Lighting Advice

[Nixperience]

I’m planning a build for a UNS 90LA. The dimensions are 36x12x12 and the display area is 31x12x12. I was thinking an AI Hydra Edge 44HD, but am open to suggestions. I might be able to swing a Hydra Edge 68HD for better coverage and less shadowing, but that’s pushing my budget. I don’t want a 30” light bar.

It will be mixed reef, but not many demanding SPS. Mostly LPS. My main goal is coverage and less shadowing.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks.

 

[oreo54]

I’m planning a build for a UNS 90LA. The dimensions are 36x12x12 and the display area is 31x12x12. I was thinking an AI Hydra Edge 44HD, but am open to suggestions. I might be able to swing a Hydra Edge 68HD for better coverage and less shadowing, but that’s pushing my budget. I don’t want a 30” light bar.

It will be mixed reef, but not many demanding SPS. Mostly LPS. My main goal is coverage and less shadowing.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks.

Why did you pick those particular lights?

Your 20 gal approx tank with the shallow and narrow dimensions is really more suited to bars..but anyways
And since you are going "not demanding" your wattage really isn't more than like 40 watts total. Not 400 :)


Case in point 2 Nicrew Navireefs has a total wattage of 130.
and if you can get the deal $180 (add another $50 for the controller)
So $230 and you have 2 pucks one can spread out for better overall coverage.
No fancy phone app or world wide cloud control but hey..they work.
Even at $280 for 2 you approach the Hydra 44 cost but have the advantage of a more even light spread due to 2 independent pucks.
44 spread..

There are other 2 puck combos.

 

[Nixperience]

Why did you pick those particular lights?

Your 20 gal approx tank with the shallow and narrow dimensions is really more suited to bars..but anyways
And since you are going "not demanding" your wattage really isn't more than like 40 watts total. Not 400 :)


Case in point 2 Nicrew Navireefs has a total wattage of 130.
and if you can get the deal $180 (add another $50 for the controller)
So $230 and you have 2 pucks one can spread out for better overall coverage.
No fancy phone app or world wide cloud control but hey..they work.
Even at $280 for 2 you approach the Hydra 44 cost but have the advantage of a more even light spread due to 2 independent pucks.
44 spread..
View attachment 4552943
There are other 2 puck combos.

Thanks. Solid recommendation to look into.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I like the above suggestion, IMO nicrew is a good product.

If you want something a bit more upgraded, I would look at an orphek bar. I believe the 36" bar is 90 watts, I think one bar be fine for a 12" deep/12" wide tank

 

[Nixperience]

Would a single gen 6 xr15 have enough spread? It would be nice to have minimal equipment above the tank.

 

[exnisstech]

Sorry i had to laugh at the radions. They're overrated and underpowered for the price. Not to mention Mobius looses track of the time for some of us so the lights come on at all hours. I have 3 Gen4 xr15s on the shelf because I got tired of them coming on at 3am

Good recommendations above. If you could find a used photon 32 v2 pro I think it would cover that tank nicely if you want a single light. I like panels vs pucks style lights myself.

 

[Nixperience]

Sorry i had to laugh at the radions. They're overrated and underpowered for the price. Not to mention Mobius looses track of the time for some of us so the lights come on at all hours. I have 3 Gen4 xr15s on the shelf because I got tired of them coming on at 3am

Good recommendations above. If you could find a used photon 32 v2 pro I think it would cover that tank nicely if you want a single light. I like panels vs pucks style lights myself.

Thanks. Those look like pretty good options as well. How do they compare to the Meridians? I’ve heard about the Mobius bug and wasn’t sure if that was a common thing.

 

[exnisstech]

Thanks. Those look like pretty good options as well. How do they compare to the Meridians? I’ve heard about the Mobius bug and wasn’t sure if that was a common thing.

TBH I haven't made up my mind if I prefer the photon or the radions. I have no complaints on either. I had two photon 32s over my 36x22x22" SPS tank and it did very well. I moved out of that into a 48x22x22" peninsula and have a meridian 45 over it. Its only been a few months but acro are growing very well but I've opened the scape up and increased flow so I can't say the growth is because of the meridian.

Meridian tank.

I'm experimenting a bit on my observation tank running a single meridian 11 I pulled from a tank I broke down and running it over a 26" long 40g breeder. I have two clams in the center and lower light stuff to the sides.

PS I pulled 6 noopsyche k7 III pros from my 7ft 330 and put up the two photon 32 from the reefer 300 and put them up instead. The noops did great but I like the panel because they have less light spill than the noops with 2 pucks.

 

[Nixperience]

TBH I haven't made up my mind if I prefer the photon or the radions. I have no complaints on either. I had two photon 32s over my 36x22x22" SPS tank and it did very well. I moved out of that into a 48x22x22" peninsula and have a meridian 45 over it. Its only been a few months but acro are growing very well but I've opened the scape up and increased flow so I can't say the growth is because of the meridian.

Meridian tank.

I'm experimenting a bit on my observation tank running a single meridian 11 I pulled from a tank I broke down and running it over a 26" long 40g breeder. I have two clams in the center and lower light stuff to the sides.

PS I pulled 6 noopsyche k7 III pros from my 7ft 330 and put up the two photon 32 from the reefer 300 and put them up instead. The noops did great but I like the panel because they have less light spill than the noops with 2 pucks.

Solid research. Thanks again. I’ve got a few months before getting the light, so I’m trying to figure out what I’ll be looking for now, especially if I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for used gear if it pops up.