Need Lighting Recommendation; Overwhelmed with Options

[MONTANTK]

My girlfriend put her foot down and politely demanded I get a new tank…weird right? Well that means I need new lights. I’d like to be somewhat cost effective but I don’t want to cheap out. The new tank will have SPS/LPS/Softies. It will be 30-36” in length and probably no more than 18” wide. What do you recommend? Anything other than Kessils please.

Id be willing to do something to get me started and either add supplemental lighting down the road. Demanding SPS probably won’t go in until next fall anyway

 

[Duffer]

My tops pick are

AI 32 hds
Radions Blue

 

[djf91]

2x250 watt Metal halide. 14k phoenix bulbs

 

[MONTANTK]

2x250 watt Metal halide. 14k phoenix bulbs

LEDs would be preferred or at least a T5 LED combo

 

[MONTANTK]

My tops pick are

AI 32 hds
Radions Blue

I was leaning towards AI and Ecotech because they’re readily available at my LFS and I just sold the light over my current tank. The kicker for me is deciding is the XR15s are worth the extra $80 each plus the additional $100 each to mount them.

Other lights I was considering were the Neptune Sky and the Orphek Atlantik Compact

 

[nereefpat]

AI and Ecotech will be the most popular selection, along with a black box.

Take a look at ReefBreeders V2. They make a 32" model.

 

[Shirak]

ReeFi Uno

 

[tsouth]

White 24" Aquatic life T5HO setup with the floating suspension system (also in white)
2 or 3 Blue+, 1 actinic, 1 other of your choice should you only use 2 blue+
2 x XR15 Pro's

Grow it all without any doubts. Having a 24" fixture gives a rimless tank a very nice looking offset, instead of going the full length.

 

[Bpb]

A pair of xr15 blues. I’d prefer the pro version but most people like super blue tanks.

 

[Snoopy 67]

Stratton, Sky & Phillips are made to look like t-5's.
Reefbreeder's will work.
BRS did a lighting study, check it out on YouTube.
They liked AI fixtures.

 

[X-37B]

I would look at OR3 light bars.
You can start with 2 and add as you need them.

 

[hart24601]

I have been very happy with orphek over my 3’ x 2’ tank, 2 or 3 years now. Just upgraded to icon and it’s fantastic.

One year growth on the over under. All these grown from 1” or smaller frags