Options: 1200$ for a 5 footer (Reefer 525XL)

[Futuretotm]

Sorry to make the 1500th thread for lighting options.
I am a newbie, Zero saltwater experience FYI

I know I want a T5+LED combination

Love the 6(600$) or 8(686$) bulb nondimmable ATI Sunpower 48"for my 59" tank.
More bulb = option to play with 6500k+actinic etc.

BUT I WANT THE SHIMMER

My conundrum:
I dont like extra reef bars hanging of the side of the main fixture, not a clean look
Perhaps two Kessils 360s (350$ each) for shimmer purposes only but that would blow my budget
I could go towards a ATI powermodule (2000$) but again budget gone
Aquatic life hybrid fixture(300$) is much cheaper, but only four bulbs, and not as high PAR as an ATI
Thought about just going pure LED route, but it seems the best tanks on here are a LED-T5 combo


So not sure what the heck to do. I am lost before I began.

 

[RCS82]

Looks like you've got things figured out for the most part. There's so many options out there it can make deciding difficult. Do we go T5 with LEDs supplementing or do we go LED with T5s supplementing. Usually you will see a couple Radion xr30s in an Aquatic life hybrid, so you have 300 dollars worth of T5s doing the work and 2000 dollars in Radions taking care of aesthetics. I think listing your goals for your tank would be beneficial. Like are we talking wall to wall Acropora or mostly zoas and lps or softies.
Wall to wall Acros - 8x80 ATI with orphek or reefbrites attached.
Softies or mixed tank - maybe a couple hydras or kessils. With the 4 bulb hybrid down the road.
Being open to used equipment is great too. Can score a great price on an ATI fixture or LEDs quite often.

 

[jda]

ATI with some reef brites on them is way better looking than an Aquatic Life fixture, IMO. There are always sacrifices with this kind of stuff... but LED bars on the side of a PowerModule is not much of one.

You can always look for a MH/T5 fixture like a Giesemann or older AquaMedic. They shimmer and have great growth and all of that.

 

[Futuretotm]

Thank you for your help. I’ve thought of adding Chinese bb to the Sunpower

 

[RCS82]

Thank you for your help. I’ve thought of adding Chinese bb to the Sunpower

And you're worried about aesthetics?

 

[Bpb]

Reef breeders photon v2+ in an aquatic life hybrid.

 

[tclogston]

Noopsyche T5 Hybrid and 4 AI 32‘s on my 220...lights all look great and the growth is awesome.

I can send you info so you can purchase the T5 hybrid lights directly from the importer of you are interested. Super nice guy and the prices are great.

 

[Futuretotm]

Reef breeders photon v2+ in an aquatic life hybrid.

This is the route I took, perhaps add T5's in the future Thank you Bpb