lighting question for 120g reef tank

[Reef257]

Hi everyone
Hope all doing good .

I'm building 120 gallon reef tank(48 L ,24 W, 22 h . It's going to mainly soft coral and few LSP .

I would like all advice on lighting options .

The current set which I could get is the following

1 Orphex bar 36 - 2 blue ,1 day light
2 Ati T5 - 2 blue + 2 coral plus
3 Marine orbit 36 led light

Which would be the best option when its come to price and Energy?

Thanks you for the support

 

[susan ingram]

Hi everyone
Hope all doing good .

I'm building 120 gallon reef tank(48 L ,24 W, 22 h . It's going to mainly soft coral and few LSP .

I would like all advice on lighting options .

The current set which I could get is the following

1 Orphex bar 36 - 2 blue ,1 day light
2 Ati T5 - 2 blue + 2 coral plus
3 Marine orbit 36 led light

Which would be the best option when its come to price and Energy?

Thanks you for the support

I am no expert, but when I looked at lighting for my 180 I looked at the Orbit myself and it was recommended to me. I would have loved to go with the Orphex but just didn't have the $$ to go that route. Someone much more experienced then myself turned me on to these:
Ocean Revive Arctic T247-B Full Spectrum Dimmable LED Aquarium Reef Light
from SaltCritters and I was sold. Saw them on his tank and reviewed the PAR map and it was perfect. Mine are supposed to be here tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes.

 

[Easy Reefing]

Not too familiar with those lights . What’s your budget?

 

[Fishurama]

I know nothing about Orphex, but strip lights arent very strong generally. The Marine orbits are also weak(they use half watt or 1 watt LEDs i forget, while most other brands use 2-4, which helps with light at depths greater then 18 inches), but it will grow LPS,softies, and anemones, and if running 2+ can do some SPS at the top where the light intersects. I would get the 48-60 inch one though. I run the older orbits, i recently bought their Loop version as it has green and reds and my old ones only are blues and whites. I have a very large goniopora at my sandbed, so don't let others say the lights aren't strong enough. The T5s would be the strongest of your selection.

Based on your budget I would go with a chinese black box like Viparspectra, Marsaqua, Ocean revive, or similar. Great colors for the price, hard to beat, a lot of great reviews and threads on here and people even mod them LOL
But if you really like the ramp up timer for sunset/sunrise for the orbits, they work well too.

Here are a few pictures of the current orbits(old version)

 

[susan ingram]

Not too familiar with those lights . What’s your budget?

I spent around 300 for two units. I loved they came with both the hanging and tank mounted hardware at no extra cost. You can buy them at a discount depending on how many you need. And they are BRAND NEW!!! I couldn't get into anything else that was decent used for that price. I run two AI Primes on my QT, but wish I would have saved the $$ and went this route.

 

[Easy Reefing]

I spent around 300 for two units. I loved they came with both the hanging and tank mounted hardware at no extra cost. You can buy them at a discount depending on how many you need. And they are BRAND NEW!!! I couldn't get into anything else that was decent used for that price. I run two AI Primes on my QT, but wish I would have saved the $$ and went this route.

I also have ai primes and love them , great lights ! On my 80 gallon , I have two ai hydra 26 hd and I bought them used :)

 

[susan ingram]

I also have ai primes and love them , great lights ! On my 80 gallon , I have two ai hydra 26 hd and I bought them used :)

NICE!!!! Mine are on a 75 and are set up in a similar manner

 

[Reef257]

I am no expert, but when I looked at lighting for my 180 I looked at the Orbit myself and it was recommended to me. I would have loved to go with the Orphex but just didn't have the $$ to go that route. Someone much more experienced then myself turned me on to these:
Ocean Revive Arctic T247-B Full Spectrum Dimmable LED Aquarium Reef Light
from SaltCritters and I was sold. Saw them on his tank and reviewed the PAR map and it was perfect. Mine are supposed to be here tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the advice. I'm trying my best .the only options quickest to get is ATI T5 and ORphex bar not the Atlantic v4 that's off the buget.

ATI is the cheapest option for me . I'm worried if it would bring my power cost of electricity .

 

[susan ingram]

Thanks for the advice. I'm trying my best .the only options quickest to get is ATI T5 and ORphex bar not the Atlantic v4 that's off the buget.

ATI is the cheapest option for me . I'm worried if it would bring my power cost of electricity .

Yes, ATIs are going to be powerhogs compared to leds, but folks swear by them and I have read they are better than most led units. Have you looked at your local clubs for used equipment? YOu can find links to clubs by state at the bottom of the Forums page.

 

[Reef257]

I know nothing about Orphex, but strip lights arent very strong generally. The Marine orbits are also weak(they use half watt or 1 watt LEDs i forget, while most other brands use 2-4, which helps with light at depths greater then 18 inches), but it will grow LPS,softies, and anemones, and if running 2+ can do some SPS at the top where the light intersects. I would get the 48-60 inch one though. I run the older orbits, i recently bought their Loop version as it has green and reds and my old ones only are blues and whites. I have a very large goniopora at my sandbed, so don't let others say the lights aren't strong enough. The T5s would be the strongest of your selection.

Based on your budget I would go with a chinese black box like Viparspectra, Marsaqua, Ocean revive, or similar. Great colors for the price, hard to beat, a lot of great reviews and threads on here and people even mod them LOL
But if you really like the ramp up timer for sunset/sunrise for the orbits, they work well too.

Here are a few pictures of the current orbits(old version)

Hi thanks for the advice .your tank looks nice with orbit . I like the orbit for the timer option .and the price is really good for the option and coverage of the tank .

I currently own a black box its grate . But since I'm upgrading my tank I will need one more.

The current black is around 140 watts
When I looked at the ATI 4 T5 light its almost the same watts but it cover the whole tank.

 

[susan ingram]

Hi thanks for the advice .your tank looks nice with orbit . I like the orbit for the timer option .and the price is really good for the option and coverage of the tank .

I currently own a black box its grate . But since I'm upgrading my tank I will need one more.

The current black is around 140 watts
When I looked at the ATI 4 T5 light its almost the same watts but it cover the whole tank.

I would go the ATI route then.

 

[Fishurama]

Hi thanks for the advice .your tank looks nice with orbit . I like the orbit for the timer option .and the price is really good for the option and coverage of the tank .

I currently own a black box its grate . But since I'm upgrading my tank I will need one more.

The current black is around 140 watts
When I looked at the ATI 4 T5 light its almost the same watts but it cover the whole tank.

Thanks.Yes you will need 2 black boxes for 120, the marsaqua and Viparspectra are both 165. They also sell a 300 watt option, which if you raise it up high and turn up the intensity you will get more coverage and could work on a 120. 2 of the 165s would be better though.
If you already have black boxes I would consider the current orbits a downgrade, but like I said above, if you really like the timer, the sunset/sunrise ramp up and down, then they are hard to beat for the price. I love watching the ramp up/down.
viparspectra 300w light
marsaqua 300w light

 

[Reef257]

I also have ai primes and love them , great lights ! On my 80 gallon , I have two ai hydra 26 hd and I bought them used :)

Thanks for the support . Primes are my favourite but I might need around 3 for 48 length tank . It's going off budget. If 2 AI prime 16 HD can work I could get that . But the rest is off budget.

The ones which is affordable for me is the ATI T5 , Orphex bar not the Atlantic v4.

Thank you

 

[Easy Reefing]

Thanks for the support . Primes are my favourite but I might need around 3 for 48 length tank . It's going off budget. If 2 AI prime 16 HD can work I could get that . But the rest is off budget.

The ones which is affordable for me is the ATI T5 , Orphex bar not the Atlantic v4.

Thank you

If you’re keeping LPS and softies , 2 ai prime 16HD would be enough for you :) BRS did a great video on this light . One light can cover a 24”x24” 60 gallon cube .

 

[Reef257]

Yes, ATIs are going to be powerhogs compared to leds, but folks swear by them and I have read they are better than most led units. Have you looked at your local clubs for used equipment? YOu can find links to clubs by state at the bottom of the Forums page.

Thanks for the advice .except for the power part it does the job . Need to check If i get a a deal .or should for with the ATI for now with a DIY holder unit .collect some money and get some AI Prime.for some reason I have seen many tanks with AI with nices colours.

 

[Reef257]

Thanks.Yes you will need 2 black boxes for 120, the marsaqua and Viparspectra are both 165. They also sell a 300 watt option, which if you raise it up high and turn up the intensity you will get more coverage and could work on a 120. 2 of the 165s would be better though.
If you already have black boxes I would consider the current orbits a downgrade, but like I said above, if you really like the timer, the sunset/sunrise ramp up and down, then they are hard to beat for the price. I love watching the ramp up/down.
viparspectra 300w light
marsaqua 300w light

Thanks for the advice .so true than main reason i wanted to move is my black box does not have timer and my external timer keeps messing up . Want to go from Ai prime but off buget. The marine orbit job he job for the price. It when have a thunderstorm option .or get the ATI for now and than collect and move to some primes .Orphex bar also an option but haven't tested it yet.

 

[Fishurama]

Thanks for the advice .so true than main reason i wanted to move is my black box does not have timer and my external timer keeps messing up . Want to go from Ai prime but off buget. The marine orbit job he job for the price. It when have a thunderstorm option .or get the ATI for now and than collect and move to some primes .Orphex bar also an option but haven't tested it yet.

The options(thunderstorm, clouds,etc) the orbits have aren't really good for your fish/coral and you wont be using them really other then to show off to friends. Stability is key in our hobby :) It seems the 300W Viparspectra light might be the perfect fit for you as it has a built in timer, is in your budget, and if mounted high enough will have enough and intensity turned up a bit you will have enough coverage , its good on power being LED, and will only need 1 light for your tank.

 

[Reef257]

If you’re keeping LPS and softies , 2 ai prime 16HD would be enough for you :) BRS did a great video on this light . One light can cover a 24”x24” 60 gallon cube .

Thanks for the advice .forget to tell you that your tanks has that blue color I want .I been doing some research for my budget. And found AI prime which match my goals but but 3 is off budget.

If One light can cover a 24”x24” than i can get 2 of them and add a led bar .