Lighting recommendations.

[fletch’s reef]

Planning to upgrade from my 2 vipaspectra 165W lights. I want to spend 250 on each light or less but not sure what to get!

It’s a lps softie tank!

 

[fletch’s reef]

40 breeder

 

[mcarroll]

Hard to answer with only that background. The lights you have are decent. What does "upgrade" mean to you?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Agree, actually your lights are a bit overkill, I would say that 150-200 watts is plenty for a 40 breeder. What is your idea of upgrade, you want like brand name lights?

 

[fletch’s reef]

Agree, actually your lights are a bit overkill, I would say that 150-200 watts is plenty for a 40 breeder. What is your idea of upgrade, you want like brand name lights?

Yes please !

 

[fletch’s reef]

Hard to answer with only that background. The lights you have are decent. What does "upgrade" mean to you?

Fair question! Mainly looking for better coral color/fluorescence, smoother control (app, ramps, sunrise/sunset), and more even spread across the tank. Growth too, but mostly color. Current lights feel harsh and I had to dim them way down. Mix of zoas, acans, trachy, hammer, candy cane, leather, Kenya tree. Was looking at 2x AI Prime 16HD or a NICREW HyperReef 200 Gen 2. Thoughts?

 

[fletch’s reef]

Agree, actually your lights are a bit overkill, I would say that 150-200 watts is plenty for a 40 breeder. What is your idea of upgrade, you want like brand name lights?

Yeah pretty much. Not looking for more power, more for better spectrum/coral color, app control with proper ramps, and a cleaner look. Would a single fixture like a HyperReef 200 Gen 2 or 2x AI Primes actually be a noticeable difference in color over what I have?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Yeah pretty much. Not looking for more power, more for better spectrum/coral color, app control with proper ramps, and a cleaner look. Would a single fixture like a HyperReef 200 Gen 2 or 2x AI Primes actually be a noticeable difference in color over what I have?

AI Primes have a beautiful shade of blue IMO, and the control over the lights via the app is amazing, if it was me I think I would get 3 though, i find they are like spotlights in that they don't light a wide area.

My own 40 breeder has a 150 MH pendant for day light and 2 OR3 bars for evening. The OR3 lights also have an amazing shade of blue, I think the OR4's are controllable, my OR3's are not.