Lighting for a 400g - 10' tank

[adova]

I am putting together a 10' x 30" x 24"(h) tank. It is a 2 side viewable with dual overflows. I have been out of the hobby for quite a few years and have been doing some research, but, as you may well know, opinions are all over the board.

Goals:

• LED
• Mixed reef with SPS dominance
• Minimal wiring - e.g. daisy chain power, etc. - this is pretty important as I want to run the power through a pipe in the overflow.
• Versatile mounting options
• Power efficiency
• Budget minded - I expect to spend upwards of $6k on lights, but less is always better

and have come to a few options:

• Radion XR30 Pros
  • Quantity 6
  • Can power be chained?
  • Not sure how I am going to mount - probably custom solution
  • Costly
• Meridian 63 with 2 edges
  • Quantity 2
  • Found some used ones bringing price down to $2800 for 2x the primary fixture
  • Should only need 2 power supplies - not sure when adding the edges
• Quanta Helix
  • 5 Bar Combo - not sure what combo flavor, though
  • Quantity 2
  • Price at $2800 for both
  • Lots of wires - not sure if I can sneak all of those through the overflows, but if I can, it still looks fairly clean
• Nicrew HyperReef 200
  • Quantity 6
  • Great price point at $1800 for 6
  • Requires external controller
  • Not sure how I am going to mount - probably custom solution
  • Wire management will be a challenge

I am leaning towards Meridian for a couple of reasons:

• Having two long fixtures seems more manageable and looks better than 6x others. On the other hand, if one dies, I lose 50% lighting.
• Keeping the main lights and bars in the same product family seems beneficial
• Minimal wiring
• Used option keeps price down

Love to hear your thoughts / opinions.

 

[Biff0rz]

I am putting together a 10' x 30" x 24"(h) tank. It is a 2 side viewable with dual overflows. I have been out of the hobby for quite a few years and have been doing some research, but, as you may well know, opinions are all over the board.

Goals:

• LED
• Mixed reef with SPS dominance
• Minimal wiring - e.g. daisy chain power, etc. - this is pretty important as I want to run the power through a pipe in the overflow.
• Versatile mounting options
• Power efficiency
• Budget minded - I expect to spend upwards of $6k on lights, but less is always better

and have come to a few options:

• Radion XR30 Pros
  • Quantity 6
  • Can power be chained?
  • Not sure how I am going to mount - probably custom solution
  • Costly
• Meridian 63 with 2 edges
  • Quantity 2
  • Found some used ones bringing price down to $2800 for 2x the primary fixture
  • Should only need 2 power supplies - not sure when adding the edges
• Quanta Helix
  • 5 Bar Combo - not sure what combo flavor, though
  • Quantity 2
  • Price at $2800 for both
  • Lots of wires - not sure if I can sneak all of those through the overflows, but if I can, it still looks fairly clean
• Nicrew HyperReef 200
  • Quantity 6
  • Great price point at $1800 for 6
  • Requires external controller
  • Not sure how I am going to mount - probably custom solution
  • Wire management will be a challenge

I am leaning towards Meridian for a couple of reasons:

• Having two long fixtures seems more manageable and looks better than 6x others. On the other hand, if one dies, I lose 50% lighting.
• Keeping the main lights and bars in the same product family seems beneficial
• Minimal wiring
• Used option keeps price down

Love to hear your thoughts / opinions.

I have a 5' tank now, 60x30x30. I have two photon 50 v2+'s, 2 60" OR3's, and 2 A8's on each end. I too am planning a 10' tank.

There's zero possibility that 6 XR30's will be enough for a 10' tank, esp for sps. Lps, sure. I would think 6 would be perfect for my current 5' to get good par and spread everywhere. That said, they are too expensive and over priced these days.

I am planning on going with 4x meridians with edge bars for my 10' or going the cheaper route with 10-12 A8's.

I also saw these at a friends house, pretty powerful little light. Would probably need a lot on a 10' tank however: https://www.reefi-lab.com/product/reefi-uno-2-1-pro/

I hope this helps!

 

[BryanM]

I am leaning towards Meridian for a couple of reasons:

• Having two long fixtures seems more manageable and looks better than 6x others. On the other hand, if one dies, I lose 50% lighting.
• Keeping the main lights and bars in the same product family seems beneficial
• Minimal wiring
• Used option keeps price down

I have a 6footer with a Meridian63 and love it. I think the meridians are the way to go.

I'm surprised you're finding used ones for sale though!

 

[c4haskett]

For that size of tank I would look at something more economical. Have you checked out the Quanta Atlas or Reefi Uno?

 

[rtparty]

Straton X. 4 of them maybe 5 if you want a total blanket

 

[Biff0rz]

Straton X. 4 of them maybe 5 if you want a total blanket

I used one of the first Stratons, they were so...white. Are the X's better with the blues?

 

[rtparty]

I used one of the first Stratons, they were so...white. Are the X's better with the blues?

The whole Straton lineup is geared towards a more white look at full power. They have loads of overhead though and can be tuned more blue and not lose a lot of PAR

 

[Biff0rz]

The whole Straton lineup is geared towards a more white look at full power. They have loads of overhead though and can be tuned more blue and not lose a lot of PAR

Yea, the originals felt very 'euro' to me. I wasn't a huge fan. I guess I'd need to see some reviews if I'd like these then.

 

[Damage12]

I’m in the process of building a 9’ 400 gal tank and will be going with either 3x ATI Straton X’s or 3 to 4 GHL Mitras LX8’s which should be out way before tank is done.

 

[Science/G]

The Meridians are great. They are sleek, modern and powerful. Theydeliver a beautiful full spectrum look with all channels equal, and a serious pop for evening viewing with a heavy blue and violet if you back down the other channels. The 3500k and 5000k full spectrum LEDs are game changers.

 

[adova]

I have a 5' tank now, 60x30x30. I have two photon 50 v2+'s, 2 60" OR3's, and 2 A8's on each end. I too am planning a 10' tank.

There's zero possibility that 6 XR30's will be enough for a 10' tank, esp for sps. Lps, sure. I would think 6 would be perfect for my current 5' to get good par and spread everywhere. That said, they are too expensive and over priced these days.

I am planning on going with 4x meridians with edge bars for my 10' or going the cheaper route with 10-12 A8's.

I also saw these at a friends house, pretty powerful little light. Would probably need a lot on a 10' tank however: https://www.reefi-lab.com/product/reefi-uno-2-1-pro/

I hope this helps!

I have been speaking to the team at ReefBreeders and we have figured that 3x 35's with edge bars would do well considering the openings / braces. What configuration would you be thinking?

 

[BuffaloLake]

I am putting together a 10' x 30" x 24"(h) tank. It is a 2 side viewable with dual overflows. I have been out of the hobby for quite a few years and have been doing some research, but, as you may well know, opinions are all over the board.

Goals:

• LED
• Mixed reef with SPS dominance
• Minimal wiring - e.g. daisy chain power, etc. - this is pretty important as I want to run the power through a pipe in the overflow.
• Versatile mounting options
• Power efficiency
• Budget minded - I expect to spend upwards of $6k on lights, but less is always better

and have come to a few options:

• Radion XR30 Pros
  • Quantity 6
  • Can power be chained?
  • Not sure how I am going to mount - probably custom solution
  • Costly
• Meridian 63 with 2 edges
  • Quantity 2
  • Found some used ones bringing price down to $2800 for 2x the primary fixture
  • Should only need 2 power supplies - not sure when adding the edges
• Quanta Helix
  • 5 Bar Combo - not sure what combo flavor, though
  • Quantity 2
  • Price at $2800 for both
  • Lots of wires - not sure if I can sneak all of those through the overflows, but if I can, it still looks fairly clean
• Nicrew HyperReef 200
  • Quantity 6
  • Great price point at $1800 for 6
  • Requires external controller
  • Not sure how I am going to mount - probably custom solution
  • Wire management will be a challenge

I am leaning towards Meridian for a couple of reasons:

• Having two long fixtures seems more manageable and looks better than 6x others. On the other hand, if one dies, I lose 50% lighting.
• Keeping the main lights and bars in the same product family seems beneficial
• Minimal wiring
• Used option keeps price down

Love to hear your thoughts / opinions.

Where is the euro bracing? Last year I bought my dream tank, an 8’x30”x25”. I planned it using 4 XR-30 blues. When the tank arrived, the euro bracing divides the tank into 3 sections. So no matter how I space them, they are being blocked by the bracing. Had I known about the bracing, I would have planned for either 3 or 6 lights instead of 4.

 

[BryanM]

I have been speaking to the team at ReefBreeders and we have figured that 3x 35's with edge bars would do well considering the openings / braces. What configuration would you be thinking?

Honestly I'd take his recommendation and run with it. They are very knowledgable over there.

 

[PPBlimpy]

May not be a very popular choice but I really like my noopsyche k7s.

They are stupid cheap. Have good color. I had 5 of the v3 over a 8' 300g mixed reef 96 x30x24. Moving to sps I was going to ad 2 more. They are only $139 each.

I was recently looking at upgrading to a 10ft 300g 120 x 24x24 and planned on ordering 10. passed on the 300 due to tank age.

I have since taken down the 300(leak) and replaced it with a 7' 210 that i decided to give the new 315W ceramic metal halides a try. @ 50%( 208w) with 10k bulbs and noopsyche k7 as supplement lighting I am seeing 500 par 12" from surface and 200+ on the sand bed.

anyways. i cant justify 6k on lights. I will have less then $1000 into my 210 lights and will be able to grow anything I want.

I liked the combo so much I put them on a 54G corner tank that i plan to run as a SPS/LPS tank, 315w cmh with 2 noopsyche k7 IV. on this tank with the MH at 100% i can get over 1000 par 2" from surface and 750 mid tank, 400 on the bed. no need for that though.

 

[Biff0rz]

I have been speaking to the team at ReefBreeders and we have figured that 3x 35's with edge bars would do well considering the openings / braces. What configuration would you be thinking?

Logan knows his stuff. Personally, I want more par and spread and if I'm buying lights...budget...I already know I'm gunna spend a ton. On a 10' sps dominated mixed tank, I'd go with 4x meridian 63's and edges on the outside. I know I would eventually need that much anyways once colonies start to grow. I sort of did that with my current tank, started with 1 photon, now I have 2, then 2 light bars, and now two a8's on the end. I'm finally getting the par and spread I want to make all my sps happy with the least amount of shadowing. At the same time, 4x meridian 63's is NOT cheap. That's also why I would consider an array of A8's...they are cheap, powerful, and if one dies, I'll just snag another. The app is not the best (reefbreeders is by far better) but it'd be half the cost.....so yea.

 

[adova]

Logan knows his stuff. Personally, I want more par and spread and if I'm buying lights...budget...I already know I'm gunna spend a ton. On a 10' sps dominated mixed tank, I'd go with 4x meridian 63's and edges on the outside. I know I would eventually need that much anyways once colonies start to grow. I sort of did that with my current tank, started with 1 photon, now I have 2, then 2 light bars, and now two a8's on the end. I'm finally getting the par and spread I want to make all my sps happy with the least amount of shadowing. At the same time, 4x meridian 63's is NOT cheap. That's also why I would consider an array of A8's...they are cheap, powerful, and if one dies, I'll just snag another. The app is not the best (reefbreeders is by far better) but it'd be half the cost.....so yea.

Yea - our other option was 6x 35's and no edges. I can see that, if I really wanted to upgrade, I could just add 3x 35's and have the edges and get pretty much what you are talking about.

 

[adova]

Where is the euro bracing? Last year I bought my dream tank, an 8’x30”x25”. I planned it using 4 XR-30 blues. When the tank arrived, the euro bracing divides the tank into 3 sections. So no matter how I space them, they are being blocked by the bracing. Had I known about the bracing, I would have planned for either 3 or 6 lights instead of 4.

I am still waiting for the tank to arrive / be completed, but it should be 6" eurobracing giving 3 openings.