Lighting my 40 breeder - specific light advice

[Spare time]

Quanta helix if you don't mind getting two

 

[thejuice24]

I've had a lot of luck with a 36 inch Viparsepctra at 60% Blue channel only 12 hours - T5 Hybrid 4 Blue plus bulb for 4 hours a day. Grow SPS it with no issues.

 

[mdpitts]

Imagine feeding these

So satisfying ! This is just a handful of the ones that need to be fed. I can get them all in 10 min. Sometimes they want a second round and it takes a little longer. Very relaxing for me and takes stress away

Oh my gosh I know! As soon as I walk in the door from work I go straight to my tank and before you know at least 45 minutes have gone by. It really does relax me too. Your corals are mind boggling. They look pretty chubby . I can’t wait for the day mine grow nice and fat like that.

 

[mdpitts]

Thank you mdpitts! The pic you "liked" is when I still had T5s. My tank is 30" across and unfortunately I couldn't find bulbs for it any longer. That is why I bought the ReefBreeder Photon. LED lighting intimidated me but now I am really happy that I had to change. Here is a pic that I took yesterday

of my tank.

Yes! I just love this. It’s definitely special and slightly unusual in the best way. I don’t know that I’ve seen macro algae incorporated like that. I tried putting a big wad of gracillaria in an open mesh ball but I caught my pink spot goby stealing it and dragging it in his lair. The whole ball finally disappeared. Thanks for sharing another photo!

 

[mdpitts]

Quanta helix if you don't mind getting two

Oh nice. I’ll look that up. I’ve been reading up on various lights all night.

 

[mdpitts]

I've had a lot of luck with a 36 inch Viparsepctra at 60% Blue channel only 12 hours - T5 Hybrid 4 Blue plus bulb for 4 hours a day. Grow SPS it with no issues.

I keep seeing suggestions for Viparspectra on every Amazon light page I go to. I’ll look into that one too.

 

[Peace River]

I had Viparspectra (which are adequate starter lights) before I upgraded to a Reef Breeders Photon. The difference is notable and I would definitely recommend the RB - it is a high value light (meaning quality vs dollars spent).

 

[VintageReefer]

I had Viparspectra (which are adequate starter lights) before I upgraded to a Reef Breeders Photon. The difference is notable and I would definitely recommend the RB - it is a high value light (meaning quality vs dollars spent).

I agree. I had a photon v1 which was a viparspectra with a couple different leds, and upgrading to the photon v2 was a huge improvement. An app with Individual channel control + the slim fixture looks way better.

 

[Peace River]

I agree. I had a photon v1 which was a viparspectra with a couple different leds, and upgrading to the photon v2 was a huge improvement. An app with Individual channel control + the slim fixture looks way better.

Agreed. I should have added that I upgraded to the photon v2.

 

[mdpitts]

I have Orphek OR bars 1 x 36" reef day and 2 x 24" (UV and Reef Blue) over my 40 breeder and they can be hung high as they are designed with lower angle lenses. You have flexibility to add more lights as well if you want more par for higher light loving SPS (I find 150-200 par is plenty for most easier SPS). You can look into an OSIX with 3-4 bars to start and then add up to 6 bars as needed. They even sell a nice mounting kit for them.

Now that they are coming out with the OR4 bars you may be able to find the OR3's on sale. Another option is look for an Icon Atlantik it will be more than enough light and can be hung 16-18" above the tank

Those Orphek bars are cool. Interested to know why you chose 24” blues instead of 36”. The Atlantik fixture looks beautiful. Great options!

 

[vlangel]

Yes! I just love this. It’s definitely special and slightly unusual in the best way. I don’t know that I’ve seen macro algae incorporated like that. I tried putting a big wad of gracillaria in an open mesh ball but I caught my pink spot goby stealing it and dragging it in his lair. The whole ball finally disappeared. Thanks for sharing another photo!

Thank you again for the kind words.

Yes, my tank is different and I certainly understand that it's not everyone's cup of tea. It's a bit wild and uncontrolled maybe for a lot of folks. It kind of suits my personality, which is also a little wild but only within established boundaries, haha!

 

[lbacha]

Those Orphek bars are cool. Interested to know why you chose 24” blues instead of 36”. The Atlantik fixture looks beautiful. Great options!

The 2 24” bars at OR2 bars were originally over a 25g Nico with a Kessil 360x. The 36” reef day was over the breeder but I want a bit more blue since I had added some corals to the tank. The tank is used as observation for quarantined fish before they go into the main display

 

[Tamberav]

Hi Folks,

I really need advice. I'm frustrated and have no one to help besides this forum.

I've been failing with my lights on my 40b (36x18x16). Currently I have (2) 36" Current Orbit Marine LED bars that sit on the rim of the tank. They are a pain in the butt. I can't stand the app that could be so much better, they are rusting and the controller they sold me that would control both lights has failed in all aspects. I had to give away some montipora frags that were dwindling away. I'm on a serious budget but I know that lighting is the most important thing to get right after water stability.

I am wanting to get ONE light and have it hung over the tank where it doesn't get in the way when I do water changes etc. but I could do two lights if it fits my $800 total budget

I'm looking at the new Orphek Natura or maybe a Reef Breeders Photon V2. My budget is $800 max. I don't want to be limited to sticking to low light. I like montipora, digitata and birdsnest but worried the Orbit Marine lights won't do much for them.

I'd love to hear suggestions.

I am enjoying the new orpheks but I cant imagine using just one over a 40 breeder. The fixture is 14 inches long, that means 11 inches on either side to cover a 40 breeder...

So the photon is automatically much better imo for your budget. It is 23.5" long.

in fact you could even get the photon 32 in your budget which is 31.5" long and this is the one I would personally choose so you get amazing coverage.

Photon 32-V2 Pro LED Fixture - ReefBreeders

Photon 32-V2 Pro LED Fixture - ReefBreeders

aquacave.com

You could get the new meridian but you would have to go with a shorter one to stay in budget.. I am not sure it would be better to get the newer light with less coverage over a longer photon.

You are used to lights being close to your tank, you def need to think about hanging height and light spill and glare. The shorter the fixture, the higher you may need to hang and more spill front to back you may have and potentially more glare depending where your tank is, how you view it, if you sit near it, etc.

I can't give you the answer here but it is worth some research and thought.

 

[Poshangcun]

I like Kessil lights, and they are currently 15% off on major vendors' websites. An $800 budget should be sufficient.

 

[thejuice24]

Agree with photon v2 guys. I never had them but heard nothing but good things about them. My understanding is that this is budget build. A photon v2 is not what I would consider a budget friendly light, unless you pick on up used at low price. They are pretty much comparable in price to any high end light.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Bonus - photon doubles as a shelf for your stuff!

Corals love it

Who makes those acrylic frag racks/shelfs?

 

[VintageReefer]

Who makes those acrylic frag racks/shelfs?

Which ones? I have a few brands, and a few I designed myself

 

[exnisstech]

Another vote for the reefbreeders photon. I run them over two tanks. I have two 32s over my reefer 300. One would probably work but I started this tank to try my hand at acros so I wanted too much vs too little light.

I have a single 24 over my reefer 170. The tank is in a poor state currently but has nothing to do with lighting

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

$800 budget and want just one light. You can shoot on the low side of your budget and try the new Gen 2 nicrew hyper reef 200 , it will cover the tank, or even get two NP K7 pro 3 and have money to spare

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Which ones? I have a few brands, and a few I designed myself

Front left and side.