Advice to light IM 40

[DmitryB]

Hey gang!

I'll be setting up 2 tanks. One of them will be an IM 40. Measurements are: Length 23.62” Width: 19.68” Height: 18.89”

The goal is to keep in it only softies, possibly an anemone (if a clownfish goes in there), and clams. Trying to decide which light would good enough for that. I think clams especially will need something strong. Yep, price is always an issue. But what do you think is a better choice between:

Jump MJ-L290 LED Light Fixture

A160WE Tuna Blue LED Light

Prime 16 HD LED Reef Light - Black Body

Radion XR15 G6 Blue LED Light Fixture (if I can find a used one cheaper than retail.)

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Just me personally I have 150 watts on my 40 gallon. So lights like the tuna and the prime at 40 and 50 watts would be scratched off my list. I’m not familiar with the other 2 but for me I always look at wattage not the price to avoid disappointment. Personally I’ve used the nicrew and Popbloom lights which are lower budget but have great user reviews. Others are smatfarm, vivarspectra but I’m sure there are others still.

 

[whalewhalewhale]

The clam (maxima I would assume) and the anemone puts you at the AI Prime at the minimum (and you’d be running it at near max output setting with the clam/anemone directly under the light.)

If you’re doing softies only, you can go with any of the budget lights. Those aren’t picky. I’m assuming you think clownfish need anemones, but they don’t. My clowns live in a cave.

 

[DmitryB]

The clam (maxima I would assume) and the anemone puts you at the AI Prime at the minimum (and you’d be running it at near max output setting with the clam/anemone directly under the light.)

If you’re doing softies only, you can go with any of the budget lights. Those aren’t picky.

What about AI Hydra Edge 44? (I already bought two of those for my main 170 being set up. Will likely add more as corals are introduced.) Can you name some specific models for me to look at? (I mentioned price because it's an issue for most of us, but it won't be a deciding factor.) Thanks!

 

[whalewhalewhale]

What about AI Hydra Edge 44? (I already bought two of those for my main 170 being set up. Will likely add more as corals are introduced.) Can you name some specific models for me to look at? (I mentioned price because it's an issue for most of us, but it won't be a deciding factor.) Thanks!

Depends on depth. My understanding is that the edge version does a better job of spreading/distributing light but loses out on PAR and penetration compared to the original Hydra. I’d likely use the edge as supplemental lighting or for creating a big sheet of light over a shallow frag tank.

I’m of the opinion that more lights > one strong light. If your budget works, I’d get like 2-3 AI primes and call it there. I grew SPS and a maxima clam with 2 primes a long time ago. I eventually switched to Kessil because the prime lenses kept melting on me. Not sure if AI fixed that yet. This was back in like 2022.

 

[DmitryB]

What about AI Hydra Edge 44? (I already bought two of those for my main 170 being set up. Will likely add more as corals are introduced.) Can you name some specific models for me to look at? (I mentioned price because it's an issue for most of us, but it won't be a deciding factor.) Thanks!

Depends on depth. My understanding is that the edge version does a better job of spreading/distributing light but loses out on PAR and penetration compared to the original Hydra. I’d likely use the edge as supplemental lighting or for creating a big sheet of light over a shallow frag tank.

I’m of the opinion that more lights > one strong light. If your budget works, I’d get like 2-3 AI primes and call it there. I grew SPS and a maxima clam with 2 primes a long time ago. I eventually switched to Kessil because the prime lenses kept melting on me. Not sure if AI fixed that yet. This was back in like 2022.

The tank is just under 19". You think a couple single light Hydras might be ok (or one double light?)

Single https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/prime-16-hd-led-reef-light-black-body-aqua-illumination.html

Double https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hydra-32-hd-led-reef-light-black-aqua-illumination.html

Or just quadruple it https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hydra-64-hd-led-reef-light-black-aqua-illumination.html

Incidentally I'm not married to the Hydras. Just looking at those for consistency because I also chose them for the main tank.

 

[whalewhalewhale]

The tank is just under 19". You think a couple single light Hydras might be ok (or one double light?)

Single https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/prime-16-hd-led-reef-light-black-body-aqua-illumination.html

Double https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hydra-32-hd-led-reef-light-black-aqua-illumination.html

Or just quadruple it https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hydra-64-hd-led-reef-light-black-aqua-illumination.html

Incidentally I'm not married to the Hydras. Just looking at those for consistency because I also chose them for the main tank.

You can probably find a G5 XR30 for the price of that Hydra 64.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Nicrew hypper reef gen 2. Fraction of the cost and super nice lights

 

[whalewhalewhale]

The tank is just under 19". You think a couple single light Hydras might be ok (or one double light?)

Single https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/prime-16-hd-led-reef-light-black-body-aqua-illumination.html

Double https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hydra-32-hd-led-reef-light-black-aqua-illumination.html

Or just quadruple it https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hydra-64-hd-led-reef-light-black-aqua-illumination.html

Incidentally I'm not married to the Hydras. Just looking at those for consistency because I also chose them for the main tank.

Radion G5 Pro LED Light Fixture - EcoTech Marine

Description The best aquarium lighting solution just got even better with the NEW generation 5 Radion series. There are four new models available: XR15 G5 Pro - XR30 G5 Pro - XR15 G5 Blue - XR30 G5 Blue.

aqualabaquaria.com

 

[PPBlimpy]

if you want to run a clam on the sandbed you are probably going to need more wattage.

I would suggest 2 noopsyche k7 pro IV. Run you under $300. If you were not looking at a clam I would say just one would be fine.

I have been running two k7 IV over a 54g corner tank and had 5 v3 pros over a 210. Love the lights.

 

[minus9]

What clams are you planning on keeping? This matters, because trying to keep softies and clams can be difficult, especially if you're going low light softies or you're going for that shallow water look? Sarcophytons and other leathers grow right next to acropora, so those would work (and anemone as well). If you're looking at Radion, then look at Reefi first, they are better in every way, power, spectrum, warranty and price. Nicrew and Noopsyche are great options, so is a Quanta Helix bar combo. But knowing which clams you want will determine how you're going to light the tank, as you'll need extra power on tap to keep them happy long term. And if you've never kept clams, I would pick up James Fatherree's book on clams here.

 

[commod0re]

Hydra Edge 44HD can throw down enough PAR for a clam that's up on the rocks but if you need 250+ PAR on the sand bed you'll definitely need something with more punch

with 1 44HD and 1 12" blade glow I get 60-165 on the sand bed and 200+ on most of my rockscape, with the lights running at 80%. I took some measurements (at 80%) and posted them in my build thread if you're curious

 

[whalewhalewhale]

What clams are you planning on keeping? This matters, because trying to keep softies and clams can be difficult, especially if you're going low light softies or you're going for that shallow water look? Sarcophytons and other leathers grow right next to acropora, so those would work (and anemone as well). If you're looking at Radion, then look at Reefi first, they are better in every way, power, spectrum, warranty and price. Nicrew and Noopsyche are great options, so is a Quanta Helix bar combo. But knowing which clams you want will determine how you're going to light the tank, as you'll need extra power on tap to keep them happy long term. And if you've never kept clams, I would pick up James Fatherree's book on clams here.

+1 on the reefi. OP will need to rent a PAR meter to avoid cooking their tank though.

 

[steveschuerger]

Another option to consider is ReefBreeders Meridian. I have an 11 over an IM 25 lagoon with the same length and depth numbers. Just shallower. You could probably run that or you really want to bake the clam, a 24.