Lights for 180 Gallon Mixed Reef

[ptine_6]

I'm setting up a reef ready 180 (6'x2'x2') sps dominant mixed reef. But I am having a really hard time getting advice about lighting that is reasonably priced. I would love to go with radions, but I feel like they are too expensive for me right now and I am sure there are alternatives that are less expensive.

 

[keatonmjenkins]

Kessils are amazing and the shimmer you get from them is

 

[ptine_6]

Kessils are amazing and the shimmer you get from them is

How many do you think I would need? I also feel like they are a bit expensive.

 

[keatonmjenkins]

I have 4 over my IM170 and it’s 48” long by 30” I think?

Yeah cheaper than radions they do last for a long time. All mine I bought used from here for 300ish and they’re all still working great.

Maybe get the APx9 kessils

 

[New Hampshire Reefin]

I would do a combination of kessils and AI blades. If you were reefing when metal halides were a thing and you loved the look, kessils are your fix!

 

[keatonmjenkins]

Yeah I agree adding AI blades eventually would be great for shadowing.