Lighting for 25 lagoon

[jake760]

Recently picked up an innovative marine 25 lagoon and I’m struggling on what lights to use. I’ve considered 2 ai prime hds, xr15 blue, nicrew, and the noopsyche k7 IV. First I was going to do the single xr15 but heard there may be some problems with shadowing so now it’s all up in the air for me. Any and all help his appreciated!!

 

[Asserted]

Honestly for the money I think the noopsyche k7 IV is king especially with having app control. Been looking around for lights as well, but for a smaller TMC 13.5g.

 

[whalewhalewhale]

I think you’re approaching this from the wrong angle.

If you’re keeping mostly softies, a single AI prime will suffice.

If you’re doing a mix of softies and LPS, a single AI prime will still suffice, but it won’t hurt to get a second prime or use a single XR15. (same applies to the nicrew and noopsyche)

If you’re doing SPS, your goal is to blanket the whole tank with light. This means most of your options above kinda suck. Like it’ll get you started but eventually you’ll have to switch to larger panel or multiple LED bars.

The most intuitive way to understand lighting requirements is to study what the natural environments of the corals you want to keep are. Mushrooms, zoanthids, euphyllia, scolymia, leathers, etc. are found deeper in the water, sometimes shadowed by rocks and corals above. Worrying about “shadows” really isn’t a big deal unless it’s completely shadowed with not even reflected light hitting it. On the other hand, SPS like acropora are in shallow waters and super close to the surface. They’re getting blasted by sunlight with no shadows above.

 

[BoxH]

Recently picked up an innovative marine 25 lagoon and I’m struggling on what lights to use. I’ve considered 2 ai prime hds, xr15 blue, nicrew, and the noopsyche k7 IV. First I was going to do the single xr15 but heard there may be some problems with shadowing so now it’s all up in the air for me. Any and all help his appreciated!!

If it's in the budget, I'd go with two Ai Prime 16HD, The spread is excellent over a 25 Lagoon, you'll have much better coverage than a single XR15 and you'll have plenty of PAR for just about anything you want to keep.

 

[oreo54]

Recently picked up an innovative marine 25 lagoon and I’m struggling on what lights to use. I’ve considered 2 ai prime hds, xr15 blue, nicrew, and the noopsyche k7 IV. First I was going to do the single xr15 but heard there may be some problems with shadowing so now it’s all up in the air for me. Any and all help his appreciated!!

• Approximately 25 Gallons
• Outside DIMS: Length 23.6” Width: 19.7” Height: 11.8”
• Display DIMS: Length 23.6” Width: 15.87” Height: 11.8”

You will have more issues with picking a price, look, and functions than on what will work.
shallow, narrow tank.
If shadowing is what you are stressing about best to just get like 2 24" 40w bar type lighting.

https://www.quanta-lights.com/products/quanta-helix

Quanta, Orphek, GHL, AI blade ect . all make one. Different price points, different functions, different looks.

 

[Daasmo]

I have a Noopsyche K7 over my IM 25. I'm only doing softies and nems but it's enough light for me.

 

[jake760]

Thanks everyone I think I will go with a single xr15 and if need be in the future add an led bar

 

[jake760]

Honestly for the money I think the noopsyche k7 IV is king especially with having app control. Been looking around for lights as well, but for a smaller TMC 13.5g.

My current tank is a fluval evo 13.5 and I have a 12 inch ai grow blade over it and the corals love it gives good spread since it’s a long light

 

[oreo54]

Thanks everyone I think I will go with a single xr15 and if need be in the future add an led bar

The gen 6 has a very wide spread and the RMS tank mount, in "my" opinion, raises the light too tall for such a narrow tank. (16"-ish live area correct? ) and cannot be lowered.
Example for one led.. @ 6" of the water surface.
Beam Angle: 126.3 degrees...

AI's take..

• Recommended Coverage: 24" x 24" for a mixed reef or high-demand SPS setup
• Maximum Coverage: Up to 30" x 30" for lower-light or mixed configurations
• Recommended Mounting Height: 8 to 10 inches off the water surface
• Glass Reflection: The ultra-wide output angle allows aquarium side walls to reflect light back inward, illuminating the undersides of corals and minimizing dark shadows. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

At 8" that spot is over 30" in diameter. I have no idea of why they have that recommendation.
All I know is many complain of low par wit these wide angle lenses.
From AI..

Peak PAR is higher on the G5 but the G6 produces more light (spread) in total.

The EcoTech Marine Radion XR15 RMS single-arm tank mount positions the light approximately 8 inches (20 cm) above the top glass or edge of the aquarium. If using the multi-light track system with slide mounts, it sits slightly lower at about 7 inches (18 cm) above the tank

You will pay a lot for light that never gets into your tank.
OR change the way it's mounted.

On the bright side the wide spread does even out the distribution.

 

[slingfox]

Thanks everyone I think I will go with a single xr15 and if need be in the future add an led bar

I think single XR15 is the worst of the options that you posted but I am sure you can get it to work okay.

 

[jake760]

The gen 6 has a very wide spread and the RMS tank mount, in "my" opinion, raises the light too tall for such a narrow tank. (16"-ish live area correct? ) and cannot be lowered.
Example for one led.. @ 6" of the water surface.
Beam Angle: 126.3 degrees...

AI's take..

At 8" that spot is over 30" in diameter. I have no idea of why they have that recommendation.
All I know is many complain of low par wit these wide angle lenses.
From AI..




You will pay a lot for light that never gets into your tank.
OR change the way it's mounted.

On the bright side the wide spread does even out the distribution.

Hmm ok you definitely know a lot more about these lights than I do lol. I was going to get a used gen 5 if that makes any difference. But with that information I might just go with 2 prime 16 HDs if that’s the case with the xr15. Thanks again

 

[jake760]

I think single XR15 is the worst of the options that you posted but I am sure you can get it to work okay.

Ok yeah seems two 16 hds are the better option here then.

 

[oreo54]

Hmm ok you definitely know a lot more about these lights than I do lol. I was going to get a used gen 5 if that makes any difference. But with that information I might just go with 2 prime 16 HDs if that’s the case with the xr15. Thanks again

 

[jake760]

I have a Noopsyche K7 over my IM 25. I'm only doing softies and nems but it's enough light for me.

Was it a pain to program? I’ve seen people say it wasn’t the best when it came to programming.

 

[Daasmo]

I have a Noopsyche K7 over my IM 25. I'm only doing softies and nems but it's enough light for me.

Was it a pain to program? I’ve seen people say it wasn’t the best when it came to programming.

The app is lacking but the Bean Animal Profile
Generator does help. You can make a profile on PC and generate a QR code. Then you just import using the QR.