Lighting a 6 foot 125.

[Scorchx1245]

Getting a free 125g tank. Upgrading from a 40 breeder. Was looking at 6 ai primes, or 4 xr-15s orrrrr 3 xr-15s t5 hybrid. Any thoughts? Mixed reef on the heavy sps side.

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[jda]

Heavy SPS usually requires 2x the LEDs that manufacturers recommend. That is a narrow tank, so a few less might be OK. Don't rule out a 60" 6 bulb T5 once you price out all of the Radions or AIs... with bulb changes every 18-24 months, people over blow the bulb change cost compared to about 5 year effective life of a LED panel - so 2-3 bulbs changes in this same 5 year timeframe.

 

[Doctorgori]

Amazon had a T5 retro 2x54W with waterproof endcaps for $29, heck two of those (a4x54W) and some canopy work and you could be in biz for under $100 BRS sells retros also

 

[jda]

BTW - I assumed standard 125g tank... so 72x18x21 inches. If a different size, then probably a good idea to post dimensions.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Getting a free 125g tank. Upgrading from a 40 breeder. Was looking at 6 ai primes, or 4 xr-15s orrrrr 3 xr-15s t5 hybrid. Any thoughts? Mixed reef on the heavy sps side.

What are the dimensions of that tank?

 

[Hydrored]

3 stratons will cover a 6 foot tank with no shadowing

 

[nereefpat]

If I had to do it over again for my 125 (assuming standard 125), I would either do:

6 bulb T5 fixture again
3 x 150 watt MH
Or, if someone made me go LED, I would get 6 Noopsyche K7

 

[Flippers4pups]

Chinese Black boxes baby! All day long.

6' tank.

 

[Z-man]

Love my Current Orbit 3x 150 watt MH and compact lighting combo. I did remove the compacts and put in ReefBrite XHO. Amazing look to the tank. Have it about 8" above the water.

 

[hobbyreefer]

I started my SPS tank a year ago with 5 kessil a360x and 4 T5s using the aquatic life hybrid. If I were starting over I would go with an 8 bulb T5 and maybe add led strips for pop if needed.

 

[Scorchx1245]

What are the dimensions of that tank?

72x18x21 i believe standard 6 foot 125.

 

[Scorchx1245]

I already have 2 xr 15s already with 36" hybrid setup on my 40 I was thinking just to double them such as another 36" hybrid setup.

 

[bobnicaragua]

T5 LED hybrid all day for SPS dominant tank.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I already have 2 xr 15s already with 36" hybrid setup on my 40 I was thinking just to double them such as another 36" hybrid setup.

With careful coral placement, that should do it.

 

[Scorchx1245]

Thank you all!