Adding a prime 16 or a Hydra 32

[aus1230]

I currently have two prime 16HDs over my 40 gallon breeder and I'm looking to add more light before I go into some LPS. I know by adding just another prime 16 I should have enough to sustain LPS and SPS but I'm thinking of adding a Hydra 32 as that's something I can utilize later down the road when I upgrade tanks. Does anyone have something similar to this set up and does anyone think it might be too much light in the center with running the other two. I personally think it might work out great since I can place the prime 16s further out to help out with shadowing. Thoughts?

 

[TheNative192]

I currently have two prime 16HDs over my 40 gallon breeder and I'm looking to add more light before I go into some LPS. I know by adding just another prime 16 I should have enough to sustain LPS and SPS but I'm thinking of adding a Hydra 32 as that's something I can utilize later down the road when I upgrade tanks. Does anyone have something similar to this set up and does anyone think it might be too much light in the center with running the other two. I personally think it might work out great since I can place the prime 16s further out to help out with shadowing. Thoughts?

Prime 16HD seem do be plenty sufficient for most LPS including torch & hammers and should put out around 250 Par with high settings. It would need to be near max settings to handle SPS and they would need to be top of the tank as well. Are you more interested in SPS or LPS? Also what brought you to the conclusion that you need a light upgrade. Are some corals not doing well?

 

[aus1230]

Saw some SPS in person and I'll be honest I would love to have them on top of my top rock so that sounds like it might work out.
Nothing really bought me to the conclusion other than I know before I get into SPS later down the road I'll need more light. I already have the prime 16s and if I could I probably wouldn't just got some bigger lights so that I can use them on a bigger tank later down the road but that's what this hobby is all about learning right? So I'm interested in maybe getting a prime 32 and putting it in-between the 16s and I know it'll look a little weird but oh well.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You can get a 200 watt nicrew cheaper than one AI Prime and the nicrew will out-perform 3 Primes.

 

[TheNative192]

Saw some SPS in person and I'll be honest I would love to have them on top of my top rock so that sounds like it might work out.
Nothing really bought me to the conclusion other than I know before I get into SPS later down the road I'll need more light. I already have the prime 16s and if I could I probably wouldn't just got some bigger lights so that I can use them on a bigger tank later down the road but that's what this hobby is all about learning right? So I'm interested in maybe getting a prime 32 and putting it in-between the 16s and I know it'll look a little weird but oh well.

Do you have a par meter?

Two Prime 16HDs should be sufficient to handle some SPS at the top of the rock. If you are more interested in just an exclusive SPS tank then I would say a Radion XR 30 or 15 is better to go with. If you just want some SPS for the top of the rock then turning up the settings should be sufficient with your existing setup. Just be aware of higher settings can burn out the bulbs. I would try and rent out a par meter before going to buy more lights as you also do not want to bleach your corals with 3 lights.

 

[aus1230]

You can get a 200 watt nicrew cheaper than one AI Prime and the nicrew will out-perform 3 Primes.

This is true but I unfortunately already have two AI Primes. So that's where I'm at.

 

[aus1230]

Do you have a par meter?

Two Prime 16HDs should be sufficient to handle some SPS at the top of the rock. If you are more interested in just an exclusive SPS tank then I would say a Radion XR 30 or 15 is better to go with. If you just want some SPS for the top of the rock then turning up the settings should be sufficient with your existing setup. Just be aware of higher settings can burn out the bulbs. I would try and rent out a par meter before going to buy more lights as you also do not want to bleach your corals with 3 lights.

Might be naive of me but I am basing my "need" for another light to maintain SPS is based off of BRStvs investigative numbers on their testing.

 

[Hooz]

Okay... I have actually run both 2 and 3 Primes over a similar sized, 36" tank. Here is what I found...

Two of them mounted at the BRS recommended height and spacing (10" above the water and 10" in from each end) is PLENTY for LPS, softies, BTAs, etc. There is a bit of shadowing, but a creative aquascape will minimize that.

Three Primes (10" above the water and the outside pair at 8" in from each end) gives a lot more coverage with a lot less shadowing. I found that if I ran all three as one "tank" in the app, I had a pretty noticeable hotspot in the middle of the tank where all the lights overlapped. To compensate, I ran the outside pair as one "tank" and then ran the middle light on its own "tank". I ran the same "schedule" on both, so they had the same color mix and timing, but I could adjust the center light's intensity lower to minimize the hotspot. I found I only needed to run the center light at about 35% of the intensity that I ran on the outer light pair. Doing it that way worked perfectly. I had ZERO complaints.

Now, IMO, getting a Hydra would just be a waste. I'm all for overkill, but if you mount it in the middle, you'll be running it at a VERY low intensity... Even if you crank everything to SPS level PAR. I'd save the money and get another Prime.

 

[Hooz]

You can get a 200 watt nicrew cheaper than one AI Prime and the nicrew will out-perform 3 Primes.

Not over a 36" long tank. I don't care what marketing says, to get even coverage with minimal shadowing over a 36" long tank, you need more than a single light, unless we're talking strip-type lights.

 

[aus1230]

Okay... I have actually run both 2 and 3 Primes over a similar sized, 36" tank. Here is what I found...

Two of them mounted at the BRS recommended height and spacing (10" above the water and 10" in from each end) is PLENTY for LPS, softies, BTAs, etc. There is a bit of shadowing, but a creative aquascape will minimize that.

Three Primes (10" above the water and the outside pair at 8" in from each end) gives a lot more coverage with a lot less shadowing. I found that if I ran all three as one "tank" in the app, I had a pretty noticeable hotspot in the middle of the tank where all the lights overlapped. To compensate, I ran the outside pair as one "tank" and then ran the middle light on its own "tank". I ran the same "schedule" on both, so they had the same color mix and timing, but I could adjust the center light's intensity lower to minimize the hotspot. I found I only needed to run the center light at about 35% of the intensity that I ran on the outer light pair. Doing it that way worked perfectly. I had ZERO complaints.

Now, IMO, getting a Hydra would just be a waste. I'm all for overkill, but if you mount it in the middle, you'll be running it at a VERY low intensity... Even if you crank everything to SPS level PAR. I'd save the money and get another Prime.

Thank you so much for this. Mind if I message you personally?

 

[X-37B]

I would drop the 32 in the middle and put the 2 16's on the ends.
I ran 3 16' over my 36×24×12frag tank. Eventually went to 4.
Also ran 2 16's over my 18" nano cube.
They will grow anything you want.
18" nano cube and 24x26 frag tank.

 

[Hooz]

Thank you so much for this. Mind if I message you personally?

I don't mind at all.

 

[aus1230]

I would drop the 32 in the middle and put the 2 16's on the ends.
I ran 3 16' over my 36×24×12frag tank. Eventually went to 4.
Also ran 2 16's over my 18" nano cube.
They will grow anything you want.
18" nano cube and 24x26 frag tank.

Sounds like I'd be okay with just 3 AI primes based off of this my tanks measurements are 36x20x14

 

[X-37B]

Sounds like I'd be okay with just 3 AI primes based off of this my tanks measurements are 36x20x14

I agree 3 will work well.

 

[aus1230]

I don't mind at all.

Awesome. Sent you one.

 

[Ocellaris123]

I have a 40 gallon 36 inch long tank with three ai primes, i can grown most everything just fine. I also have an orephek sky blue bar hanging from the prime mounts as well

 

[aus1230]

I have a 40 gallon 36 inch long tank with three ai primes, i can grown most everything just fine. I also have an orephek sky blue bar hanging from the prime mounts as well

What settings are you running?

 

[Ocellaris123]