Innovative marine 25 gallon light set up

[Navyman14]

Hello all!

I will be getting an IM 25 gallon AIO. What is everyone’s opinion on lighting? Looking for a light with good par to have a few clams in it as well. I was looking at the Nicrew 150. The AI Prime 16 HD has mixed reviews…thoughts on the AI blade or hydra? Let me know your thoughts on different options/brands! TYIA

 

[Laniac103]

I have an AI Prime 16 HD on my IM 25 Lagoon and I haven't had any issues with it so far! I don't have a PAR meter so I don't know what kind of intensity I'm getting exactly, but I've been able to keep a good mix of corals alive including some easy LPS and SPS like hammers and montipora. I haven't tried acros yet and probably won't since the tank is so shallow, but I've been happy enough with the light. And it'd be easy to add another one in the future if it turns out I need one.

 

[Navyman14]

I have an AI Prime 16 HD on my IM 25 Lagoon and I haven't had any issues with it so far! I don't have a PAR meter so I don't know what kind of intensity I'm getting exactly, but I've been able to keep a good mix of corals alive including some easy LPS and SPS like hammers and montipora. I haven't tried acros yet and probably won't since the tank is so shallow, but I've been happy enough with the light. And it'd be easy to add another one in the future if it turns out I need one.

Thank you for the reply!! I will definitely take the end consideration. What wave maker are you using?

 

[X-37B]

Gen 5 Radion xr15 blue on my IM15.

 

[Navyman14]

Gen 5 Radion xr15 blue on my IM15.

Thank you! Outstanding tank!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The prime is a good light but IMO likely not strong enough to keep a clam. The nicrew 150 will definitely keep a clam. The prime is 55 watts compared to the nicrew 150 watts which is a really big difference on a 25 gallon tank. IMO a 100 watt light will be more reasonable for a 25 gallon and strong enough to keep clams IMO. But if the 150 is just a few dollars more then why not IMO

 

[Tcook]

I run a single Kessil 360 over my IM20 observation tank.

 

[Boehmtown]

My buddy has a xr15 on that tank.

 

[Navyman14]

I run a single Kessil 360 over my IM20 observation tank.

I just ordered the Kessil 360 acutely!

 

[Navyman14]

The prime is a good light but IMO likely not strong enough to keep a clam. The nicrew 150 will definitely keep a clam. The prime is 55 watts compared to the nicrew 150 watts which is a really big difference on a 25 gallon tank. IMO a 100 watt light will be more reasonable for a 25 gallon and strong enough to keep clams IMO. But if the 150 is just a few dollars more then why not IMO

I ended up going with the Kessil 360, what are your thoughts?

 

[minus9]

I use a Kessil 360x over my IM25ext and love it. I was actually using two over it and lowering the overall intensity, but that's because I had an extra 360x I wasn't using. I've gone back to just one of the the tank is it works nicely. The only other light I would consider for this tank would be the Reefi Uno Pro.

 

[Navyman14]

I use a Kessil 360x over my IM25ext and love it. I was actually using two over it and lowering the overall intensity, but that's because I had an extra 360x I wasn't using. I've gone back to just one of the the tank is it works nicely. The only other light I would consider for this tank would be the Reefi Uno Pro.

Are you using the WiFi or controller? Wha are you getting for par? I did order two of them as well. Hoping to achieve good enough power for clams

 

[minus9]

Are you using the WiFi or controller? Wha are you getting for par? I did order two of them as well. Hoping to achieve good enough power for clams

I have one set using the controller x and another using the dongle. I like both for different reasons. I don’t mess with lighting once I set it up, so once the program is going, the only thing I change is intensity. I always use a 12hr cycle with a 10hr peak and ramp up/down for 2hrs. I just modify their quick set or tuna blue program and edit the points. One system I use the lunar cycle but that limits your cycle to 12hrs exactly. I start my cycle without the lunar option at 7:55 and end at 8:05. I start at zero for both intensity and color, then ramp to 10am to 6pm, then ramp down. I match the violet channel to the intensity and I do use red and green, but only 5% during peak hours. For clams and more natural daylight, I use 10-15% red and green during peak and the color is set to 35-55% or whatever your preference is, but I find that around 40% give or take a little gives clams their best color. When ramping color from zero to whatever you choose, you get an hour or so of the “blue” look, so you can enjoy the fluorescence.

 

[Navyman14]

I have one set using the controller x and another using the dongle. I like both for different reasons. I don’t mess with lighting once I set it up, so once the program is going, the only thing I change is intensity. I always use a 12hr cycle with a 10hr peak and ramp up/down for 2hrs. I just modify their quick set or tuna blue program and edit the points. One system I use the lunar cycle but that limits your cycle to 12hrs exactly. I start my cycle without the lunar option at 7:55 and end at 8:05. I start at zero for both intensity and color, then ramp to 10am to 6pm, then ramp down. I match the violet channel to the intensity and I do use red and green, but only 5% during peak hours. For clams and more natural daylight, I use 10-15% red and green during peak and the color is set to 35-55% or whatever your preference is, but I find that around 40% give or take a little gives clams their best color. When ramping color from zero to whatever you choose, you get an hour or so of the “blue” look, so you can enjoy the fluorescence.

Perfect I’m going to get the controller and Daisy chain the two

 

[Jmc534]

Hello all!

I will be getting an IM 25 gallon AIO. What is everyone’s opinion on lighting? Looking for a light with good par to have a few clams in it as well. I was looking at the Nicrew 150. The AI Prime 16 HD has mixed reviews…thoughts on the AI blade or hydra? Let me know your thoughts on different options/brands! TYIA

I just started up this exact tank and I went with the Nicrew NavaReef 65. I don’t have any livestock yet but I’m very happy with the looks and the power of this light, it gives off a nice shimmer effect as well, i have the lights on pretty dim in the picture

 

[Crabs McJones]

I use 2 a160s over mine. So far so good. Upgraded from an IM 15 and already had one a160 over it so I added another to cover the whole tank

 

[blkcoral]

I have an AI Prime 16 HD on my IM 25 Lagoon and I haven't had any issues with it so far! I don't have a PAR meter so I don't know what kind of intensity I'm getting exactly, but I've been able to keep a good mix of corals alive including some easy LPS and SPS like hammers and montipora. I haven't tried acros yet and probably won't since the tank is so shallow, but I've been happy enough with the light. And it'd be easy to add another one in the future if it turns out I need one.

I have two AI Prime 16s on BioCube32. I would not recommend trying acros! I could not get the required PAR (nor required water flow). Also, adding a second Prime gives you greater spread but not PAR. I did use a PAR meeting and took hundreds of reading at different points in lighting schedule. All just IMO.

 

[steveschuerger]

I have two AI Prime 16s on BioCube32. I would not recommend trying acros! I could not get the required PAR (nor required water flow). Also, adding a second Prime gives you greater spread but not PAR. I did use a PAR meeting and took hundreds of reading at different points in lighting schedule. All just IMO.

You can grow Acros . But you’d need to bump lighting to something like a ReeFi Uno set up. Flow is pretty easy to bump. Just pop a couple Neros or MP 10s.

 

[Tahoe61]

Meridian 11 on my IM 25 Lagoon. Tank has been stocked for 3 months. I have had the light for a month. ReeFi Uno would have been my next choice.

 

[blkcoral]

You can grow Acros . But you’d need to bump lighting to something like a ReeFi Uno set up. Flow is pretty easy to bump. Just pop a couple Neros or MP 10s.

I agree you can grow acros with super lighting and powerheads. But probably at the expense of softies and LPS in a smaller tank.