Debating on what light for new build, opinions wanted

[OREGONIC]

Getting close to adding water to my new build. The tank is a IM INT 112. Dimensions are 35x35x19. I already have picked up 2 Orphek OR3 blue strip lights for supplemental lighting. Want to mount everything 10-14 inches off the water. Here are the lights I am torn between.

1. Red Sea LED 90 x2
2. XR15 g5 x2
3. Kessil AP9X
4. Orphek Alantik v4

All 4 of these setups are somewhat close in price. My goal is acros on the branch rock scape I created that sits about 9 inches off the bottom glass. The scape is pretty centered, and minimalist. I will har LPS down near the sand bed closer to the edges of the tank so only really need 250+ par over the main center piece of the scape. I hope to hear some opinions, I feel all of these lights have advantages and disadvantages over each other. Photo of scape and tank below for context. Tank will have sand, and dont forget alread have supplemental strip lights.

 

[Jon's Reef]

I would go with either the 2 XR15 or 2 a360x. Advantage of the a360x vs AP9x is that you can more optimally position them vs the fixed geometry. Xr15 will give more par/ broader coverage where a360x will give more shimmer.

 

[Trey]

I feel like the Orphek will give you the best coverage with those dimensions. Tough to light that space effectively either way. Radion gets my vote because I’m a fan boy, but I feel like 4 would be better.. or 4 or the Red Sea 90s. I’ve seen some really nice tanks running the Red Sea lights as of late.

 

[Bpb]

I like what you did with the floors there. What exactly is that?

 

[OREGONIC]

I would go with either the 2 XR15 or 2 a360x. Advantage of the a360x vs AP9x is that you can more optimally position them vs the fixed geometry. Xr15 will give more par/ broader coverage where a360x will give more shimmer.

I do love the shimmer of the clusters of leds under one lens. I really only need the high par over the center. The no built in wifi on the Kessil 360 and the shape is kind of the turn off on those.

 

[OREGONIC]

I feel like the Orphek will give you the best coverage with those dimensions. Tough to light that space effectively either way. Radion gets my vote because I’m a fan boy, but I feel like 4 would be better.. or 4 or the Red Sea 90s. I’ve seen some really nice tanks running the Red Sea lights as of late.

I would go with 4 if I were going for wall to wall SPS but I am trying to keep it isolated to the centerpiece of the scape with LPS plced on accent rock and maybe a few other places on sand. Want to keep the minimalist lagoon look. I have seen in person a tank lit with red sea leds and they look really good. Very blue with lots of pop like the xr’s but the shimmer of kessil.

 

[OREGONIC]

I like what you did with the floors there. What exactly is that?

Thanks, its just a piece of 3/4 cabinet grade plywood painted with gloss outdoor black paint. Trimmed it with hardwood transitions, I very happy with how it came out. Trying to make the tank look like it belongs and blends into the room.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I don't think you need a super bright light since you've clearly already come to the dark side

 

[OREGONIC]

I don't think you need a super bright light since you've clearly already come to the dark side

may the force be with you

 

[Anthony Scholfield]

I would recommend the reefbreeders photon V2, its worth exploring!

 

[Trey]

I would go with 4 if I were going for wall to wall SPS but I am trying to keep it isolated to the centerpiece of the scape with LPS plced on accent rock and maybe a few other places on sand. Want to keep the minimalist lagoon look. I have seen in person a tank lit with red sea leds and they look really good. Very blue with lots of pop like the xr’s but the shimmer of kessil.

Whatever you decide, the build looks saweet! Can’t wait to see it progress.

 

[OREGONIC]

I would recommend the reefbreeders photon V2, its worth exploring!

The not being able to smoothly ramp up and down was the deal breaker on them. It would drive me nuts.

 

[OREGONIC]

Whatever you decide, the build looks saweet! Can’t wait to see it progress.

Thanks I have a build thread going on it.

 

[Trey]

Thanks I have a build thread going on it.

Subbed, or “watched” or whatever lol

 

[OREGONIC]

Just did to yours too! Fun to watch others building at same time.

 

[Trey]

Just did to yours too! Fun to watch others building at same time.

Thanks man. And yes definitely. We need some more light recommendations on this thread though...

 

[Anthony Scholfield]

The not being able to smoothly ramp up and down was the deal breaker on them. It would drive me nuts.

They totally ramp up and down smooth! not sure where you received that info.

 

[OREGONIC]

They totally ramp up and down smooth! not sure where you received that info.

Really I thought I had read they jump in increments. I may need to go back to the drawing board.

 

[Anthony Scholfield]

Really I thought I had read they jump in increments. I may need to go back to the drawing board.

i think they are super smooth. Lets say you want your lights on at 11am. You have all the channels set to lets say 40%. At 10am they will come on ever so dim and every 10 mins make a slight increase and do that for the whole hour until they reach the full 40%. So every ramp up and ramp down it makes gradual changes every 10 mins through that hour to reach its set point. I dont think it gets much smoother

 

[OREGONIC]

Bump