Are high dollar lights worth it?

[Jasonak]

I use both, Im getting overlap so couldn't say if there's a difference in coral color. Im going to say growth wise not going to matter, ease of use, some high end lights are easier and some are waaay more complicated and for the most part once you set them up you dont really mess with them again at least I don't. Unless your ramping up the lights/acclimating, which you can do manually with cheap and have to do manually with some higher end ones even or adding a new light to the collective.

 

[Faurek]

First thing the biggest photosynthesis peak is from 420 to around 440, this is why I use 445 royal blues instead of 450, and that has nothing to do with PAR, PAR is the amount of light you hit the tank with at certain depth, wavelength is the color of the spectrum.
Yes, If you have enough par with blues you will grow color but clearly corals use the rest of the spectrum.
Expensive lights are actually very bad, yes radions are not as good as the hype, they produce so low violet for the amount of blues that is insane, different violets will make more fluorescent proteins shine as well.
So yeah, if you don't want to build your LED's go with something cheap like the Vipar Spectra's. The first thing is PAR for growth and then for the absolute best color that is where wavelength plays a role.

 

[Rocks reef]

Also, in almost 25 years in the industry, I've noticed that people want to splurge on lights. It's something in our psyche. Lights are flashy and cool. People don't want to spend money on hidden, boring, redundant equipment that will make their system bulletproof. But they will drop coin on the newest light. I've seen it countless times.

That's why I run T5/Halide... it's boring, redundant and bulletproof

 

[Faurek]

I use and like my Noopsyche K7's. If money was no object, I would maybe buy all ecotech products, because they have a pretty nice integrated ecosystem.

I'm a PC guy, not a Mac guy, because I can build a better computer with exactly what I want in the PC ecosystem, but if I just wanted a good computer that was well designed, and I wanted to make sure that everything I plugged into it "just worked" I might be a Mac guy.

How is Mac "just works" when 90% of consumer applications are developed for windows first? I say this against myself because I use Linux.

I think people apply this same nonsense in reefing. You can mess up with ecotech the same way you can mess up with Spectras, You need everything connected to an app? I prefer a physical button, I go there, click and everything off, if I program my life is based on that program. Only thing I need programming is light.

 

[nickng]

Are high dollar cars worth it? Both get you to the same grocery store.

Not if you commute long distances on the autobahn daily

 

[areefer01]

I don't think the OP was asking for recommendations but maybe I missed it.

OP - you asked if you are missing anything. The short answer is no, you are not. Other than maybe what is the optimal, or best (saved for sports), spectrum for growing corals or maintaining their health. Lighting is just one part of it.

It really comes down to personal preference. The same can be said for other components such as power heads, return pumps, additives, or salt. We all have our own budgets and no one should be shaming us if we use something different. In my opinion.

I believe the sooner we get over asking questions like 'what is best' or shaming others for their choice we will be better off. But that is me standing on a soap box with a bad hip...

 

[Faurek]

so spectrum for coloration is a thing, outside of that you just need to hit those PAR numbers. Even when hitting your PAR numbers those numbers can very. I personally run between 80-300 in my 300 but a friend runs 400-800 in his 450 gallon. I can say though light penetration was a huge factor when I was buying lights. I did T5s first and those wouldnt penetrate to the sand bed, then I tried reef breeder led and those didnt penetrate. I then bought radions and they didnt penetrate enough either so I went with Orpheks and these worked. So I would have preferred the T5 hybrid fixture I ended up having to buy expensive lights.

New radions have more then 120° lenses, ofc they don't penetrate, to penetrate you need either a more focused light or more fixtures, probably a mix led and t5 would look great and have enough par, I believe orpheks have either 60° or 90° lenses, that's why they worked.

 

[rtparty]

New radions have more then 120° lenses, ofc they don't penetrate, to penetrate you need either a more focused light or more fixtures, probably a mix led and t5 would look great and have enough par, I believe orpheks have either 60° or 90° lenses, that's why they worked.

Put on the high intensity kit if you need more penetration from a Radion. It’s like $20 and drops down to 90° IIRC

 

[MorReefs]

With my T5 radion(g6) hybrid, which is what I wanted to use, could not get PAR at the sand above 37. Which is why I went looking for something else. Tank height is 27” and then add some inches above the water line… it gets deep quickly

New radions have more then 120° lenses, ofc they don't penetrate, to penetrate you need either a more focused light or more fixtures, probably a mix led and t5 would look great and have enough par, I believe orpheks have either 60° or 90° lenses, that's why they worked.

 

[ryudo80]

ReefBreeder Photon v2s and Nicrew Gen 2s have been the best lights I have owned. Great value. Better coverage, PAR, and ability to program over other brands I have owned, such as AI Prime HD, MicMol, and NooPsyche.

The NooPsyche has ability to control light and schedule without the need for a controller. Is the Nicrew Gen 2 better in some way? Also the NooPsyche K7 3 is cheaper than the newer Nicrew Gen2. I plan to start a new tank soon and wondering if I should get more NooPsche K7 or try out the Nicrew Gen2.

 

[oreo54]

I just want a mass produced LED in a coral spectrum with just a dimmer switch/dial (sure throw an on off switch in their if you must)! If we could get one of those mass produced think of how cheap it could be!!!



https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/lamps/products/hlg-65

Your grow lights come to $1.52/watt.
The Quanta Atlas is about $2/watt

Potentiometer dimming, good spectrum, add timer.
So actually they granted your wish
;)
https://www.quanta-lights.com/products/quanta-atlas-sps

 

[MorReefs]

The kits came out when my orpheks were out for delivery

Put on the high intensity kit if you need more penetration from a Radion. It’s like $20 and drops down to 90° IIRC

 

[Freenow54]

I installed 2 nicrew gen 2 150 on my system last week, they are $220 each and another $50 for the controller, I went with them over radeons and AI primes due to better reviews and less issues with lens melts and controller fails, so far I am happy, but it has been only 6 days, I think some people spend thousands on light just to show off what they have, just like some buy corals just for the names and then keep them on racks.
Honestly if the light does what you want, then get it, don't be a label junkie.

I suppose some do buy things just to show it off. I try to do thoughough researce and look for the features I want. Lights I look for at least 5 differant spectrums although my razor has only 3 aqnd is enough for my mushrooms. That said what you are doing is a huge factor. I for one have no intrest in sps they are way too finicky for my simple mind. I dont want to spend my entire day checking and adjusting parameters. One reason is that I dont like dosing. Lost a lot of sps because of my ignorance and my son convincing me to buy them. He fed them reef roids in a last ditch effort and caused a huge hair algae proble. Anyway back to the lights. I bought a pair of Aquanest Five spectrum and 6 program areas. I aslo bought an Apogee par meter worth it for me. I now know where and what I can grow. I can adjust all of the intensities of all the seperate lights and levels seperatly. The razor was about $ 300 and is at least 20 years old. The Aquanest $500 each and are about 10 years old. So those especially longevity are the main factors for me

 

[SliceGolfer]

The NooPsyche has ability to control light and schedule without the need for a controller. Is the Nicrew Gen 2 better in some way? Also the NooPsyche K7 3 is cheaper than the newer Nicrew Gen2. I plan to start a new tank soon and wondering if I should get more NooPsche K7 or try out the Nicrew Gen2.

You are correct, the NooPsyche K7 Pro V3 does not require a controller, programmable through a mobile device. Cost is cheaper than the Nicrew Gen2.

I have two NooPsyche K7 Pro V3 lights sitting in my closet. I replaced them with Nicrew Gen2 and the separate controller. The differences I find between the two lights is that the Nicrew has a better mounting system, is very easy to control through the add on contoller, will have support for mobile device programming, in my opinion has a better spectrum, has better coverage (lense differences), and achieves same level PAR in my tanks with lower intensity setting.

The NooPsyche is a budget friendly option. After two years I found things I did not get past, or was unable to change (such as: tendency for spectrum to lean heavy on violet side, fans running frequently, mounting arm, and connectivity/programming issues).

 

[tautog83]

Most tank mounts dont extend far into the tank ( i know weight can be an issue) . Im looking for one that can extend like the reefi mounts because with an aio that back wall makes ya lose about 3 inches. For instance the ai hard mounts are about 2 to 3 inches too short for a im50 lagoon ..do they work sure but it be nice to get it more centered . I was hoping to try a big nicrew hyperreef dialed down to replace 2 primes

 

[ninjamyst]

When corals look up and see a cheap light, their polyps retract. Facts.

 

[Red_Beard]

When corals look up and see a cheap light, their polyps retract. Facts.

Facts. That is why i only take home mid polyps.

 

[MoshJosh]

Your grow lights come to $1.52/watt.
The Quanta Atlas is about $2/watt

Potentiometer dimming, good spectrum, add timer.
So actually they granted your wish
;)
https://www.quanta-lights.com/products/quanta-atlas-sps

See I knew we could make it affordable!!!

Unfortunately none of my tanks are 3' WIDE. . . someday maybe!!!

 

[GuppyHJD]

noopsyche lights are great

The Noopsyche work but the controller is terrible

 

[Glenner’sreef]

I love my cheap Chinese Black boxes!!! And I love my toaster, my iron, my silverware and dinnerware, my auto parts, my, well you get the idea. China’s been selling to the west on a very large scale since the 70s. I really don’t know anyone who’s had a fire start in their home because of a faulty product listed above. I believe I read (years ago) that China stole the idea (intellectual property) of aquarium lighting (led) from Japan. My bragging rights aren’t outside my tank, they’re inside.