2x prime 16Hd enough for 4ft tank ?

Jaybeastin

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I have a Red Sea 350 that’s 4ft long and about 20” wide. Is 2x 16hd prime enough for softies and LPS? Is 3 over kill ?
 

Jeeperz

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I've had a prime hd over my reefer 350 for 6+ months as the hydra26 died. I was going to put 3 Hydra 26 over it but they changed to the 32 and I don't like those. I have a bunch of blue stylophora and an unknown wild sps that have grown, they are mostly in the center 2 feet of the tank with a green Monti at the same level that's grown a bit. Also an rbta, leather mushroom. It definitely won't light the whole tank. I'd use 3 at the minimum.
 

ApoIsland

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I have a Red Sea 350 that’s 4ft long and about 20” wide. Is 2x 16hd prime enough for softies and LPS? Is 3 over kill ?
I would put 8 of them on that tank if you want good light coverage end to end front to back.

I had one on a 16g cube and was limited to what I could keep on the sides. They are really good for a 12x12 area though.
 

mrpontiac80

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I have a 4’ tank that originally had 2 prime 16 hd lights. They did ok but once I added a 3rd I could tell a big difference. I eventually bought a par meter and was only managing a max of about 250 at the top of my rocks using mostly blues with just 14% of whites. I just upgraded last week to a reefbreeders 48 photon v2+. Couldn’t be happier with the spread and better par. I’m going to use the primes over a smaller tank with softies and inverts. They are good lights but you need several if you end up with more demanding corals
 

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I would put 8 of them on that tank if you want good light coverage end to end front to back.

I had one on a 16g cube and was limited to what I could keep on the sides. They are really good for a 12x12 area though.


Have you ever used a par meter with them? What settings? What mounting height? they can very much light an 18^3 area
 

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If you go with AI's go with 3. However, I do not recommend them as the lenses melt and are notorious for having issues with the UV and violet.
 
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Jaybeastin

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8? That’s overkill for what I’m keeping lol
I would put 8 of them on that tank if you want good light coverage end to end front to back.

I had one on a 16g cube and was limited to what I could keep on the sides. They are really good for a 12x12 area though.
 
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Jaybeastin

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I have a 4’ tank that originally had 2 prime 16 hd lights. They did ok but once I added a 3rd I could tell a big difference. I eventually bought a par meter and was only managing a max of about 250 at the top of my rocks using mostly blues with just 14% of whites. I just upgraded last week to a reefbreeders 48 photon v2+. Couldn’t be happier with the spread and better par. I’m going to use the primes over a smaller tank with softies and inverts. They are good lights but you need several if you end up with more demanding corals
Thanks I might just go with 3
 

DeniableArc

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I have 4 primes over my reefer350. par is close to 400 on top of the rockwork
Can you post a screen shot of your schedule, I use 4 over a rsr 250. I haven’t par tested I just can’t stand the fan noise over 30w- 60% blues 15% white
DF3CAFFD-CF69-4DA9-8B2B-1410B0D014EF.jpeg
 

Hats_

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Can you post a screen shot of your schedule, I use 4 over a rsr 250. I haven’t par tested I just can’t stand the fan noise over 30w- 60% blues 15% white
DF3CAFFD-CF69-4DA9-8B2B-1410B0D014EF.jpeg
4 over a reefer250 is quite a lot of light, i used to have 3 over my old reefer250 and ran them at 100% brs ab+ I am thinking of switching to saxbys schedule since i have a feeling i am overlighting stuff right now. still feel like 4 is good for my tank tho. i recently upgraded from the reefer250 which ran amazingly with this schedule and 3 primes. growth was amazing

Screenshot_20230316-202705.png Screenshot_20230316-202653.png
 

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