Ren
Community Member
I am in the process of putting together a new setup. I will be running a 40gal breeder. Here's a link to the build thread, if interested.
I am torn on which direction to go for lighting. I have done some research, but I've been out of the hobby for a little bit and a lot has changed since I had my last tank. MH and T5's were the way to go and LED's were just starting to take off. I know that I do not want the cost of the MH when it comes to electrical consumption, let alone the cost of the bulbs to replace. The T5's are not that bad, but again - overtime the money does add up. As a result, I am looking at LEDs for my lighting.
I plan on having a mostly dominate SPS tank; however, I have to make sure I'm pleasing the wife and giving her some of what she wants too! As a result, I will have some LPS, zoa's and acans. I will later on once the tank is mature enough get a clam. I love them and they're pretty cool. So, I want to make sure that I have the lighting required to sustain everything that I am looking at and ensuring that I have enough for the clam to survive on!
Here are the list of lights that I am looking at getting and would really appreciate some good solid suggestions, feedback, and or comments from your experience with any of these.
Possible Options:
Reef Radiance: Thinking ultimately, I would need 2 of these.
DM-165P+ - $319
DM-165e - $179
Kessil: Thinking I would need 2?
Kessil A360N - $399
EcoTech: Would 1 suffice?
Radion XR30w Gen 3 - $649
I am unable to find what the foot prints are for the Kessil and the Radion. If anyone has them, could you please provide them to me!! I would greatly appreciate it.
Rick at Reef Radiance said that I may be able to get away with one fixture, but may need two. He mentioned buying one to see how things looked and then if needed then to buy a second one. I know for the Kessil's that I would probably need two of them to cover the entire footprint. I love the shimmer that the Kessils give. I've seen the Radions in use as well at a LFS.
I just want to make sure that I am getting excellent growth and the right lighting for all of the livestock and corals that I plan on housing to ensure that they are nice and fat, healthy, and growing well. I also want to make sure that I am getting something that is programmable, as I do eventually plan on getting an Apex. However, I also want to make sure I can program it and have it dimmable without the use of an added "wanted, but not required" addon.
Could you experienced folks help me out some pretty please?!?!
On a side note, I am also toying with the idea of getting the ATI 36" 6x39 Dimmable Sunpower fixture as well.
I am torn on which direction to go for lighting. I have done some research, but I've been out of the hobby for a little bit and a lot has changed since I had my last tank. MH and T5's were the way to go and LED's were just starting to take off. I know that I do not want the cost of the MH when it comes to electrical consumption, let alone the cost of the bulbs to replace. The T5's are not that bad, but again - overtime the money does add up. As a result, I am looking at LEDs for my lighting.
I plan on having a mostly dominate SPS tank; however, I have to make sure I'm pleasing the wife and giving her some of what she wants too! As a result, I will have some LPS, zoa's and acans. I will later on once the tank is mature enough get a clam. I love them and they're pretty cool. So, I want to make sure that I have the lighting required to sustain everything that I am looking at and ensuring that I have enough for the clam to survive on!
Here are the list of lights that I am looking at getting and would really appreciate some good solid suggestions, feedback, and or comments from your experience with any of these.
Possible Options:
Reef Radiance: Thinking ultimately, I would need 2 of these.
DM-165P+ - $319
DM-165e - $179
Kessil: Thinking I would need 2?
Kessil A360N - $399
EcoTech: Would 1 suffice?
Radion XR30w Gen 3 - $649
I am unable to find what the foot prints are for the Kessil and the Radion. If anyone has them, could you please provide them to me!! I would greatly appreciate it.
Rick at Reef Radiance said that I may be able to get away with one fixture, but may need two. He mentioned buying one to see how things looked and then if needed then to buy a second one. I know for the Kessil's that I would probably need two of them to cover the entire footprint. I love the shimmer that the Kessils give. I've seen the Radions in use as well at a LFS.
I just want to make sure that I am getting excellent growth and the right lighting for all of the livestock and corals that I plan on housing to ensure that they are nice and fat, healthy, and growing well. I also want to make sure that I am getting something that is programmable, as I do eventually plan on getting an Apex. However, I also want to make sure I can program it and have it dimmable without the use of an added "wanted, but not required" addon.
Could you experienced folks help me out some pretty please?!?!
On a side note, I am also toying with the idea of getting the ATI 36" 6x39 Dimmable Sunpower fixture as well.
