40 Breeder Lighting

[VanGogh121]

Hi all,

Been out for a while and got the itch, I am building a small easy to maintain tank and had some questions about the new lighting. I am building a 40 breeder, SPS/LPS tank and wondered what you would recommend for lighting and why. I want to avoid the EBAY/China stuff.


Thoughts?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

its all about the budget.:D

 

[mcarroll]

Do you do DIY? I have an easy one - maybe the most affordable way to light a reef too. Let me know if interested.

If not DIY, then for a relatively long (not cubicle) tank, I'd suggest a strip-format light such as Current's Orbit Marine Pro. One 36" strip should cover a 40B pretty well - especially if you can hang it over tank vs placing it directly on the tank. (Either can work tho.)

Two or three "puck" lights would probably do it too, but coverage would suffer a little with only two. Puck lights will have more shadowing too...even with three. (Much like halide vs florescent shadowing.)

 

[VanGogh121]

its all about the budget.:D

How about $300 to $500, have no hesitation on purchasing used. Need good color and some nice par.

 

[mcarroll]

Is there a center brace on your 40?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Used. 1 Maxspect Razor 160w. 2 kessiil 160(you might get lucky and get 2 tuna blue with it), 2 ai sol (blue or white) 2 ai Vega, 1 Reef Beeders photon V1, 2 reef breeders Black Box. 2 V1 Current orbit marine w dual controller.

New 2 SBreeflight 16in ramping or wifi, 1 32in Sbreeflight(wifi or ramping) 30 in SB timer, 2 sb BB, 2 T247. 2 Chinese black box Plain jane OR SB's BB w 2 T5, Reefbreeders Photon V2. 2 Reef radiance wifi BB.

Theres more Im sure i just cant remember.

On the high end of your budget you have some choices of bells and whistles. A built in or controller that ramps is REALLY REALLY cool. No stupid timers in the powerstrip.

I do like to consider aesthetics and "furniture" quality of the tank too. A razor is Just stinking Neat to look at even before you turn it on. Also the Blue color and white color is quite nice. Razor is 15k and you can mix it 20k not really much more before you lose power. the blue only is closer to the aqua marine 440 450NM range. Full up is a really nice balance of color. Looked almost EXACTLY like the 14k Phoenix MH I replace it with. The SB's and Current Blue only are a Royal blue color, (my favorite) 420-4440nm range. The current orbit full up is a bit white and washed IMO (12k?). where the SB is in the 16k range at full 1to1 and is a bit Pink. I havent owned a kessel is has a nice color the combo of the two is nice I belive it mixes at full w all 4 to 20 k. The Ai Sol is so powerful it will set fire to you and you can mix color easily.
The AI White has a more 440 -450 blue, the black a more 430 to 450 feel. Blue like a 20k radion Halide.

I run on my 30g cube 1 16in SB ramping and my 55g standard 3 AI sol AND I kept the current orbit fot the better 420 pop in the am and Pm. IMO they mix REALLY well esp for the 2hr am ramp up and 2hr PM ramp down.
both are so powerfull I pulled most of the lenses to get a better softer spread and cure shadowing closer to a t5 look and have PLENTY of power left over.

 

[thirst]

Diy would be a good way to save some money

 

[Darryl]

3 kessil a160 or 1 ap700

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The used market always has some nice stuff
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/sb-reef-lights-16-2.245428/

 

[Reef Breeders]

How about $300 to $500, have no hesitation on purchasing used. Need good color and some nice par.

Have you taken a look at the Photon 24-V2? $399 shipped with a tank mounting bracket, and customer support/warranty in the USA.

Edit: Read the latest post after posting this. If you have any questions on our products just let me know, thanks!