LED recommendation for 125 Gallon?

[JCOLE]

I am about to pick up a 125 gallon tank this weekend. See picture. What LED lighting would you recommend for SPS/LPS for this size tank. Also, how many lights would you say?

Also, I should mention I am getting my ApexEL on Monday. I would like to get a light to integrate with this at some point.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Ron Reefman]

A few questions to narrow down the choices:

Do you have a budget in mind?
Are you going to hang it, mount it off the back of the tank or with legs to the side of the tank... or it doesn't matter?
Do you want built-in timers?
Do you want something better looking than a black box fixture?
Do you want more than 2 channels of led color control?
Do you want sunrise/sunset control?
Do you want pendants, round clusters or leds spread out in a wide array?

 

[JCOLE]

A few questions to narrow down the choices:

Do you have a budget in mind?
Are you going to hang it, mount it off the back of the tank or with legs to the side of the tank... or it doesn't matter?
Do you want built-in timers?
Do you want something better looking than a black box fixture?
Do you want more than 2 channels of led color control?
Do you want sunrise/sunset control?
Do you want pendants, round clusters or leds spread out in a wide array?

Ummm...I just want some fancy lights to grow coral..... :) Wow, that's a lot to think about... You Sir know what you're talking about. See below. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Do you have a budget in mind? Around $500-600 range if possible
Are you going to hang it, mount it off the back of the tank or with legs to the side of the tank... or it doesn't matter? Probably going to hang it in a canopy
Do you want built-in timers? Yes unless it can be controlled by Apex
Do you want something better looking than a black box fixture? Doesn't matter as it will be in the Canopy
Do you want more than 2 channels of led color control? Don't know. Never really had this option before. Blue and White is all I am used to. I am coming from Actinic T5's and 20k MH
Do you want sunrise/sunset control? Yes. Preferably controlled from Apex if possible.
Do you want pendants, round clusters or leds spread out in a wide array? No preference really. Looking for suggestions.

 

[JCOLE]

Also thinking about the Zetlight

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/zt-6800a-qmaven-series-led-light-zetlight.html

 

[Daniel Waters]

Do you have a budget in mind? Around $500-600 range if possible

With that budget, get a 6 to 8 bulb ATI fixture (or do some retrofits). If you want LED, you could consider 3 to 4 Orphek LED bars, but those are only 48" long and I'm not certain if your tank is a standard 6 foot 125 gallon tank or a 5 foot 125 gallon tank. The 4 foot bulbs will still light a 5 and 6 foot area but not as uniformly.

Not sure the prices on black box LEDs, but 3 black boxes might be another cost effective solution.

 

[JCOLE]

With that budget, get a 6 to 8 bulb ATI fixture (or do some retrofits). If you want LED, you could consider 3 to 4 Orphek LED bars, but those are only 48" long and I'm not certain if your tank is a standard 6 foot 125 gallon tank or a 5 foot 125 gallon tank. The 4 foot bulbs will still light a 5 and 6 foot area but not as uniformly.

Not sure the prices on black box LEDs, but 3 black boxes might be another cost effective solution.

The tank is 75.5” long x 21.5” wide x 24" tall

I have never had an all T5 fixture. Only T5's for supplemementation to MH's. Would an 8 bulb fixture be enough to grow SPS?

 

[Daniel Waters]

The tank is 75.5” long x 21.5” wide x 24" tall

I have never had an all T5 fixture. Only T5's for supplemementation to MH's. Would an 8 bulb fixture be enough to grow SPS?

A 60" 8 bulb ATI fixture will grow anything you want. But they are not recommended inside a canopy (I assume due to heat build up). You could make it work if you added some venting areas in the canopy and maybe a fan or two inside the canopy to help the heat escape. You could certainly add retro fit T5s versus going with a fixture, although the ATI fuxture will give you better output I believe than the retro fit bulbs.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I have run AI Hydras and Hydra 52 HD for 8-9 years. Not super happy with them for the price point., but...

Not really weighing on the light question so much as wanted to say love that stand. Love to see pictures once filled, or a build thread. Good luck.

 

[JCOLE]

I have run AI Hydras and Hydra 52 HD for 8-9 years. Not super happy with them for the price point., but...

Not really weighing on the light question so much as wanted to say love that stand. Love to see pictures once filled, or a build thread. Good luck.

Appreciate it. Need all the help I can get. Now to decide to make the 55 a predator tank or move everything over?