Need advice on lighting for my mixed reef tank

[Dr. Joe]

I currently have the Viparspectra 165W LED lights from Amazon. My corals are doing alright but I have the lights set to 1 out of 100 and the par is still too high in some areas. I can't raise them any farther due to the canopy. The lighting also is very flat with no shimmer. I was looking to upgrade my lights. I have a 125 gal tank 72Wx18Dx23H with a mixed reef. My friend recommended the Radion XR30s but they are so dang expensive. My LFS recommended the Red Sea 90 lights. Much more affordable. I just don't know if the radions are worth the much larger price tag. I will most likely need 3 to cover the whole tank. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Bruttall]

I just posted Light Data to another thread not 10 minutes ago, here is a link. These Lights have a 24 inch by 24 inch foot print mounted 12 inches above water line. I have 4 on my 8ft 300g. They are also Half the price of Radion and have the best warranty in the business at 3 yrs.

Choosing a fixture

My tank is 30 inches deep, currently i am running 4 t5s, but i am intrested in switching to leds. I may run hybrid later on . Do you happen to know if t5s store good or will par drop? store as in in a box in the attic not turned on. My tank is 4ft long 18 inches wide and 28 inches height, my...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

I currently have the Viparspectra 165W LED lights from Amazon. My corals are doing alright but I have the lights set to 1 out of 100 and the par is still too high in some areas. I can't raise them any farther due to the canopy. The lighting also is very flat with no shimmer. I was looking to upgrade my lights. I have a 125 gal tank 72Wx18Dx23H with a mixed reef. My friend recommended the Radion XR30s but they are so dang expensive. My LFS recommended the Red Sea 90 lights. Much more affordable. I just don't know if the radions are worth the much larger price tag. I will most likely need 3 to cover the whole tank. Any advice is appreciated.

Vivarspectra is a great light and for the money. You could supplement them with Orphek OR3 bars such as sky blue and blue plus or if looking to preplace or add on. . . . .
Noopsyche K7 - pros or AI hydra 26 or 32 HD as well as reef Breeders Photon V2

 

[VintageReefer]

I don’t see how the lights can be on 1/100 and your par is too high. Are both channels on 1/100? What par numbers are you getting?

 

[Bruttall]

I don’t see how the lights can be on 1/100 and your par is too high. Are both channels on 1/100? What par numbers are you getting?

think he meant 100% blue and 1% white, which is the exact settings I had on my blackbox lights, also indicats he has the older vipar's cuz the new ones only go in increments of 10%.

 

[exnisstech]

I'm not familiar with the viperspectra lights but it sounds like they may be lacking in controlability if you can't turn them down enough? For bang for the buck lights I like my noopsyche K7 IIIs. I ran six over a similar size tank 72x24x24" and everything thrived.

 

[VintageReefer]

think he meant 100% blue and 1% white, which is the exact settings I had on my blackbox lights, also indicats he has the older vipar's cuz the new ones only go in increments of 10%.

That would make more sense. And combining all the colors into two channels leaves you limited for customizing / adjusting

 

[Dr. Joe]

I don’t see how the lights can be on 1/100 and your par is too high. Are both channels on 1/100? What par numbers are you getting?

I just checked with my par meter. I got both the white and blue set at 1/100 and im getting 80-100 par on the sand bed.

 

[VintageReefer]

I just checked with my par meter. I got both the white and blue set at 1/100 and im getting 80-100 par on the sand bed.

How many of these lights do you have over the tank?

Tbh 80-100 is ideal for sandbed

 

[Dr. Joe]

How many of these lights do you have over the tank?

Tbh 80-100 is ideal for sandbed

I got 3. Problem is I am already at 1% for white and blue. I want my tank to have a more vibrant look. I want it to have that shimmer and be able to fine tune the colors better.

 

[twentyleagues]

I got 3. Problem is I am already at 1% for white and blue. I want my tank to have a more vibrant look. I want it to have that shimmer and be able to fine tune the colors better.

Not all lights will have shimmer. Depends on lenses, led location, and reflectors used. The xr30s are going to be more controllable but are designed with the more flat t5 style of light so not a lot of shimmer. The lights that @Bruttall posted are very good I use them also while providing a lot of coverage and power they also have a bit of shimmer. I am using mine with the 120 degree reflectors I think with the 90s youll get even more shimmer but with a reduced coverage which is still 24x24 as opposed to my easily 30x30.

 

[VintageReefer]

Shimmer comes more from a point source light. The trade off is more shadows

Matrix/ panel layout lights have fuller coverage, but less shimmer.

Some lights have a combination of both

Surface agitation plays a key part also

 

[JoJosReef]

That tank is long but not very deep. I would put 3 or maybe 4 Noopsyche K7 Pros over it, like @exnisstech , but intead if orienting them front to back, I would turn them 90 for side-to-side. I think front to back is overkill for that depth, although possible you'd help with shadowing by having two lenses oriented front and back--in which case I'd replicate what @exnisstech has done. Great lights, will grow anything, and programmable enough.

 

[exnisstech]

That tank is long but not very deep. I would put 3 or maybe 4 Noopsyche K7 Pros over it, like @exnisstech , but intead if orienting them front to back, I would turn them 90 for side-to-side. I think front to back is overkill for that depth, although possible you'd help with shadowing by having two lenses oriented front and back--in which case I'd replicate what @exnisstech has done. Great lights, will grow anything, and programmable enough.

I have them side to side on the new tank. I placed most of the rock toward the center so the fish can swim around instead of just in front of the rock. Only been a few months but things looking happy for the most part.

 

[JoJosReef]

I have them side to side on the new tank. I placed most of the rock toward the center so the fish can swim around instead of just in front of the rock. Only been a few months but things looking happy for the most part.

Oh I see. I thought yours were turned front-to-back. That's a lot of light! One every 12 inches?

 

[exnisstech]

Oh I see. I thought yours were turned front-to-back. That's a lot of light! One every 12 inches?

You are correct. They were that way on my previous tank a standard 180g post #6. It had cross braces with two lights over each opening. Only 7 inches off the water because of canopy restraints. I was getting 300 par on the bottom where I kept clams.

 

[Solo McReefer]

I have them side to side on the new tank. I placed most of the rock toward the center so the fish can swim around instead of just in front of the rock. Only been a few months but things looking happy for the most part.

/like

 

[_aka_olive_]

think he meant 100% blue and 1% white, which is the exact settings I had on my blackbox lights, also indicats he has the older vipar's cuz the new ones only go in increments of 10%.

I Have viparspectras too, I needed the specs to figure out replacements. They newest version is back to 1% increments

 

[Bruttall]

I Have viparspectras too, I needed the specs to figure out replacements. They newest version is back to 1% increments

I went from Vipar to Reefi Lab uno 2.0 and honestly, I would recommend these lights to everyone. IMO they are the best money can buy right now.