I'm coming up on 1 year with my mixed reef. I have an IM 100INT (48 x 24) DT, and started out with 2 Hydra 32HD's. However, I'm sensing my light coverage is inadequate. I keep my parameters spot on, and my zoa garden is doing well, but my stonies seem to be lagging/struggling.
I'm contemplating some changes, and am considering 3 options:
1) Add a third Hydra 32HD, and turning the lights so they are perpendicular to the front panel. This would give a more uniform illumination in the tank.
2) Keep the 2 Hydra's, but add the Reefbrite LED bar add-on kits. This adds some blue, but I'm not sure if that's enough.
3) Swap the Hydra's for a Kessil AP9X. This one fixture should be adequate for my rectangular tank, especially since the interior of the DT is about 21" wide and the only 20" deep. Everything I see says this light would be ideal for a mixed reef, with some SPS at the top of the tank.
Any insights, opinions, alternatives would be welcome. I've learned a lot this first year, and know you have to start somewhere. But I'm not reluctant to make adjustments along the way. Thanks!
I'm contemplating some changes, and am considering 3 options:
1) Add a third Hydra 32HD, and turning the lights so they are perpendicular to the front panel. This would give a more uniform illumination in the tank.
2) Keep the 2 Hydra's, but add the Reefbrite LED bar add-on kits. This adds some blue, but I'm not sure if that's enough.
3) Swap the Hydra's for a Kessil AP9X. This one fixture should be adequate for my rectangular tank, especially since the interior of the DT is about 21" wide and the only 20" deep. Everything I see says this light would be ideal for a mixed reef, with some SPS at the top of the tank.
Any insights, opinions, alternatives would be welcome. I've learned a lot this first year, and know you have to start somewhere. But I'm not reluctant to make adjustments along the way. Thanks!