Lighting Upgrade?

Ohhithere · 12/17/2017, 07:16 PM

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by. I have a IM Nuvo 30L, currently has black box leds, and lets just say they get the job done. That being said, i’d like an upgrade. I have a few sps, but mainly LPS and zoas. The tank is 36”x11”. I really want something that will produce amazing colors and growth, but not break the bank. I am also planning on upgrading in the future so whatever I get now I would like to be able to use on a bigger tank.

Thanks everyone!

stuccodude · 12/17/2017, 07:39 PM

i just got the hydra 26 and they are really kool. local fish store runs them and has sps corals and everything else and corals seem happy(thats why i got them). good luck

Ron Reefman · 12/18/2017, 06:00 AM

IMHO the actual light produced by a black box fixture and any other more expensive led fixture will not be appreciably different! At least not to the point that a new fixture will make your coral look better or become more colorful over time. There is way more to coral coloration than just light, and I think light, once there is enough PAR, is a minor player in terms of color and growth.

In other words, I think you may just waste your money buying a more expensive fixture. Others here will disagree, and 99% of them will have more expensive fixtures! It's what happens after you pay a lot of money for a product that's supposed to make something better, but is totally subjective. I spent more, therefore it has to be better. It's human nature and marketing of products is designed to take advantage of that (says the guy who spent most of his career doing just that).

I think getting a fixture with more channels of color control, where every color of led has it's own dimming ability, will allow you to maximize the look of the light in the tank to your liking. But that difference is minimal. Lots of people have beautiful corals under black box 2 channel led fixtures.

And to be completely transparent, I use a Reef Breeders Photon V2 which does have 6 channels of color control. Does it make my corals more colorful? Not really. Sure, if I go more and more blue the corals that fluoresce look better. But under 'normal' daylight type light the look pretty much the same as they did under a 2 channel fixture or under a Eco Tech Radion. I had one for a year and felt it was totally over priced given it did nothing to make my tank look any better. I went to a bigger tank and needed a 2nd fixture and just couldn't justify $750 for a second one.

If money is no object, then go ahead and give it a try. But if the budget is stretched to buy a new fixture, don't waste your money. That's my opinion.

greengeco82 · 12/18/2017, 06:19 AM

☝️what he said. Light probably wont make your corals look better. The color is most likely in the water chemistry. That being said, the power settings on the light may play a role.

Ohhithere · 12/18/2017, 09:07 PM

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I will play around with the settings on my lights to see what looks best, but does anyone know if I get an Aquatic Life Led/T5 Hybrid, can I use just the t5 fixtures?

rjjr1963 · 12/19/2017, 02:05 PM

I like AI Primes HD's for smaller tanks. The form is minimalistic and unobtrusive. I don't want a big fixture hanging over the tank. They have a nice cloud based control system that works very well.

Ohhithere · 12/20/2017, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjjr1963

I like AI Primes HD's for smaller tanks. The form is minimalistic and unobtrusive. I don't want a big fixture hanging over the tank. They have a nice cloud based control system that works very well.

Would they have enough power for SPS like Birdsnest?

Ohhithere · 12/20/2017, 02:46 PM

Also i’ve heard of an annoying disco effect the AI Primes have on the sandbed. Do you know f how to get rid of this?

rjjr1963 · 12/20/2017, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohhithere

Also i’ve heard of an annoying disco effect the AI Primes have on the sandbed. Do you know f how to get rid of this?

They are working great for my SPS, Acropora and Montipora in a 40 gallon breeder. I run the lights about 50% intensity so they could do a lot more if I wanted. Just seems like all the corals are happy at the lower level. I've never noticed any disco effect from them.

Ohhithere · 12/20/2017, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjjr1963

They are working great for my SPS, Acropora and Montipora in a 40 gallon breeder. I run the lights about 50% intensity so they could do a lot more if I wanted. Just seems like all the corals are happy at the lower level. I've never noticed any disco effect from them.

Ok thanks! I’ll definetly look into them, maybe a christmas present form me to me?

12/17/2017, 07:16 PM	#1
Ohhithere Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 34	Lighting Upgrade? Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by. I have a IM Nuvo 30L, currently has black box leds, and lets just say they get the job done. That being said, i’d like an upgrade. I have a few sps, but mainly LPS and zoas. The tank is 36”x11”. I really want something that will produce amazing colors and growth, but not break the bank. I am also planning on upgrading in the future so whatever I get now I would like to be able to use on a bigger tank. Thanks everyone!

12/17/2017, 07:39 PM	#2
stuccodude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: sanger Posts: 1,040	i just got the hydra 26 and they are really kool. local fish store runs them and has sps corals and everything else and corals seem happy(thats why i got them). good luck __________________ fear the wrath of patrick willis!!! no offense is safe. Current Tank Info: 240 all the goodies,hydra 26 led lights, chiller etc

12/18/2017, 06:00 AM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	IMHO the actual light produced by a black box fixture and any other more expensive led fixture will not be appreciably different! At least not to the point that a new fixture will make your coral look better or become more colorful over time. There is way more to coral coloration than just light, and I think light, once there is enough PAR, is a minor player in terms of color and growth. In other words, I think you may just waste your money buying a more expensive fixture. Others here will disagree, and 99% of them will have more expensive fixtures! It's what happens after you pay a lot of money for a product that's supposed to make something better, but is totally subjective. I spent more, therefore it has to be better. It's human nature and marketing of products is designed to take advantage of that (says the guy who spent most of his career doing just that). I think getting a fixture with more channels of color control, where every color of led has it's own dimming ability, will allow you to maximize the look of the light in the tank to your liking. But that difference is minimal. Lots of people have beautiful corals under black box 2 channel led fixtures. And to be completely transparent, I use a Reef Breeders Photon V2 which does have 6 channels of color control. Does it make my corals more colorful? Not really. Sure, if I go more and more blue the corals that fluoresce look better. But under 'normal' daylight type light the look pretty much the same as they did under a 2 channel fixture or under a Eco Tech Radion. I had one for a year and felt it was totally over priced given it did nothing to make my tank look any better. I went to a bigger tank and needed a 2nd fixture and just couldn't justify $750 for a second one. If money is no object, then go ahead and give it a try. But if the budget is stretched to buy a new fixture, don't waste your money. That's my opinion. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

12/18/2017, 06:19 AM	#4
greengeco82 Reefer Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pittsburg, CA Posts: 584	☝️what he said. Light probably wont make your corals look better. The color is most likely in the water chemistry. That being said, the power settings on the light may play a role. __________________ Budget reefing is a pipe dream. Current Tank Info: 190 gallon DSA mixed reef, 2 X 250W metal halides, 2 X 80w T5's, SRO 3000 skimmer, and a few other goodies under the hood

12/19/2017, 02:05 PM	#6
rjjr1963 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Nebraska/Missouri Posts: 770	I like AI Primes HD's for smaller tanks. The form is minimalistic and unobtrusive. I don't want a big fixture hanging over the tank. They have a nice cloud based control system that works very well. __________________ 72x24x16 115 gallon under construction Current Tank Info: 40 gallon reef

12/18/2017, 09:07 PM	#5
Ohhithere Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 34	Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I will play around with the settings on my lights to see what looks best, but does anyone know if I get an Aquatic Life Led/T5 Hybrid, can I use just the t5 fixtures?

12/20/2017, 02:46 PM	#8
Ohhithere Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 34	Also i’ve heard of an annoying disco effect the AI Primes have on the sandbed. Do you know f how to get rid of this?