Light Suggestions?

[Thomas Jedlicka]

Hello,

I have a 24 x 24 x 20 cube LPS dominant tank. Currently have a nameless light from amazon that is outputting between 60-120 par from bottom to top of tank sitting 13” from the water surface. Because it is not very strong i run more white lighting than desired (with blues at 100%) and want to upgrade to something that can maintain intensity without relying on the white spectrum for strength.

I am considering the AI prime. Does anybody have recommendations or similar tank sizes. Did you use one light or two?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Are you measuring the par or taking it from the manufacturer? How many watts is your current light? How many gallons is your tank? AI Prime is 55 watts and has a 24” x 24” maximum spread at full power. It should work or perhaps something even a little stronger.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Hello,

I have a 24 x 24 x 20 cube LPS dominant tank. Currently have a nameless light from amazon that is outputting between 60-120 par from bottom to top of tank sitting 13” from the water surface. Because it is not very strong i run more white lighting than desired (with blues at 100%) and want to upgrade to something that can maintain intensity without relying on the white spectrum for strength.

I am considering the AI prime. Does anybody have recommendations or similar tank sizes. Did you use one light or two?

I avoid AI these days. After they sold their company the quality went straight to . Melted lenses, burnt diodes and not one light of the half dozen I bought lasted more than 2 years. I trust Kessil much more.

 

[steveschuerger]

I use a Meridian from ReefBreeders albeit because I got a ridiculously good deal on it. If money isn’t an issue I’d say go with this or even a Photon v2 which they still sell that would fit the tank. Less expensive options are Nicrew or NooPsyche. I’ve heard decent things about Popbloom and Glowrium as well.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Reefi uno 2.1, reefbreeders, kessil are all fantastic.

 

[steveschuerger]

Reefi uno 2.1, reefbreeders, kessil are all fantastic.

Woops I forgot the ReeFi. I had one before having to sell my previous tanks before moving last summer. Great light.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Reefi uno 2.1, reefbreeders, kessil are all fantastic.

Woops I forgot the ReeFi. I had one before having to sell my previous tanks before moving last summer. Great light.

Andrew at Polo Reef really likes them too. Those and Halides seem to be his favorite.

 

[Seancj]

AI is a great light that puts out a very nice color.
A Kessil 360X would also look great over your tank. Amazing shimmer.
You should also look at the new Red Sea series. I have the older 160s model and I love the color and shimmer. They also lean way more towards the blue spectrum that you are looking for.

 

[steveschuerger]

Here’s with the meridians (orange filtered ). Still figuring them out. Much more powerful than the Photon v2 I had.

 

[steveschuerger]

AI is a great light that puts out a very nice color.
A Kessil 360X would also look great over your tank. Amazing shimmer.
You should also look at the new Red Sea series. I have the older 160s model and I love the color and shimmer. They also lean way more towards the blue spectrum that you are looking for.

A friend gave me a Red Sea Reefled 50 for my 25 . Nice light but I was somewhat disappointed in the limitations of the app. Light itself did give a nice look overall though

 

[Thomas Jedlicka]

Are you measuring the par or taking it from the manufacturer? How many watts is your current light? How many gallons is your tank? AI Prime is 55 watts and has a 24” x 24” maximum spread at full power. It should work or perhaps something even a little stronger.

I have a Par Meter, my current light is rated to 95watts according to instruction manual but i dont run it that high. Its just not great quality and can tell the corals want more light. If i crank up the whites im just going to get algae issues

 

[Thomas Jedlicka]

Here’s with the meridians (orange filtered ). Still figuring them out. Much more powerful than the Photon v2 I had.

Thanks for the comment. Will probably go with meridians or kessil

 

[rtparty]

The AI Prime isn’t enough. They are best suited for a 12*12 area.

AI Blades are fantastic lights. I wouldn’t use any of the other AI lights though.

Get a Nicrew 150 Gen 2 off Amazon along with the controller. $300 and you’re set. Comes with tank mount and all.

 

[steveschuerger]

The AI Prime isn’t enough. They are best suited for a 12*12 area.

AI Blades are fantastic lights. I wouldn’t use any of the other AI lights though.

Get a Nicrew 150 Gen 2 off Amazon along with the controller. $300 and you’re set. Comes with tank mount and all.

Yeah, I was looking at Nicrews, just lucked out with the Meridian when surfing FB marketplace for anything worthwhile.

 

[PharmrJohn]

After I looked into it, I chose Photon V2 Pro. It's a well rounded unit.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have a Par Meter, my current light is rated to 95watts according to instruction manual but i dont run it that high. Its just not great quality and can tell the corals want more light. If i crank up the whites im just going to get algae issues

Keep an eye on the watts. If you are using a 95 watt light, then AI Prime at 55 watts would be an expensive downgrade

 

[YSreef]

Tried, kessil 160, ai prime, and currently have radion xr-15 and the radions have much deeper blue colors like the different shades of blue is way more noticeable than with other lights on my opinion. The radion are pricy but if you want want colors to pop, I think radions are it

 

[Freenow54]

Hello,

I have a 24 x 24 x 20 cube LPS dominant tank. Currently have a nameless light from amazon that is outputting between 60-120 par from bottom to top of tank sitting 13” from the water surface. Because it is not very strong i run more white lighting than desired (with blues at 100%) and want to upgrade to something that can maintain intensity without relying on the white spectrum for strength.

I am considering the AI prime. Does anybody have recommendations or similar tank sizes. Did you use one light or two?

AI not very strong at all mine 65 watts I am going to get additional lights

 

[pauldelray]

Hello,

I have a 24 x 24 x 20 cube LPS dominant tank. Currently have a nameless light from amazon that is outputting between 60-120 par from bottom to top of tank sitting 13” from the water surface. Because it is not very strong i run more white lighting than desired (with blues at 100%) and want to upgrade to something that can maintain intensity without relying on the white spectrum for strength.

I am considering the AI prime. Does anybody have recommendations or similar tank sizes. Did you use one light or two?

A Kessil 360we with a wifi dongle on a center arm mount will give you complete spectrum, complete control of color and really nice shimmer. If you want to make your corals really pop like back in the days of actinic lights, add 2 Reefbrite Lumilite Pro Ultra Actinic strips (one on the front and one on the back edge). These LED strips have individual control settings for blue and purple. You most likely would want them both on max setting which will allow you to ad more white spectrum on the Kessil. They can be turned on and off with a simple wall timer. I have this setup on a 20 gal Waterbox. The coral colors and the growth are awesome. For your setup, go slow. Keep the intensity on the Kessil at around 30% max to start. These are not the same as standard Reefbrite strips. These Utra Actinic strips give off a lot of PAR. Good luck!

 

[Thomas Jedlicka]

Tried, kessil 160, ai prime, and currently have radion xr-15 and the radions have much deeper blue colors like the different shades of blue is way more noticeable than with other lights on my opinion. The radion are pricy but if you want want colors to pop, I think radions are it

Going with Radion. Planning to grab a XR15 G5 Pro