Lighting for Red Sea Reefer 250L

[Squidy]

Hello All, I have not posted before but trust me i have been on here many many times getting all your great information and putting it to the test, so thank you for that. I am now looking to replace my lights (iluminair900) I really dont know which to get.

 

[nuxx Verified Sponsor]

I'd vote Kessil A360s, loved mine :)

 

[Squidy]

Thanks, i was looking at orphec or30, but so confusing regarding which bars to get, im just going to look at the kessil now:)

 

[nereefpat]

What dimensions are you trying to light?

Do you want LED for sure?

What features are important to you, like ramping and dimming etc?

Keeping SPS?

Budget?

 

[Squidy]

What dimensions are you trying to light?

Do you want LED for sure?

What features are important to you, like ramping and dimming etc?

Keeping SPS?

Budget?

dimensions are 90cmL 50cmD 52cmH. at the moment I have soft coral mixed with LPS (im a newbie) so i need to go slow and try and get it right. All my corals seem healthy so far, i keep a good eye on my parameters daily. i have just added a H2Ocean pro doser and ATO. I dont want led for sure, im looking at the best option for health of corals obviously , but i want better colours and options to ramp and dim etc. the light have has minimal options and the colours seem not good compared to pictures/videos ive seen of other tanks . I would love to try SPS at some point.

 

[nereefpat]

An option would be a 3 foot long 6 bulb T5 fixture. You could grow anything you want with that. The standard ones don't dim or ramp. ATI does make a dimmable fixture. You may or may not like the look of T5, as not everyone does. The coverage and lack of shadows is best with T5, but the flipside is a flat look.

For LED on a 3 foot tank, you would be looking at 2 fixtures. I would probably try 2 x Noopsyche K7s. Kessils mentioned would work fine if you got 2. Radion, probably the XR15 models, would be popular but expensive. 2 of the Reefi Uno fixtures would be another option. Those or Radions would be a 1000 US dollars. Some kind of group of LED Bars would be an option.

 

[ScubaFish802]

If this is the Red Sea Reefer 250 which I think it is based off the dimensions I would highly recommend kessil AP9x. I love mine and have nothing but great things to say still.

 

[nereefpat]

kessil AP9x.

That seems like a good option, and probably makes more sense than 2 x 360s.

 

[ScubaFish802]

That seems like a good option, and probably makes more sense than 2 x 360s.

I think they are essentially the same thing, they both use the same 'matrix X-series LED boards' from my understanding. If OP could find either one or the other on sale it would be a good setup

 

[nereefpat]

I think they are essentially the same thing, they both use the same 'matrix X-series LED boards' from my understanding. If OP could find either one or the other on sale it would be a good setup

Yep, just one less fixture to hang and one less cord.

Edit: And slightly cheaper than buying 2 360s.

 

[PR_nano]

I purchased an Maxspect Razor 150w blade for my 36*18*18. No personal feedback as I haven’t set it up yet. There are a few post of folks using it for example

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/maxspect-rsx-first-impression.345264/page-3
If you go to post 57 by @Boops he is running this fixture on your tank RSR250 and looks great.

 

[exnisstech]

Maybe a hybrid t5 / led and get the best of both worlds? On one of my tanks I run a 4 bulb with two C+ and B+ bulbs. I had it with 2 radion xr15 precvously but now run it with a reefbreeders photon. I just tweak the led to get the colors I want for viewing.