Reef Breeders Meridians

[Americus]

Just got my lights today and somehow I ordered the wrong mounts like a bonehead. Sad day. I guess Saturday is the day. My tank is still pretty new, been up for two weeks, so not sure how quickly I want to introduce coral and lights. Patience will be tough. Any opinions on some soft corals, zoas, acans, etc with a newer tank and lights as far as algae growth?

 

[Americus]

‘‘Twas me. Or. Maybe someone else. But alas, that is my setup

The two 11’s allows me to customize the spacing between them. I am using a single power supply and a link cable.

I use the tank mount brackets which allows your choice of two fixed heights - I believe 9 or 11 inches

This puts the Meridian slightly closer than spec, but allows the beam cone to go under the brace, eliminating center brace shadow

Paired with the dual 11’s, I run dual edge 45’s, the 14k model. My tank is packed and I needed this to shoot at strong angles to get under my frag shelves on my front glass and to some extreme areas of the tank

I am thrilled with the controllability and amount of coverage I have, it’s unreal.

My front bar angle is temporarily straight down, normally it’s angled to hit my rear sandbed area by the blue green Cynarina in the last pic

I got pretty discouraged last night when I went to mount my lights because the BOT mount is so large I wasn’t able to mount because of the clearance behind the tank. After noodling in it, I plan to not use the plastic blocks and instead just anchor the BOT to the wall.

When I got my lid I was debating cutouts for a side of tank mount and the guy said he had never seen someone side mount lights on an AIO (Waterbox 50.3). I know yours isn’t a AIO, but how did you side mount the Meridian 11’s? I accidentally ordered side mounts for the 11, but wondering if that would we a better option or not.

Any recommendations to either anchor BOT to wall or make it a side mount with a little router work on the lid? I do have a protein skimmer (AquaReady WS-1) so side mounts may make it a little more difficult to get to the protein skimmer?

 

[VintageReefer]

I got pretty discouraged last night when I went to mount my lights because the BOT mount is so large I wasn’t able to mount because of the clearance behind the tank. After noodling in it, I plan to not use the plastic blocks and instead just anchor the BOT to the wall.

When I got my lid I was debating cutouts for a side of tank mount and the guy said he had never seen someone side mount lights on an AIO (Waterbox 50.3). I know yours isn’t a AIO, but how did you side mount the Meridian 11’s? I accidentally ordered side mounts for the 11, but wondering if that would we a better option or not.

Any recommendations to either anchor BOT to wall or make it a side mount with a little router work on the lid? I do have a protein skimmer (AquaReady WS-1) so side mounts may make it a little more difficult to get to the protein skimmer?

I linked them together with the ICS rail kit, daisychaining them for power and used the side tank mount kit

https://reefbreeders.com/products/meridian-side-of-tank-mounts

The U part in the above picture is configured for frameless tanks. But if you didn’t want to alter your lid, or have a rim tank, you can flip them upside down

Fits Most Tanks: Includes U clamps compatible with tank trims up to 1 inch thick. They may also be installed flat-side down on Euro-Brace trims.

 

[Americus]

I linked them together with the ICS rail kit, daisychaining them for power and used the side tank mount kit

https://reefbreeders.com/products/meridian-side-of-tank-mounts

The U part in the above picture is configured for frameless tanks. But if you didn’t want to alter your lid, or have a rim tank, you can flip them upside down

Fits Most Tanks: Includes U clamps compatible with tank trims up to 1 inch thick. They may also be installed flat-side down on Euro-Brace trims.

I know it is personal preference, but being my first saltwater tank, do you think this solution or mounting to the wall would be best for 36" Waterbox AIO?

 

[VintageReefer]

I know it is personal preference, but being my first saltwater tank, do you think this solution or mounting to the wall would be best for 36" Waterbox AIO?

What’s the lid made of? Can it support the light? The “foot” of the side tank mount is about an inch wide. Only part would be on the glass edge and the rest on the lid surface

I don’t really feel comfortable making a suggestion. Would need to see in person

 

[Americus]

What’s the lid made of? Can it support the light? The “foot” of the side tank mount is about an inch wide. Only part would be on the glass edge and the rest on the lid surface

I don’t really feel comfortable making a suggestion. Would need to see in person

It is a Top Lids lid, so acrylic and mesh. If I went this route, I would either punt on the lid, but more than likely use a router to notch out the lid so the mount sits on the glass.

EDIT: I just looked closer at your picture and see what you are saying about it sitting on top. That would work too in my situation.

 

[VintageReefer]

It is a Top Lids lid, so acrylic and mesh. If I went this route, I would either punt on the lid, but more than likely use a router to notch out the lid so the mount sits on the glass.

if possible I’d notch the lid.

 

[Science/G]

Wall mounts look really clean IMHO. Remember, the recommended mounting height is 13 inches for best spread vs par.

 

[VintageReefer]

Wall mounts look really clean IMHO. Remember, the recommended mounting height is 13 inches for best spread vs par.

I agree

What I like about the size tank mount is if I need to do some larger maintenance I can easily slide the fixture to the back and still provide light so I can see, but have it out of my way.

Also if you have opaque braces on the top of the tank you need to go less than 13” so the beam spread goes under the brace and minimizes / eliminates the center dreaded brace shadow.

I’m at 9 or 10” and have no shadow from the 2.5” wide brace. I do run the wider encompass lenses

 

[jermzisurmom]

 

[Americus]

Wall mounts look really clean IMHO. Remember, the recommended mounting height is 13 inches for best spread vs par.

I appreciate the feedback. My buddy who was a prior reefer shared the same opinion and the more I look at options, the more I prefer the wall mount. I will say that eventually I will probably steal @VintageReefer edge mounting method, just off the wall mount.

Great thread, great support. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[mboley]

Is anyone running the Acclimation mode the app is supposed to have? I don't see it.

 

[VintageReefer]

Is anyone running the Acclimation mode the app is supposed to have? I don't see it.

It’s coming out in a app update

 

[Slcwinder]

What does everyone suggest for a 60” sps dominant tank, the 45 or 63 ? Will the 45 provide enough coverage at the ends ??

 

[VintageReefer]

What does everyone suggest for a 60” sps dominant tank, the 45 or 63 ? Will the 45 provide enough coverage at the ends ??

Do you have any opaque braces at the top of the tank? If yes, I would go for the fixture that avoids having a led panel directly over a brace

What are the tanks actual dimensions ?

 

[Rocks reef]

@VintageReefer hey brother, how do you like the 14K bar? The reefbreeders seem pretty blue with only two whites per cluster. Is that why you went with the 14K?

 

[VintageReefer]

@VintageReefer hey brother, how do you like the 14K bar? The reefbreeders seem pretty blue with only two whites per cluster. Is that why you went with the 14K?

I love the 14 k bars. I can adjust them to be more white or blue since they are two channel, or I can use the two channels equally for the 14k look. I find the whites at roughly 10% add the perfect amount to the tank during day mode

 

[Rocks reef]

I love the 14 k bars. I can adjust them to be more white or blue since they are two channel, or I can use the two channels equally for the 14k look. I find the whites at roughly 10% add the perfect amount to the tank during day mode

I haven't hooked my Meridian 35 up yet since I'm working on the stand for my build. I wanted to see how blue they actually are since I really don't like the heavy blue tanks, looks very unnatural. Are the Meridians real blue or do the two white LEDs help to lessen the blue tank look?

 

[VintageReefer]

I haven't hooked my Meridian 35 up yet since I'm working on the stand for my build. I wanted to see how blue they actually are since I really don't like the heavy blue tanks, looks very unnatural. Are the Meridians real blue or do the two white LEDs help to lessen the blue tank look?

The two whites per cluster do a good job actually

I added the bars because my tack technically should have a Meridian 35, but I couldn’t accommodate due to my bracing.

So for main panels I stepped down a level slightly opting for dual 11 panels and compensate with the 14k edge bars

 

[Rocks reef]

Center brace?