How Do You Get Lighting Right The First Time?

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

If you were going to design the ideal way for a newer to intermediate reefer to select the right light for their tank the first time and tune it to the application without harming the animals what would it be?

The bar: Getting the highest percentage of people across the finish line, with the fewest hurdles, and at a reasonable cost. Reasonable is relative to the tank.

 

[zheka757]

Good quastion! But to many variables in my opinion, but if you have to stick to the light throughout tanks life, I'd imagine you need to get stronger light incase you decide to go full sps in future. But you not going to use this same answer for someone who is for sure will decide that he will stick to fish only or softies tank.
But im following along, as im curious as someone who switched lights 3 times over 9 years and thinking of switching again....

 

[Kooma]

I’ve tried a few and keep going back to a premium product.

I like ecotech radions.

A expensive option, that can fit all tank types and is modular, connected and smart so control and adjustment is easy.

Pick a pre-made template, and set it around 60%. Setup acclimation over 14 days from 45% to 60, and then step it up 10% per week and watch corals for signs of getting upset.

If it’s taken conservatively success is usually achieved.

 

[esquare]

As zheka757 said, a lot of variables. One thing I think is helpful is to buy/rent/borrow a par meter so whichever light option you choose you can tune it in correctly.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Good quastion! But to many variables in my opinion, but if you have to stick to the light throughout tanks life, I'd imagine you need to get stronger light incase you decide to go full sps in future. But you not going to use this same answer for someone who is for sure will decide that he will stick to fish only or softies tank.
But im following along, as im curious as someone who switched lights 3 times over 9 years and thinking of switching again....

When a question has a lot of variables and a lot of ways to be right or wrong, I’ve found the best way to get to a solid answer is to rephrase the question.

So here it is...

“Your wicked smart grandma just set up a tank. She calls and asks, how do I get these lights right the first time? Get it right and I’ll double your inheritance.”

What do you say? :)

 

[zheka757]

When a question has a lot of variables and a lot of ways to be right or wrong, I’ve found the best way to get to a solid answer is to rephrase the question.

So here it is...

“Your wicked smart grandma just set up a tank. She calls and asks, how do I get these lights right the first time? Get it right and I’ll double your inheritance.”

What do you say? :)

Oh comeon man! Won't you have a follow up question or 2 back to your grandma? Lol
Grandma, what do you want to keep in that tank?
Grandma how much money you got for your light?

Maybe her answer is, I want to recreate some of the pretty colorful tanks that I saw youtube!
Or I want Nemo!

 

[Dom]

When a question has a lot of variables and a lot of ways to be right or wrong, I’ve found the best way to get to a solid answer is to rephrase the question.

So here it is...

“Your wicked smart grandma just set up a tank. She calls and asks, how do I get these lights right the first time? Get it right and I’ll double your inheritance.”

What do you say? :)

For me, lighting isn't something you get right the first time.

It is a process where adjustments are made based on the response of the tank contents.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would explain that it's super complicated and needs due diligence before purchase, but as a very rough beer mans guide I would put it like this:

5-10 gallons 30 watts
10-25 gallons 50-60 watts
25-40 gallons 100 watts
40-55 gallon 150-200 watts
Thats as large as I go.

One of the saddest things I frequently see on this forum is slapping a 30 watt light (for example) onto a 50 gallon tank (for example) and then being disheartened because corals are dying.

 

[RedReefer]

There's a lot of answers to your question. The main thing is to use a quality light. Set the light to your viewing pleasure. Avoid changing the settings once you set it. Set it and leave it.

 

[BryanM]

I asked here.

 

[DragonWrasseFan]

I would explain that it's super complicated and needs due diligence before purchase, but as a very rough beer mans guide I would put it like this:

5-10 gallons 30 watts
10-25 gallons 50-60 watts
25-40 gallons 100 watts
40-55 gallon 150-200 watts
Thats as large as I go.

One of the saddest things I frequently see on this forum is slapping a 30 watt light (for example) onto a 50 gallon tank (for example) and then being disheartened because corals are dying.

So the light that came with my 15 gallon AIO is s 20 watt AI Blade, and I only have the intensity turned up to 70%. Do you think that’s too low?

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

For me, lighting isn't something you get right the first time.

It is a process where adjustments are made based on the response of the tank contents.

I'd wager most reefers would agree with this statement. However if that's the best guidance we have for future generations of reefers they are screwed. We can do better :)

To some degree I feel like there is a lot of lawyering in all of our answers trying to not be wrong than be as right as we can be for those that need it most.

 

[esquare]

So the light that came with my 15 gallon AIO is s 20 watt AI Blade, and I only have the intensity turned up to 70%. Do you think that’s too low?

Lighting is such an important area, I think it best to Rent/Buy/Borrow a PAR meter and not guess.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

.

 

[mcarroll]

Get a tank that comes with lighting like a BioCube.

 

[Double monti 61]

I seem to do well with a fairly inexpensive led light that has sunrise-sunset program and not bathing the system with blue light all day long.

 

[Peer.Boerner]

Get a tank that comes with lighting like a BioCube.

You know that’s exactly what I did and I’ve the same question nonetheless. How bright and what spectrum. I can frame the requirements a bit more: I have a Red Sea 170 43 gallon AIO, Red Sea LED 90. If AI is to be believed:
Core Specifications:

• Total Power: 90 Watts
• Dimensions: 5.3" L x 6.1" W x 2.2" H (13.5 x 15.5 x 5.7 cm)
• Coverage: 24" x 24" (60x60cm)
• PAR: ~500 at surface, ~150 at 50cm depth (20 inches)
• Spectrum: Reef-Spec Blue (23,000 Kelvin) + 8,000K White

It’ll be a mixed reef with SPS and LPS with a focus on simple Acropora, MontiPora, lobophyllia, micromussa, blastomussa, and a Tridacnide Maxima clam. What I fear is that this is too mixed…. Not sure I’ll be able to shade some of the LPS enough so I can set the lights to make the SPS happy. Anyway, appreciated all the insight so far.

 

[56longroof]

Halides with T5 supplementation. Problem solved.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

So the light that came with my 15 gallon AIO is s 20 watt AI Blade, and I only have the intensity turned up to 70%. Do you think that’s too low?

I have AI Prime on my 15 gallon, which is a 55 watt light, set at 85%, for mostly mushrooms and zoa's. In my mind, 20 watts wouldn't work for me personally

 

[Peer.Boerner]

Halides with T5 supplementation. Problem solved.

I didn’t think anyone was using Halides and T5 anymore. I used exactly that when I got out of the hobby 7 years ago. I really liked that set up except for the heat, though I do have a chiller. I haven’t bought anything for my reef in 2 days so maybe it’s time for new lights…