Lighting help - Reefi choices

pgooden · Apr 12, 2023

Ok Reefer Community, I need help. I got out of the hobby for about 18 mos. And looking to get back in but I want to do it right. Money isn’t really a concern but I am a value shopper.

I just bought a new tank and it will be delivered next week. It is a Planet Aquarium 150 (60” x 24” x 24”). External overflow. I am planning my lights. I want 3 islands of rock work with plenty of room for the fish to swim but I want to have a SPS prominent mixed reef.

I am looking at the Reefi lights as they seem to be pretty solid lights with a great warranty but I get so confused on spread etc…feels like some people will say you need 10 and then others will say 2 are just fine…LOL. I want great coverage front to back and side to side. Should I go with the Uni Pro 2’s (how many and what layout) or the Duo Extreme (again, how many and what layout. Also, how high should I mount them off the water? WAF is also a consideration. I will probably start with a tank mount but build a floating canopy at some point.

if the ReeFi are a mistake, let me know but would be interested in any experience and recommendations!

Eric R. · Apr 12, 2023

I personally think the Reefi's are great lights in terms of both design (par, spread, spectrum, etc.) and price, especially compared to similarly priced lights. That being said, I also don't have experience with a wide range of lights as I'm relatively new to the hobby and tend to buy mostly used equipment. I have the gen 1 Unos. I know that Jim Graham (aka telegraham) who does a lot of light testing likes them.

Daniel, who owns Reefi, tends to be fairly helpful and responsive, so if you have questions, I'd suggest contacting him directly. I'm not sure that he's active here, but I know he's on the humblefish forum, so if you want to post over there I'd expect you'd get a response with his recommendation.

ReeFi Uno 2.0 Pro now available

ReeFi lighting up same tank with 3 different lighting spectrums. All taken with Canon DSLR without filters. Daylight full spectrum: Evening heavy blue to UVA: Middle of the night, crank up UVA only to 100%: Stop making me want these lights!!!

humble.fish

pgooden · Apr 12, 2023

Eric R. said:
I personally think the Reefi's are great lights in terms of both design (par, spread, spectrum, etc.) and price, especially compared to similarly priced lights. That being said, I also don't have experience with a wide range of lights as I'm relatively new to the hobby and tend to buy mostly used equipment. I have the gen 1 Unos. I know that Jim Graham (aka telegraham) who does a lot of light testing likes them.

Daniel, who owns Reefi, tends to be fairly helpful and responsive, so if you have questions, I'd suggest contacting him directly. I'm not sure that he's active here, but I know he's on the humblefish forum, so if you want to post over there I'd expect you'd get a response with his recommendation.

ReeFi Uno 2.0 Pro now available

ReeFi lighting up same tank with 3 different lighting spectrums. All taken with Canon DSLR without filters. Daylight full spectrum: Evening heavy blue to UVA: Middle of the night, crank up UVA only to 100%: Stop making me want these lights!!!

humble.fish

Awesome, thanks for suggestion. I will definitely cross-post over there and see what he says. Definitely still open to feedback from others!

minus9 · Apr 12, 2023

Definitely reach out to Daniel, he'll be able to help you. Also, I'll tag @telegraham here so he can respond.

pgooden · Apr 12, 2023

Daniel replied on the other thread and recommended 4 but running perpendicular to the tank.

Eric R. · Apr 12, 2023

Sounds like a good recommendation to me! Glad we could get you pointed in the right direction. Looking forward to your setup!

pgooden · Apr 12, 2023

Me too! I’ll definitely start a build thread. Really want to do this one right. I have never had what I would consider great success with corals. My problem has been chasing parameters and panic changing things too quickly after reading way to many opinions. Going to work with a LFS that always has really nice corals to get me setup and teach me.

I’m super pumped.

Eric R. · Apr 13, 2023

pgooden said:
Me too! I’ll definitely start a build thread. Really want to do this one right. I have never had what I would consider great success with corals. My problem has been chasing parameters and panic changing things too quickly after reading way to many opinions. Going to work with a LFS that always has really nice corals to get me setup and teach me.

I’m super pumped.

Rich Ross calls it developing your blue thumb. I've been watching/listening to Reef Beef on youtube/as a podcast, and as a somewhat beginner (I'm just over a year into keeping a reef tank, and have been lurking on forums for about 3 years now), I've found it incredibly helpful to help winnow down the helpful/reliable information from the noise.

I recommend checking out these two chunks from their longer videos, and if you like them, to check out the rest:

pgooden · Apr 13, 2023

Thanks for sharing this, I am definitely going to be checking this out tonight!

minus9 · Apr 13, 2023

pgooden said:
Thanks for sharing this, I am definitely going to be checking this out tonight!

Start from the very first episode, they won’t disappoint.

telegraham · Apr 17, 2023

Eric R. said:
Rich Ross calls it developing your blue thumb. I've been watching/listening to Reef Beef on youtube/as a podcast, and as a somewhat beginner (I'm just over a year into keeping a reef tank, and have been lurking on forums for about 3 years now), I've found it incredibly helpful to help winnow down the helpful/reliable information from the noise.

I recommend checking out these two chunks from their longer videos, and if you like them, to check out the rest: