. Get the pro and it should give you a total of under $2,000

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Does the photons work with apex?

Looks like they used to sell an Apex integration kit but it's been discontinued. I doubt you'd need it though since it has a separate app/controller

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have a 60"x30" tank and a single photon would be way too narrow if I didn't have it in the center of a hybrid fixture (with the hybrid fixture's extension kit that makes the entire thing 26" wide)

 

[52728299]

One V2 will do well

The reason they may want 2 is because the depth of the tank is more than 30"...

 

[sjslanina1992]

The reason they may want 2 is because the depth of the tank is more than 30"...

Yea I don't think 1 would be enough. It's 4'x3'x20"

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Not to complicate things but I know a few people who really like the Phillips CoralCare lights, and they can work with the Apex. I have no personal experience with them though. About the same price point as the photons but more square...