$1000 to spend

[bambo]

Like the title says I have a budget of about a grand for some lighting to add to my new build. Tank is a tideline 62g. 48”x18”x16”. I’m looking for suggestions on lighting for a mixed reef tank but forsure want to grown sps. Please help!!!!

 

[shakacuz]

2x reefi uno, and 1-2x quanta reef led bars(or maybe 1-2 atlas instead of the reefi's?). this should be a little over $1k, but you wouldn't need to upgrade or buy supplemental lighting after this.

alternatively, you have reefbreeders photon/meridian, i believe

 

[TeraHz]

I can't speak from personal experience yet if they'll grow coral, but Two Reefi Uno Pro's fit the budget perfectly and should be plenty.

I'd be shocked if they can't grow just about anything in your tank.

I just got 3 over my 6ft tank spaced roughly evenly and you can see the par readings I got without even maxing out the power: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/thzs-build-thread-redsea-s-850-g2.1091672/post-13298710. The lights are mounted 9" over the surface of the water.

 

[exnisstech]

I would be tempted to look at the meridian. I'm very happy with my photons and the meridian is supposed to be an improvement.

 

[SpSDrew]

36” Merdian.

Love these lights.

 

[bambo]

These are lights I’ve never heard of. I need to do some research. I’ve been looking at AI, kessil, radion

 

[exnisstech]

Give radions a pass IMO they are over priced, over hyped and under powered. I own some Gen 4 XR15s which are better than the Gen 5s and 6 but they can't stand up to $200 noopsyche in a par test. There are many better options out there. Reef breeders support is very good also which can be important.

 

[DrkNMighty]

These are lights I’ve never heard of. I need to do some research. I’ve been looking at AI, kessil, radion

I would also add Orphek to the list. Nice fixtures with good PAR and spread.

 

[keithw283]

Give radions a pass IMO they are over priced, over hyped and under powered. I own some Gen 4 XR15s which are better than the Gen 5s and 6 but they can't stand up to $200 noopsyche in a par test. There are many better options out there. Reef breeders support is very good also which can be important.

The g4 Radions were awesome. My g3s I got used on ebay do pretty well too. Will find out about the g6s soon. I bought them used as well a couple years ago but never set up the tank they were going on.

 

[X-37B]

I would look for a used photon. Great light, imo. I just picked up a 50 as a spair.
Meridian 35 if you can't find a used photon.
4 xr15 gen 5 blues did well on my 80-48×24×16. I ran ab+ 100%. 210 par on the bottom at 13" depth.
4 used is over your budget but 3 would work. I run 3 on my 30×24×16 to get the par I want.
My old 80 and current 50 for comparison.

 

[VintageReefer]

Like the title says I have a budget of about a grand for some lighting to add to my new build. Tank is a tideline 62g. 48”x18”x16”. I’m looking for suggestions on lighting for a mixed reef tank but forsure want to grown sps. Please help!!!!

Here ya go. Will grow anything you want to keep, full tank coverage from a single fixture, silent, and will make it look dam good

https://reefbreeders.com/products/meridian-35

 

[exnisstech]

The g4 Radions were awesome. My g3s I got used on ebay do pretty well too. Will find out about the g6s soon. I bought them used as well a couple years ago but never set up the tank they were going on.

TBO I was happy with my Gen4s running on a reeflink. I added some new MPs that were Mobius only so I upgraded everything to Mobius. The random time date change issues in Mobius causing lights to come on in the middle of the night was the killer for me or I probably would never have changed. I switched to the k7 III pros and was able to get 300 par on the bottom of this tank. The radions couldn't come close to that.

 

[VintageReefer]

These are lights I’ve never heard of. I need to do some research. I’ve been looking at AI, kessil, radion

No. Not those lol

I would be tempted to look at the meridian. I'm very happy with my photons and the meridian is supposed to be an improvement.

36” Merdian. Love these lights.

 

[twentyleagues]

Reefi 2.1 all the way. Options to swap reflectors comes with a 90 and 120 nothing you need to buy. With 120s and some ingenuity you probably wouldnt need supplemental lighting once stuff starts growing out. Or run the 90s and use less than 100w to get all the par you would probably need and run some bars in the future for any shading that may happen.

 

[bambo]

Here ya go. Will grow anything you want to keep, full tank coverage from a single fixture, silent, and will make it look dam good

https://reefbreeders.com/products/meridian-35

dang. Out till April

 

[bambo]

No. Not those lol

Why not these lol

 

[shakacuz]

dang. Out till April

not reefi ;)

 

[VintageReefer]

dang. Out till April

Nah just on RB site

Here - 2 left

https://detroitreefclub.com/product/meridian-in-stock/

 

[rtparty]

I wouldn’t touch any of the lights suggested so far

Nicrew Gen 2 puts them all to shame but their fan is a little noisy if run at 100% but very few will ever run them at 100%

The new Hydra Edge 44 would work as well and is more refined than the Nicrew but a higher cost.

 

[VintageReefer]

Why not these lol

Overpriced. Underpowered. Need many of them to get decent par and even still you’ll need to run them at 80-100% power, reducing lifespan. With photons and Meridian you will run 50% or less, running cooler, and prolonging life. Plus the Meridian is silent, and basically waterproof. Almost. Meridian also has 3 lens kits to adjust spread vs intensity. Default will be fine for your tank but can always change if needed.

Also there are matching led bars that can connect to built in mount points and can adjust, and they look real sleek. Can always add these down the line as well