Help Me Pick Lighting!

[gcarroll]

IMHO, you would be well served looking into the Maxspect Ethreal Infinite. Maxspect has been building SPS capable lighting since 2009. I am 100% confident that in a comprehensive lighting test, it would definitely perform at the top tier.

 

[SFNanoReef]

IMHO, you would be well served looking into the Maxspect Ethreal Infinite. Maxspect has been building SPS capable lighting since 2009. I am 100% confident that in a comprehensive lighting test, it would definitely perform at the top tier.

My issue with the Ethreal is the rear mounts. I cannot rear mount lights due to the unique slim overflow the tank has.

 

[oreo54]

It’s almost 2026, and reef lighting has come a long way.

You’re starting a brand-new mixed reef build (not your first tank).

Tank size: 48” × 24” × 21”

What lighting would you run and why?

Well that's somewhat of the wrong approach.
You need to whittle down the field by YOUR needs and wants..

Do you want simple or like every channel color controlled?
Do you prefer a more daylight look or a deep water look?
Do you want shimmer of flat?
Do you want 1 plug or 1/2 doz plugs?
Combo tech or 1 type?
Cloud, app,wifi, old fashioned controller?
Now that you said it has a overflow and can't clip lights to it (I suppose) that eliminated a few lights.
Rimmed,rimless,euro braced?
You did state livestock "starting point" at least.
How much do you really want to spend?

I'll just throw these in as a light that I like the concept of IF I wanted "simple".
All out of stock atm ..

Helix 3-Light Bar Combo

Take the guesswork out of lighting your reef tank. The 3-Light Bar Combo is a great fit for most 18" wide tanks, keeping everything from Softies, LPS and mixed reef. There are five variation options to choose from:BLUE++: 2 Meso Blue & 1 Reef Crest DaylightBLUE+: 2 Meso Blue & 1 Tropic...

www.quanta-lights.com

You have "money is no object" look to the GHL Mitras..

AFAICT you didn't pick a light that won't work.. :)

 

[LandLockedReefing]

It’s almost 2026, and reef lighting has come a long way.

You’re starting a brand-new mixed reef build (not your first tank).

Tank size: 48” × 24” × 21”

What lighting would you run and why?

Maybe I’m just old school, but T5’s and metal halides just seem to hit the spot. Tried and true. But the halides are getting harder and harder to source. And with the T5, I have no problem hitting high par numbers and the best growth and color I’ve received has been with this combination. But all in all, it’s a to each their own, asking everybody here about their lighting preferences like asking what everybody’s favorite toilet paper is it’s gonna vary, but there’ll be like one or two that tend to be a bit more popular, cheers

 

[twentyleagues]

Reefi Uno and ReefBreeders Meridian tied for first place! The one power supply on the Meridian does sound good.

Reefi has this option as well. I know I have seen posts from Daniel on FB about this. I do not know all the specs or down sides I do know it limits how much power and how many lights you can run. I am going to ball park it here the power supplies are 300w meanwells each light is capable of 280w but I dont know in what world you'd run them at that output. So two would be capable of up to 150w each thats still going to be a lot of par output. Can you daisy chain 3? idk. I would send him an email to get more details if this is an option you can not live without.

For a sort of reference I run 1 Reefi with the 120 degree reflector at about 117w. I have about 300 par 10" into the water. When I first set this light up I ran it up to about 200w and had over 400 par on the sand bed. I did have the 90 degree on at first but could see that was not enough spread to cover the 28x28" of tank surface, I did pull a par test with the 90 and at 200w it was well over 600 par on the sand. On the 180g I intend to run the 3 reefis with their own drivers just to not limit my power availability but I will also most likely be using the 90 degree reflectors and I doubt I will be using more than 100w/light. I also think it would not be a great idea to max out a single power supply.

 

[oreo54]

Reefi has this option as well. I know I have seen posts from Daniel on FB about this. I do not know all the specs or down sides I do know it limits how much power and how many lights you can run. I am going to ball park it here the power supplies are 300w meanwells each light is capable of 280w but I dont know in what world you'd run them at that output. So two would be capable of up to 150w each thats still going to be a lot of par output. Can you daisy chain 3? idk. I would send him an email to get more details if this is an option you can not live without.

For a sort of reference I run 1 Reefi with the 120 degree reflector at about 117w. I have about 300 par 10" into the water. When I first set this light up I ran it up to about 200w and had over 400 par on the sand bed. I did have the 90 degree on at first but could see that was not enough spread to cover the 28x28" of tank surface, I did pull a par test with the 90 and at 200w it was well over 600 par on the sand. On the 180g I intend to run the 3 reefis with their own drivers just to not limit my power availability but I will also most likely be using the 90 degree reflectors and I doubt I will be using more than 100w/light. I also think it would not be a great idea to max out a single power supply.

Not to mention cost of large wattage power supplies.

For "fun".

NSP-1600-MEAN WELL Switching Power Supply Manufacturer

MEAN WELL is one of the world's few standard power supply mainly professional manufacturers, covering 0.5 to 25,600W products are widely used in industrial control, medical and other fields, in line with international safety certification, short delivery of spot inventory.

www.meanwell.com

$399 .
With 44.5A capability.
1608 watts..
5 lights using the original ps which has way more headroom/light than most lights give you.


14A at the wall.

4@ 250 W est. is more economical

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/mean-well-usa-inc/UHP-1000-36/10056330?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20232005509&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0p7KBhCkARIsAE6XlaktWkaYVgSM9THoM4aKVEdwH42ht_zNYIXuuOIXFE6FWeI6yUAI-fIaAr8MEALw_wcB

28A , 10A at the wall 1008Watts.
$256.50

 

[sfin52]

It’s almost 2026, and reef lighting has come a long way.

You’re starting a brand-new mixed reef build (not your first tank).

Tank size: 48” × 24” × 21”

What lighting would you run and why?

T4ho

 

[saltcreep74]

3 - Noopsyche K7 Pro's V3

 

[SFNanoReef]

Not a deal breaker but I would like a single power supply option.

 

[gcarroll]

IMHO, you would be well served looking into the Maxspect Ethreal Infinite. Maxspect has been building SPS capable lighting since 2009. I am 100% confident that in a comprehensive lighting test, it would definitely perform at the top tier.

My issue with the Ethreal is the rear mounts. I cannot rear mount lights due to the unique slim overflow the tank has.

You mean the ones that come free with the light? You do realize that they can be mounted other ways as well right?

 

[SFNanoReef]

IMHO, you would be well served looking into the Maxspect Ethreal Infinite. Maxspect has been building SPS capable lighting since 2009. I am 100% confident that in a comprehensive lighting test, it would definitely perform at the top tier.

My issue with the Ethreal is the rear mounts. I cannot rear mount lights due to the unique slim overflow the tank has.

You mean the ones that come free with the light? You do realize that they can be mounted other ways as well right?

There is ceiling mount options? I thought it was rear mount only.

 

[SFNanoReef]

There are a lot of other options I did not list like Dalua X4.

 

[SFNanoReef]

BUMP

 

[Michael71]

We sre officially 30 days from a relocate to coastal carolinas and that means i can finallly do my build which will be a 48x24x20 tank. I plan on either using a pair of Kessil A500x Tuna blue of a pair of AI Hydra Edge 68's. really want to see the new AI's in person to see if the shimmer is natural or has a disco issue like so many LED's do. Thinking their new cluster design with that ring of whites in the center may have solved it for them.

 

[SFNanoReef]

We sre officially 30 days from a relocate to coastal carolinas and that means i can finallly do my build which will be a 48x24x20 tank. I plan on either using a pair of Kessil A500x Tuna blue of a pair of AI Hydra Edge 68's. really want to see the new AI's in person to see if the shimmer is natural or has a disco issue like so many LED's do. Thinking their new cluster design with that ring of whites in the center may have solved it for them.

You think 2 Kessil’s is enough? I always through single source lights like that caused a lot of shading.

 

[skey44]

It’s almost 2026, and reef lighting has come a long way.

You’re starting a brand-new mixed reef build (not your first tank).

Tank size: 48” × 24” × 21”

What lighting would you run and why?

Loving my RB Meridian 45. BOT mounts are heavy duty and hide wire. That’s right only one wire. Plenty of power and adjustability. Low spill and low glare. Like the new shallow reef color, but it still does blues just right too!
Similar footprint to you and my par numbers are great.

 

[skey44]

We sre officially 30 days from a relocate to coastal carolinas and that means i can finallly do my build which will be a 48x24x20 tank. I plan on either using a pair of Kessil A500x Tuna blue of a pair of AI Hydra Edge 68's. really want to see the new AI's in person to see if the shimmer is natural or has a disco issue like so many LED's do. Thinking their new cluster design with that ring of whites in the center may have solved it for them.

I had Kessil before Meridian 45. Kessil color rendition was better for fish (more daylight). But the hard shadows were killing me and the glare off the light is very harsh. Shimmer is nice. Par was good.

 

[SFNanoReef]

It’s almost 2026, and reef lighting has come a long way.

You’re starting a brand-new mixed reef build (not your first tank).

Tank size: 48” × 24” × 21”

What lighting would you run and why?

Loving my RB Meridian 45. BOT mounts are heavy duty and hide wire. That’s right only one wire. Plenty of power and adjustability. Low spill and low glare. Like the new shallow reef color, but it still does blues just right too!
Similar footprint to you and my par numbers are great.

Glad to see you jumped in on this! I went through your tank build thread about 2 weeks ago and saw you upgraded to the Meridian 45 from 4 Kessil lights.

I am sure they are great lights but Meridian just looks way cleaner.

You went with the shallow reef? I need to look at pictures as I do prefers a whiter spectrum for 4 or so hours while I am home from work.

 

[sjfishguy]

I have 3 orphek naturas over a 180 and everything from acros to anemones to zoas are growing great with the best colors I have seen since my halide days. Amazing lights if you like the 14k look

 

[skey44]

Glad to see you jumped in on this! I went through your tank build thread about 2 weeks ago and saw you upgraded to the Meridian 45 from 4 Kessil lights.

I am sure they are great lights but Meridian just looks way cleaner.

You went with the shallow reef? I need to look at pictures as I do prefers a whiter spectrum for 4 or so hours while I am home from work.

Yes shallow reef has some extra white (4 vs 2 clusters per panel). It also has a significant amount of blue still. Can really pop the coral colors for evening blues, but fish and certain corals look better under more white spectrum. Feel like it’s close to the best of both worlds.