need some lighting advice

MrMudkip · 04/03/2020, 05:20 PM

Hello, new member here. I will be setting up a new 40 gallon breeder tank soon. I had a reef tank years ago but stopped when I went to college. I am going to be doing only soft corals in my new tank and don't want to overbuy on lighting. Are there any suggestions for lights like this? I see some on amazon but I don't recognize the brand. I would like to use LEDs and since the tank is not as tall since it is a breeder, I am thinking I can get away with a decently cheap light.
Thanks for the suggestions

Member No. 1 · 04/04/2020, 06:55 AM

@MrMudkip
Since you are new here, I don't beleive you have access to the For Sale Forum. There are a lot of people selling lights that would work fine for your tank. Some are getting out of the hobby, some are upgrading to the new latest greatest lights. So some great deals can be had.

But for a softie tank, a Radion X15 G3 or G4 would work nice. When you say cheap, what is your lighting budget?

Vinny Kreyling · 04/04/2020, 09:22 AM

Viparspectra would do just fine.

MrMudkip · 04/04/2020, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

Viparspectra would do just fine.

is there a way to mount these without hanging them?

MrMudkip · 04/04/2020, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Member No. 1

@MrMudkip
Since you are new here, I don't beleive you have access to the For Sale Forum. There are a lot of people selling lights that would work fine for your tank. Some are getting out of the hobby, some are upgrading to the new latest greatest lights. So some great deals can be had.

But for a softie tank, a Radion X15 G3 or G4 would work nice. When you say cheap, what is your lighting budget?

My budget is undecided, but for a shallow tank with only softies I don't want to overbuy

Member No. 1 · 04/04/2020, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMudkip

My budget is undecided, but for a shallow tank with only softies I don't want to overbuy

Understandable, but if we roughly know your lighting budget, we can guide you better so you can hopefully get the most for your money.

Something to think about, you say you are only going to keep softies, lots of people start out that route, but low and behold, a LPS strikes their fancy, then another and another, next thing is you're looking to upgrade your lights to keep LPS. All I'm saying is, plan for the future, it will happen. What might be a little overkill now, might just be right later.

five.five-six · 04/04/2020, 04:06 PM

An XR-15 with mount used should run about $375 or so, you would never regret that light and could grow SPS in that tank with it.

Vinny Kreyling · 04/04/2020, 04:47 PM

I only know they are a respected fixture but am not familiar with mounting them.

cvrle1 · 04/04/2020, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMudkip

is there a way to mount these without hanging them?

See here for ideas:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2622878

FlatBrokeMedic · 04/04/2020, 09:28 PM

Check eBay you can find good used lights such as radians for a decent price, I picked up two axe 15 G4’s for the price of 1 new one

FlatBrokeMedic · 04/04/2020, 09:32 PM

Sorry I picked up a pair of radion g4 XR 15 pros for the price of 1 new one

MrMudkip · 04/04/2020, 10:28 PM

my budget isn't really an issue but I basically just want a good quality light that is for softies and not anything higher. Seems that cheaper lights are just garbage quality until you get to the way overspeced ones for sps and lps

04/03/2020, 05:20 PM	#1
MrMudkip Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 33	need some lighting advice Hello, new member here. I will be setting up a new 40 gallon breeder tank soon. I had a reef tank years ago but stopped when I went to college. I am going to be doing only soft corals in my new tank and don't want to overbuy on lighting. Are there any suggestions for lights like this? I see some on amazon but I don't recognize the brand. I would like to use LEDs and since the tank is not as tall since it is a breeder, I am thinking I can get away with a decently cheap light. Thanks for the suggestions

04/04/2020, 06:55 AM	#2
Member No. 1 Ver. 2.1 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rehoboth, MA Posts: 1,803	@MrMudkip Since you are new here, I don't beleive you have access to the For Sale Forum. There are a lot of people selling lights that would work fine for your tank. Some are getting out of the hobby, some are upgrading to the new latest greatest lights. So some great deals can be had. But for a softie tank, a Radion X15 G3 or G4 would work nice. When you say cheap, what is your lighting budget? __________________ Pete "I never make mistakes... I thought I did once, but I was wrong" Current Tank Info: In the process - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2661614

04/04/2020, 09:22 AM	#3
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Viparspectra would do just fine. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

04/04/2020, 04:06 PM	#7
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	An XR-15 with mount used should run about $375 or so, you would never regret that light and could grow SPS in that tank with it. __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

04/04/2020, 04:47 PM	#8
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	I only know they are a respected fixture but am not familiar with mounting them. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

04/04/2020, 09:28 PM	#10
FlatBrokeMedic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 51	Check eBay you can find good used lights such as radians for a decent price, I picked up two axe 15 G4’s for the price of 1 new one

04/04/2020, 09:32 PM	#11
FlatBrokeMedic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 51	Sorry I picked up a pair of radion g4 XR 15 pros for the price of 1 new one

04/04/2020, 10:28 PM	#12
MrMudkip Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 33	my budget isn't really an issue but I basically just want a good quality light that is for softies and not anything higher. Seems that cheaper lights are just garbage quality until you get to the way overspeced ones for sps and lps