Lighting decisions...

[RobW]

Hey everyone, I need some lighting advice. I'm building a 280 gallon system right now. I've been out of the hobby for 10 years. I used to have T5 and halides before. My tank will be housed in a custom wall unit. I want to keep the heat down and go with T5 and LED. I guess my dilemma is which led fixtures to use. My tank dimensions are 72"L x 24"W x 36"H. So it is on the deeper side. I like the AI T5 hybrid fixtures that you can mount various light types to. I'm torn between the Kessil 360W's the AI Hydra 52's and the Radion XR30's. Which would any of you recommend and with what combination of T5 bulbs for a mixed style reef. Mostly zoas montis and across? Maybe a few softies and a bubble tip or two for some clowns?

 

[RobW]

No info tonight eh? Everyone must all be stuffed and sleeping from their big Easter dinners. Lol

 

[Mariette]

I’m still here. Got an 8 month old so I don’t sleep lol. Someone recommended black box lights from China. Said “it can grow almost anything” and they’re much cheaper than anything at LFS. Available on Amazon. Haven’t yet researched any of it but thought I’d throw that out there for u :)

 

[RobW]

Hmm... I'll have to take a look. I dont mind spending the money on something that is a quality product. I just want to see what a good combo is.

 

[DogsRule]

Welcome back to the hobby! I put my first reef tank together over twenty odd years ago. In that time I've used pretty much every lighting option available. In the last month, I upgraded from a 92 gallon corner tank that was lit by a single 250wt MH & moved everything into a 220 (30" high). Before making the move, I did a bunch of research on lighting options. I now run 3 x 250 wt halides on electronic ballasts in the 220 & couldn't be happier. I run variable speed fans to help push the heat out & also boost evaporation, which also helps increase my kalk dosing.
I'd say consider halides, especially on a 36" high tank- you don't need to blast it with 400 watt bulbs, the 250s will get the job done. HTH

 

[High ICP]

I would get two Geissman hybrid 36 inchers

Run them end to end lengthwise

And put 2 XR15s on each. Spread evenly across the 72”

For the tubes, two blues per fixture. And 2 of the purples.

 

[High ICP]

I’m still here. Got an 8 month old so I don’t sleep lol. Someone recommended black box lights from China. Said “it can grow almost anything” and they’re much cheaper than anything at LFS. Available on Amazon. Haven’t yet researched any of it but thought I’d throw that out there for u :)

The Reefbreeders Chinese type lights will grow everything. True. But the lighting effects they produce on your tank is atrocious to the eyes.

The blending is an abomination

I for one am in the hobby for aethetics, and how it looks. Not just utility. If it’s in the house, the fixture must look nice, and the lighting must be pleasing to the eye. In the garage over a frag tank, anything goes.

 

[High ICP]

The 61” would work too

I have never had tubes that long myself though.

Aquatic Life
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/60-h...re-with-led-mounting-system-aquatic-life.html

Geisemann
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/59-stellar-t5-4x80w-hybrid-retro-light-fixture-giesemann.html

I still like the idea of the 4 XR15s on it

 

[RobW]

The Reefbreeders Chinese type lights will grow everything. True. But the lighting effects they produce on your tank is atrocious to the eyes.

The blending is an abomination

I for one am in the hobby for aethetics, and how it looks. Not just utility. If it’s in the house, the fixture must look nice, and the lighting must be pleasing to the eye. In the garage over a frag tank, anything goes.

I'm about looks too. Probably a little bit OCD about it actually. I hate when things dont look right. Plus I want light that is even and blending well in the tank. I dont want to see a bunch of disco ball-ish color separation in the tank. Hence me wanting the t-5 mating with the led. Plus the T-5 gets rid of those dark spots well.

 

[RobW]

The 61” would work too

I have never had tubes that long myself though.

Aquatic Life
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/60-h...re-with-led-mounting-system-aquatic-life.html

Geisemann
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/59-stellar-t5-4x80w-hybrid-retro-light-fixture-giesemann.html

I still like the idea of the 4 XR15s on it

I was actually thinking of doing 2 36" ones. I then get to stretch the fixtures end to end on the tank and I could still use 4 xr15's or 4 xr30's. But you think the xr15's would be more then sufficient?

 

[RobW]

The Reefbreeders Chinese type lights will grow everything. True. But the lighting effects they produce on your tank is atrocious to the eyes.

The blending is an abomination

I for one am in the hobby for aethetics, and how it looks. Not just utility. If it’s in the house, the fixture must look nice, and the lighting must be pleasing to the eye. In the garage over a frag tank, anything goes.

Considering I am spending so much fussing with the stand/wall unit build, I want everything looking top notch. Even though you will never see my lighting fixtures, they better look good behind closed panels. Lol

 

[RobW]

The 61” would work too

I have never had tubes that long myself though.

Aquatic Life
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/60-h...re-with-led-mounting-system-aquatic-life.html

Geisemann
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/59-stellar-t5-4x80w-hybrid-retro-light-fixture-giesemann.html

I still like the idea of the 4 XR15s on it

Just in case you want to take a look at what I'm doing.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/robws-280-gallon-build.572693/

 

[jda]

Do you want to grow corals at the bottom of 36"? If so, then Halides might be your best bet. Choose reflectors that will penetrate, not spread so much. 3x250w and a few LED strips will be less than 900w which is good for a tank that size.

You can use LEDs with some narrow lenses that punch down deep, but they will burn coral up top... the MH will not do this. Most wide-lens LEDs fizzle away long before the 24" mark. You will probably need 2x or 3x the recommended units.

I love me some T5, but they lack punch below 24", IMO, which is hardly a problem unless you have a tank like this.

In any case, I would expect to spend the same on running wattage with whatever you choose... you won't likely save from one type of lighting to the next in everyday cost. Heat could be an issue from any light source, but a simple fan that comes on when they lights do can mitigate nearly all of this unless you live in South Florida or the Mojave. The heat in the fish room is also a benefit at night and your heaters will run less.

 

[RobW]

Do you want to grow corals at the bottom of 36"? If so, then Halides might be your best bet. Choose reflectors that will penetrate, not spread so much. 3x250w and a few LED strips will be less than 900w which is good for a tank that size.

You can use LEDs with some narrow lenses that punch down deep, but they will burn coral up top... the MH will not do this. Most wide-lens LEDs fizzle away long before the 24" mark. You will probably need 2x or 3x the recommended units.

I love me some T5, but they lack punch below 24", IMO, which is hardly a problem unless you have a tank like this.

In any case, I would expect to spend the same on running wattage with whatever you choose... you won't likely save from one type of lighting to the next in everyday cost. Heat could be an issue from any light source, but a simple fan that comes on when they lights do can mitigate nearly all of this unless you live in South Florida or the Mojave. The heat in the fish room is also a benefit at night and your heaters will run less.

Oh, I live in south florida.

 

[High ICP]

If I had virtually unlimited funds for electricity for MH and round the clock chillers. And bulb changes

I would pick MH over LEDs

But I don’t

That’s why you see MH over public reef systems. So In a round about way, I do have them

 

[High ICP]

I was actually thinking of doing 2 36" ones. I then get to stretch the fixtures end to end on the tank and I could still use 4 xr15's or 4 xr30's. But you think the xr15's would be more then sufficient?

If you can afford on 4 XR 30s, I would do 4 XR30s.

Had to edit this post. I checked your build thread.

I can tell, from that thread, you will be happier with 4 XR30s. So will your corals.

 

[High ICP]

Just in case you want to take a look at what I'm doing.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/robws-280-gallon-build.572693/

Very nice

 

[RobW]

If I had virtually unlimited funds for electricity for MH and round the clock chillers. And bulb changes

I would pick MH over LEDs

But I don’t

That’s why you see MH over public reef systems. So In a round about way, I do have them

I had halides on my last system

 

[RobW]

Do you want to grow corals at the bottom of 36"? If so, then Halides might be your best bet. Choose reflectors that will penetrate, not spread so much. 3x250w and a few LED strips will be less than 900w which is good for a tank that size.

You can use LEDs with some narrow lenses that punch down deep, but they will burn coral up top... the MH will not do this. Most wide-lens LEDs fizzle away long before the 24" mark. You will probably need 2x or 3x the recommended units.

I love me some T5, but they lack punch below 24", IMO, which is hardly a problem unless you have a tank like this.

In any case, I would expect to spend the same on running wattage with whatever you choose... you won't likely save from one type of lighting to the next in everyday cost. Heat could be an issue from any light source, but a simple fan that comes on when they lights do can mitigate nearly all of this unless you live in South Florida or the Mojave. The heat in the fish room is also a benefit at night and your heaters will run less.

Maybe not all the way to the bottom. Like to have some cave areas for the fish. More than likely the upper two thirds

 

[FishyDP]

I'm about looks too. Probably a little bit OCD about it actually. I hate when things dont look right. Plus I want light that is even and blending well in the tank. I dont want to see a bunch of disco ball-ish color separation in the tank. Hence me wanting the t-5 mating with the led. Plus the T-5 gets rid of those dark spots well.

I just went from all led to led/t5 hybrid. With the right combo it is perfect. Nice coloration from LEDs and the t5s take care of shadowing/disco. I'm heavier on t5s than led, so I am getting a bit more of the pastel look than I wanted. If I could do it again I would go heavier on LEDs, with t5 supplement. Cant give any advice on the lights you are asking about, have no experience with them.