Looking for advice for lighting for Waterbox 130.4

[lmfbs]

I currently have imicmol lighting and only softies. I've been having algae issues which I think is lighting and nutrient related, so I'm looking at stocking up on corals to help cover the rock to make it less prone to nutrients.

The tank is 550mm deep (21.7 inches), and I want to be able to keep softies, LPS, and some easy, non-demanding SPS.

Lighting is the part of equipment that I hate researching the most and I'm really hoping I can get some help from you smart people here.

I live in NZ so I'm assuming I'll be buying lighting online. Happy to consider any options, but don't want to spend more than ~USD$2000 if possible.

I definitely don't want lighting that doesn't connect to itself and requires me to have multiple controllers and apps. 1 app and controller for lighting is all I'm willing to do.

 

[mcarroll]

I currently have imicmol lighting and only softies. I've been having algae issues which I think is lighting and nutrient related, so I'm looking at stocking up on corals to help cover the rock to make it less prone to nutrients.

Reducing available space for algae growth by planting more corals is definitely good.

But algae control is done by CUC – not by corals or nutrient levels.

What do you have for CUC presently?

 

[lmfbs]

Reducing available space for algae growth by planting more corals is definitely good.

But algae control is done by CUC – not by corals or nutrient levels.

What do you have for CUC presently?

Just to be clear, I'm not proposing that the corals are going to control algae, just mostly want to set myself up for success in terms of having corals grow nice and quick.

I'm in NZ so our CUC options are pretty limited. I have a bunch of snails (~40? they breed quick), some peppermint shrimp which do a wee bit of clean up, 2 zebra brittlestars (they are extremely lazy and prefer to be hand fed).

Algae was under control until my very old bristletooth tang died a few months back. Since then, I've battled dinos and GHA, and have been feeling a bit crap about the tank. I'm hoping some new shinies might help act as a reward for getting the GHA under control

 

[lmfbs]

Okay. I purchased a PAR meter, and now I understand why things have not had a great time growing in my tank.

It's time for new lights. Here are two options I'm looking at:

​

NICREW HyperReef 200 Gen 2
or
Kessil A360x

Tank is:
48" x 24" x 22"/ 120cm x 60 x 55

I assume I'll need 2 of either of the lights, plus a controller.

Price is:
~NZ@$1800 for the NICREW or ~NZ$2400 for the Kessils.

I don't have immediate plans to have demanding SPS - they would likely be a few years away. Think mostly softies and LPS.

What do people think of these options, or are there better options I should be considering?

 

[lmfbs]

Okay my algae skimmer is doing amazing work cutting down my algae, I'm super happy with how well it's going so far!

I've been forcing myself to do some more lighting research and now I have 2 more contenders:

- ViparSpectra V165
- Popbloom RL90

I think I'd need 3 Viparspectras, or 3 or 4 Popblooms?

Any thoughts, help, suggestions gratefully recieved!

 

[Tahoe61]

While I don't have that tank I do have Vipraspectra 165 and Popbloom Ir90. The Popbloom app can be tricky, but a great light for the price.

Look at Smatfarm or Nicrew as well.

 

[oreo54]

Okay my algae skimmer is doing amazing work cutting down my algae, I'm super happy with how well it's going so far!

I've been forcing myself to do some more lighting research and now I have 2 more contenders:

- ViparSpectra V165
- Popbloom RL90

I think I'd need 3 Viparspectras, or 3 or 4 Popblooms?

Any thoughts, help, suggestions gratefully recieved!

Wow, not getting a lot of traction here huh.
Look I don't "do" corals but I do pay attention to those that do.
Nicrews plus controller is "arguably" a good choice...
for bang for buck and 1 controller.
Your needs aren't that demanding.

Vipars are heavily focused but their model numbering sucks. Well in the past.
They have gotten more "honest".
They use constant current drivers that run the leds at around 110w total. If you dim the white channel heavily you can lose almost half the possible photons.
Losses are made up by using 60-90 degree lenses.
Historically a lot of success.

PopBloom (DSunY in my day :) )well seem to work fine. It's a company that does keep trying.
They run on the line of RedSea lights. Heavy wattage on the blue side.

Kessil well. they are Kessils. They work well but I'm not convinced they are exactly built well.
Well some models.
They are also too secretive for me.
This, though, is just MY opinion, based on the internet posted repairs.
Obviously all brands can fail and most will..eventually.
I prefer the failed lights to be cheaper.
You want/need/like shimmer.. well they win.

Any brand may have something you need/want over another. That's your call though.
How many channels of "color". How does the programming work. Ect.

With the output to match your critters you can have success with any of them.
Buy as many watts as you can afford taking into account how you will utilize it.
Besides cost (pay for what you don't immediately use) there is no disadvantage to dimming leds.

You like blue tanks buy lights with a lot of blue. Like a more daylight reef look go for the lights with more "white presence". A choice may even come down to how you prefer to mount your lights.
Hanging, rimmed tank, rimless.. what fits.


Well one advantage of the Kessils is with their Kessil logic it doesn't matter. More blue or more white the output is approx. the same.
This is the only "premium" brand that you mentioned.
2 Kessils is "only" 180 total watts and a wide spread using the 130 degree standard lensing.

Anyways why I really posted here an rambled on... Micmol is a way under utilized light brand in the US AFAICT.
BRS sold AquaMAXX's (rebadged Micmols) but well they no longer do.

Curious as to your par findings and which model(s) you were using.
Thors aren't much different from Nicrews.
https://www.micmol.com/thorpro.htmlThe AP-1200 is 160 watts and a wide spread.

 

[lmfbs]

While I don't have that tank I do have Vipraspectra 165 and Popbloom Ir90. The Popbloom app can be tricky, but a great light for the price.

Look at Smatfarm or Nicrew as well.

Thanks, super helpful! How many would you suggest for a 4ft tank? I've seen the spread on the popbloom might be a bit narrow?

Wow, not getting a lot of traction here huh.
Look I don't "do" corals but I do pay attention to those that do.
Nicrews plus controller is "arguably" a good choice...
for bang for buck and 1 controller.
Your needs aren't that demanding.

Vipars are heavily focused but their model numbering sucks. Well in the past.
They have gotten more "honest".
They use constant current drivers that run the leds at around 110w total. If you dim the white channel heavily you can lose almost half the possible photons.
Losses are made up by using 60-90 degree lenses.
Historically a lot of success.

PopBloom (DSunY in my day :) )well seem to work fine. It's a company that does keep trying.
They run on the line of RedSea lights. Heavy wattage on the blue side.

Kessil well. they are Kessils. They work well but I'm not convinced they are exactly built well.
Well some models.
They are also too secretive for me.
This, though, is just MY opinion, based on the internet posted repairs.
Obviously all brands can fail and most will..eventually.
I prefer the failed lights to be cheaper.
You want/need/like shimmer.. well they win.

Any brand may have something you need/want over another. That's your call though.
How many channels of "color". How does the programming work. Ect.

With the output to match your critters you can have success with any of them.
Buy as many watts as you can afford taking into account how you will utilize it.
Besides cost (pay for what you don't immediately use) there is no disadvantage to dimming leds.

You like blue tanks buy lights with a lot of blue. Like a more daylight reef look go for the lights with more "white presence". A choice may even come down to how you prefer to mount your lights.
Hanging, rimmed tank, rimless.. what fits.


Well one advantage of the Kessils is with their Kessil logic it doesn't matter. More blue or more white the output is approx. the same.
This is the only "premium" brand that you mentioned.
2 Kessils is "only" 180 total watts and a wide spread using the 130 degree standard lensing.

Anyways why I really posted here an rambled on... Micmol is a way under utilized light brand in the US AFAICT.
BRS sold AquaMAXX's (rebadged Micmols) but well they no longer do.

Curious as to your par findings and which model(s) you were using.
Thors aren't much different from Nicrews.
https://www.micmol.com/thorpro.htmlThe AP-1200 is 160 watts and a wide spread.

I've had my micmols for 3-4 years, and I got them second hand. I'm getting about 100par max at about 10cm under the surface, that's on the standard mounting system they come with. It's hard to get anything more than about 40 or 50 on the sand.

I assume this is just because of the age, though I was a bit surprised!

I'm leaning toward cheaper lights mostly because I started reefing a while back with lots of cheap, DIY solutions and I'm honestly annoyed at the idea of spending so much when there are cheaper options!

Thanks heaps to both of you for your help!

 

[Josh Will]

Okay my algae skimmer is doing amazing work cutting down my algae, I'm super happy with how well it's going so far!

I've been forcing myself to do some more lighting research and now I have 2 more contenders:

- ViparSpectra V165
- Popbloom RL90

I think I'd need 3 Viparspectras, or 3 or 4 Popblooms?

Any thoughts, help, suggestions gratefully recieved!

2 Popbloom RL90 or RL115 for 48" x 24" x 22" 120cm x 60 x 55 tank.

 

[lmfbs]

2 Popbloom RL90 or RL115 for 48" x 24" x 22" 120cm x 60 x 55 tank.

I ended up going with 2 vibraspectras - we'll see how they go!