Lighting Help.

[Cjtabares]

I am trying to step up my old tank, a 24”x24”x18” Marineland Tank. I have been out of the hobby for 10+ years, trying to catch up on everything it is a lot. Tried to set this thing up a few times over the last few years, but things have always gotten in the way. I plan on it being an sps tank eventually(6 months+ down the road), so just a Fowlr until then. I was looking at buying a filler light now, and getting something more powerful when I add the coral.

I was thinking this for now:

24" Coral Cover Hybrid LED Light Fixture

Create fully customized LED lighting for your reef aquarium with Aquatic Life’s new Coral Cover fixture. The Coral Cover Hybrid allows you to combine adjustable blue and purple fill lighting with your favorite LED fixture(s) to achieve even spread, reduced shadowing, and enhanced color pop in...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

And probably a Kessil A360 or a Radion XR15 G6 pro.

Would this be good, would anyone suggest against it. My thought was I can reduce intensity if it is too powerful and I can use them to a bigger tank if I ever get one.

 

[PSU4ME]

I have the aquatic life structure and then I fit a radion to it. I like it and it’s convenient. The T5/Led combo is great - led with stunner strips are also pretty sweet

 

[Cpage101]

save yourself some ‘$ and buy the G2 t5 and supliment with LED’s

Aquatic Life G2 T5 HO Hybrid 4-Lamp Mounting System Fixture, Black 24-Inch

Description Aquatic Life G2 T5 HO Hybrid 4-Lamp Mounting System Fixtures, Black. Now includes our Decor Endplates! Available in 24", 36", 48" & 61" lengths for 18-24" wide (front to back) aquariums. Universal mounts included for EcoTech Radion (TM) and AI Hydra & AI Prime (TM) LED Fixtures...

aquaticlife.com

 

[Cjtabares]

save yourself some ‘$ and buy the G2 t5 and supliment with LED’s

Aquatic Life G2 T5 HO Hybrid 4-Lamp Mounting System Fixture, Black 24-Inch

Description Aquatic Life G2 T5 HO Hybrid 4-Lamp Mounting System Fixtures, Black. Now includes our Decor Endplates! Available in 24", 36", 48" & 61" lengths for 18-24" wide (front to back) aquariums. Universal mounts included for EcoTech Radion (TM) and AI Hydra & AI Prime (TM) LED Fixtures...

aquaticlife.com

After buying the bulbs wouldn’t this cost about the same as the led fixture?

 

[Cpage101]

i guess but the light you posted I recall only has blue and violet LED’s to supliment lights which get mounted in the middle. T5 is a way better supplement light than more LED’s in IMHO

 

[Cjtabares]

i guess but the light you posted I recall only has blue and violet LED’s to supliment lights which get mounted in the middle. T5 is a way better supplement light than more LED’s in IMHO

Ok, thanks. I will have to look closer at that.

 

[Kens Bees]

I have a 24x24x24 with a 4 bulb dimmable aquatic life and a Kessil a360 in the middle of it. It’s more than enough coverage corner to corner with just the t-5’s. The kessil will really throw some light as well and adds some nice sparkle to the fluorescent pastels.

 

[Reefried]

I think that is a decent light and good idea. However I agree with @Cpage101. That light only has blue and violet LEDs. Which is fine but during the fowlr period you may want a more white-ish temp to view tank and fish nicely.

 

[Cjtabares]

I ended up getting a t5 that was refurbished, looked like a good deal. What bulbs should I get? I was thinking Blue +, Actinic, and either coral + or aquablue special for some full spectrum.

https://aquaticlife.com/collections/aquatic-life-g2-t5-ho-hybrid-4-lamp-mounting-system-fixtures/products/aquatic-life-g2-t5-ho-hybrid-4-lamp-mounting-system-fixture-black-24-inch-reconditioned

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

I ran 5 b+, 1 purple +, 1 coral + and 1 aqua blue special, crispy like 12-14k of yesteryear. Then went 5 b+, 1p+ and 2 coral+ and ended up with like 16-18k look.

Have a look here for best color combinations:

https://atinorthamerica.com/blog/combos-4-bulb-fixtures/

 

[Chris.sturgis]

I run 2 blue plus, 1 coral plus, and 1 True Actinic. This reminds me in need to replace my bulbs!

 

[Cpage101]

I run 2 blue plus, 1 coral plus, and 1 True Actinic. This reminds me in need to replace my bulbs!

there goes another $150 lol!

 

[Chris.sturgis]

there goes another $150 lol!

You betcha!! Maybe I will smarten up someday and get some ai blades or orpheks to replace lol

 

[Cpage101]

You betcha!! Maybe I will smarten up someday and get some ai blades or orpheks to replace lol

naaa!

 

[Cjtabares]

You betcha!! Maybe I will smarten up someday and get some ai blades or orpheks to replace lol

I was just convinced to get t5s. Telling me the smart move was the LEDs?

 

[Chris.sturgis]

I was just convinced to get t5s. Telling me the smart move was the LEDs?

I love my t5s. Coverage is great, they grow out coral really well, and it’s really hard to to over expose coral to them. Only downside is you should replace the bulbs every year or so and they use a little bit more energy than leds. Pros and cons like everything else.

 

[Cpage101]

this is my hybrid setup

 

[Cjtabares]

this is my hybrid setup
View attachment 201097View attachment 201096

How do you like the Reef Breeder lights? I was talking to a few LFS and they all seem to not love the new Radions, or the AIs. One said they liked the Reef Breeder, and it is built in RI. I saw a lot of people also seem to like the Reef Factory lights, and the Reefi Uno 2.0. Idk what I want to do lol.

 

[Cpage101]

How do you like the Reef Breeder lights? I was talking to a few LFS and they all seem to not love the new Radions, or the AIs. One said they liked the Reef Breeder, and it is built in RI. I saw a lot of people also seem to like the Reef Factory lights, and the Reefi Uno 2.0. Idk what I want to do lol.

If you want a solid light with top notch customer support reefbreeders is the light to have. mine is a v2+ and has been solid

 

[Cjtabares]

If you want a solid light with top notch customer support reefbreeders is the light to have. mine is a v2+ and has been solid

Just was looking at them a little closer, they would be too wide for the aquatic life fixture unless I get the wider brackets.