I purchased the ReefBreeders Meridian 11 to perform some testing. The smallest of the line, and it retails for $460. Given that price tag, I’m looking at this lineup the same way I look at the big boys. This ain’t your Amazon light. That’s for sure, but what it is is a ReefBreeders homegrown light, and the follow-up to the rebranded Evergrow/Photon line of fancy blackbox lights.
That’s enough intro, so I’ll get to it.
ReefBreeders shares a graphic on their site that shows the number of specific diodes, but it's wrong. I don’t know why it’s wrong, and I really don’t care to speculate here, but it’s wrong. But does that matter? Nope. Why? The spectrum that ReefBreeders doesn’t share works. It’s perfectly capable of growing coral. And for reference, this is the
Original version, so expect less white compared to the “Shallow Reef” model.
Spread is tight like a tiger! This is a very center-weighted light, and if you edge mount it, you’re leaving performance on the table. Mount it higher if you want to actually use the PAR you’re paying for. If I’m using this light, I’m hanging this thing like a ViparSpectra. That means 15-18” above the water surface. If you wanted wider spread, you’d need to move up to the $800, 150W, Meridian 24, or pay more for the "Encompass" lens that should have shipped with the light to begin with.
Setup is easy, but there’s a catch. You have to create an account, and that means giving up your location with no opt-out. Pretty standard for a lot of these apps, but still worth calling out. Once you’re in, WiFi control is smooth, and scheduling is simple. Channel control is also solid. Pin your indigo, UVA (accurately called Near UV), royal blue, cool blue, and the separate violet/indigo channels. Then bring up the whites until the tank looks right. That becomes your baseline ratio. No master intensity slider, so all adjustments are manual across channels. Also, no manual control out of the box. That’s a $50 add on. As for advanced features, like location-based seasonal tables, you ain’t getting that from this light, but you can set an overly bright fixed blue (475nm) moonlight that's location/cycle-based.
There is no acclimation mode.
The other extras:
- Hanging kit: $50
- Tank mount legs: $50 (silver) or $70 (black)
- Encompass lens: $45 each (!!!)
Out of the box, unless you have bits from other lighting projects, you’re not fully equipped.
I found this one interesting…when you compare the Meridian to something like the EcoTech Radion XR15, the Meridian 11 comes out way ahead on cost per unit of PAR. Even running about 25 watts less, the Meridian delivers a unit of PAR at roughly one-third the cost. For some of you, that will definitely matter, but if you purchase lenses with reasonable spread, that value will decline.
Something I’ve heard from fans and retailers alike is that you’re also buying from a smaller US company, which shows up in support. You’ll get a real response if something goes sideways. That, and the warranty is stronger than what EcoTech Marine typically offers, and for many people, that matters more than branding.
Almost done…it has a fan, and my testing was performed with all channels pegged. The fan does run, but not all the time, and when it runs, you hear it. Given that most won’t run this light at max power, the fan thing probably isn’t a thing at all.
Bottom line:
I think that’s all I’ve got. It will grow coral without issue. Mount it high, accept the quirks, and be happy that if something breaks, someone will actually answer.
Please let me know if I missed any features. I’ll be happy to correct this review.
