Budget Lighting for 75 gallon mixed reef

[GavinTrz]

Hello everyone!
I am currently in the process of converting my 75 gallon tank into a mixed reef. I was wondering what my options are for budget friendly lighting. I was thinking about getting two nicrew 100w lights and the controller, which would cost around $450. I have also looked into getting two NooPsyche K7 pro IIIs, which would cost around $350. I don't plan on getting any SPS, I am looking to keep an assortment of LPS and Softies, including zoas, mushrooms, euphyillia, and favites. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[PPBlimpy]

Hello everyone!
I am currently in the process of converting my 75 gallon tank into a mixed reef. I was wondering what my options are for budget friendly lighting. I was thinking about getting two nicrew 100w lights and the controller, which would cost around $450. I have also looked into getting two NooPsyche K7 pro IIIs, which would cost around $350. I don't plan on getting any SPS, I am looking to keep an assortment of LPS and Softies, including zoas, mushrooms, euphyillia, and favites. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

i am running 3 noopsyche k7 v3s over my 125 and like them alot, they do very well and you could do two over the 75 for under $400. they are rated at 140w and controlled via app

i am setting up a 300g and will be running 8 of the noopsyche k7s eventually

i have a nicrew 100w without the controller over my small frag tank and it does well as a set it and forget it light.

another option would be the popbloom rl90s as a budget friendly, also controlled via APP

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

The one thing I can't stress is that whole you can get some good lights very cheap, don't settle on the light because it's cheap. If what you want is expensive but has all the bells and whistles you want, save to buy. You will just end up paying twice if you don't. Talking from experience. But yes, check out youtube as there is tons of comparisons. If your not looking for bells and whistles there are also some simple ones available. I am sorry this post isn't much help. But wanted to pass on this tidbit.

What are you wanting to keep? Sps, lps, softies all the above lol?

 

[GavinTrz]

The one thing I can't stress is that whole you can get some good lights very cheap, don't settle on the light because it's cheap. If what you want is expensive but has all the bells and whistles you want, save to buy. You will just end up paying twice if you don't. Talking from experience. But yes, check out youtube as there is tons of comparisons. If your not looking for bells and whistles there are also some simple ones available. I am sorry this post isn't much help. But wanted to pass on this tidbit.

What are you wanting to keep? Sps, lps, softies all the above lol?

I definitely appreciate the advice! I want to avoid the LPS as I know they have a much higher light demand, I am looking to keep a bit of frogspawn, some hammers, and an assortment of softies such as kenya trees, toadstools, mushrooms and zoas, as well as maybe a bubble tip anemone or two. I don't need anything too high tech, as long as I can adjust the brightness/light channels in an app/controller that's fine with me.

 

[rtparty]

The Nicrew 100 is a fantastic light. I have the 150 that I bought to test out and it is a great light. I plan to run two of them over a new system soon

Very easy to setup and use and will provide all the light you ever need

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I definitely appreciate the advice! I want to avoid the LPS as I know they have a much higher light demand, I am looking to keep a bit of frogspawn, some hammers, and an assortment of softies such as kenya trees, toadstools, mushrooms and zoas, as well as maybe a bubble tip anemone or two. I don't need anything too high tech, as long as I can adjust the brightness/light channels in an app/controller that's fine with me.

Just to verify I think you meant SPS you want to avoid as they are higher light as what you mentioned keeping is LPS. Guessing typo or auto correct lol

 

[GavinTrz]

Just to verify I think you meant SPS you want to avoid as they are higher light as what you mentioned keeping is LPS. Guessing typo or auto correct lol

Yea sorry lol, was typing on my phone and the autocorrect got me

 

[MoshJosh]

Smart Reef Coral Light Saltwater Aquarium Light App with Bluetooth + W

Saltwater Aquarium Light: Six-channel full-spectrum design simulates coral growth lighting in the ocean, suitable for LPS corals, SPS corals, including 395nm UVA, 420nm violet LEDs, 440 + 460nm blue LEDs, 480nm cyan LEDs, 660nm red LEDs, and cool white LEDs. Smart APP Control: WiFi + Bluetooth...

www.glowrium.com

 

[JimBobReefer]

I've had the glowrium on my 60 breeder for a month now. I've got crocea clams thriving on the sand bed, sps entrusting and growing on the rocks, and hammers and acans growing happy in the middle bottom.

For $220 I can control 5 color channels and it has the sunrise sunset features I wanted.

 

[Scottiemac]

Hello everyone!
I am currently in the process of converting my 75 gallon tank into a mixed reef. I was wondering what my options are for budget friendly lighting. I was thinking about getting two nicrew 100w lights and the controller, which would cost around $450. I have also looked into getting two NooPsyche K7 pro IIIs, which would cost around $350. I don't plan on getting any SPS, I am looking to keep an assortment of LPS and Softies, including zoas, mushrooms, euphyillia, and favites. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I've spent probably $4000 on lights since setting up. First I went budget friendly and got budget performance out of them. Then I got the lights everyone else was talking about and then kicked myself for listening to everyone else.
Finally, I got some Philips CoralCare lights and couldn't be happier (despite their lack of support in the USA).

As Ben said above, you only wind up spending more money in the long run if you go cheap on the lights.

 

[Drewe]

The nicrews are fantastic in my limited experience with them - they are however missing out of app control and the gen 2s don't have native 0-10v control. You pretty much have to buy the $50 controller, but after that they do appear to be competitive with radions.

When you buy budget you're mainly giving up bells and whistles as well as warranty - the Nicrews have a 1yr warranty but you're not going to be connecting them to wifi anytime soon.