Reef lighting recommendations

[AquaSixAquaticsReef]

 

[oreo54]

Any opinion on this?

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef...html?queryID=7d3071256bb572f28fe46251c431590f

Company is in bankruptcy and the lights require the cloud.. Which may soon disappear.

 

[AquaSixAquaticsReef]

@oreo54 So with only 8-1/2” to the top for space, does that change your recommendations?

 

[oreo54]

@oreo54 So with only 8-1/2” to the top for space, does that change your recommendations?

Well i don't really "recommend" more of an example type thing. That's how to dodge responsibility. :)

81/2" is enough room to say mount puck lights off the top of the hood with say 1" air gap.
With having the brace 2 "puck styles" work.

Stick lights at 120 degrees are fine at like 5" off the water line.
Maybe mount some cleats to the side panels to rest the lights on.



I'd likely cut a much larger opening in the top but any modifications need you to do them based on lights you have chosen. Maybe even remove the top. Depends on how its built.

Personally that type of hood isn't really designed for a lot of lights and also the ability to work around them.

you should look around at various hoods and light combos.
At first I thought.. hey found your hood but then I saw it was a piano hinge not a "gap".
See#16..
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/show-me-your-diy-hoods.129042/

 

[AquaSixAquaticsReef]

@oreo54 So with only 8-1/2” to the top for space, does that change your recommendations?

Well i don't really "recommend" more of an example type thing. That's how to dodge responsibility. :)

81/2" is enough room to say mount puck lights off the top of the hood with say 1" air gap.
With having the brace 2 "puck styles" work.

Stick lights at 120 degrees are fine at like 5" off the water line.
Maybe mount some cleats to the side panels to rest the lights on.

I'd likely cut a much larger opening in the top but any modifications need you to do them based on lights you have chosen. Maybe even remove the top. Depends on how its built.

Personally that type of hood isn't really designed for a lot of lights and also the ability to work around them.

you should look around at various hoods and light combos.
At first I thought.. hey found your hood but then I saw it was a piano hindg not a "gap".
See#16..
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/show-me-your-diy-hoods.129042/

So I could remove the top boards but I’m thinking maybe just deciding on lights first and then cutting the top to fit them better. So I could just align them with the top of the canopy. Then they’re not really enclosed in it. I was originally going to use this nicrew light bar from Amazon because the price was unbeatable but after looking on here, idk how it would even be acceptable.

https://a.co/d/0ear6GNb

 

[oreo54]

So I could remove the top boards but I’m thinking maybe just deciding on lights first and then cutting the top to fit them better. So I could just align them with the top of the canopy. Then they’re not really enclosed in it. I was originally going to use this nicrew light bar from Amazon because the price was unbeatable but after looking on here, idk how it would even be acceptable.

https://a.co/d/0ear6GNb

A glass or acrylic canopy is highly recommended to extend the life of the unit by preventing moisture from affecting it

I'm sure they mean cover..

That's why I mentioned the water proof or resistant thing. These bars sit pretty close to the water surface.

 

[AquaSixAquaticsReef]

So I could remove the top boards but I’m thinking maybe just deciding on lights first and then cutting the top to fit them better. So I could just align them with the top of the canopy. Then they’re not really enclosed in it. I was originally going to use this nicrew light bar from Amazon because the price was unbeatable but after looking on here, idk how it would even be acceptable.

https://a.co/d/0ear6GNb

A glass or acrylic canopy is highly recommended to extend the life of the unit by preventing moisture from affecting it

I'm sure they mean cover..

That's why I mentioned the water proof or resistant thing. These bars sit pretty close to the water surface.

Which I have glass lids I could use but everything I have read says it’s better for corals to not have the lids and allow the light to travel better. I’m looking on reef2reef marketplace now.

 

[Thumbster]

I have 2 Noopsyche K7 Pro III’s in my canopy about 7” above the water (the actual water not top of aquarium). They’ve been there a little over three years and are doing fine.
I made my canopy a flip top and it has an open back.

 

[Aqua Ultraviolet]

I am looking for reef lights for my aquarium I am setting up. I currently have a biocube and I just use the built in lighting. That being said, I want to be able to expand into the corals more and I know that lights are important. I have a 48" 90 gallon tank I am working on setting up. What lights does everyone recommend that are not going to make me go completely broke? I am not looking for the most expensive top of the line models. My tank I purchased does come with a canopy so that does effect how high the lights can sit above the tank. Thanks!

For a 48" × 18" × 24" 90-gallon reef, I’d focus on PAR and coverage rather than just wattage. Since you have a canopy with limited mounting height, I’d avoid relying on a single small puck because coverage can be uneven.

For a budget setup, 2–3 reef-specific fixtures such as NICREW HyperReef or VIPARSPECTRA are worth considering. The HyperReef is a more refined option, while the VIPARSPECTRA gives you a lot of PAR for the money.

 

[carri10]

I would have recommended the GHL lightbar 3. However, 2-3 months after warranty ends (2 years here in France) 6 LED clusters go.
Cost of shipping and repair - over 250 euros. They had the good grace to wave labour fees, but I’m paying just under half the price for a brand-new light bar when my current one is just two months out of warranty.

Not too impressed to be honest.

 

[carri10]

Also. Just be aware that lights in a canopy do add a lot to the heat load of the tank.

I also have a canopy set up and have this problem.

 

[dwest]

That looks like a marineland Monterey cabinet. Same as mine. I had a t5 hybrid with 6 kessils under mine for 8 years without any heat problems. I now use nicrews as I mentioned above.

Let me know if you want pics of my setup.

https://www.marineland.com/products/hoods-canopies-and-stands/monterey-canopy.aspx

 

[AquaSixAquaticsReef]

That looks like a marineland Monterey cabinet. Same as mine. I had a t5 hybrid with 6 kessils under mine for 8 years without any heat problems. I now use nicrews as I mentioned above.

Let me know if you want pics of my setup.

https://www.marineland.com/products/hoods-canopies-and-stands/monterey-canopy.aspx

That would be great. Thanks!

 

[AquaSixAquaticsReef]

I have 2 Noopsyche K7 Pro III’s in my canopy about 7” above the water (the actual water not top of aquarium). They’ve been there a little over three years and are doing fine.
I made my canopy a flip top and it has an open back.

Did you order these directly from the website? The price on those is definitely more affordable.

 

[dwest]

That would be great. Thanks!

I had to take a pic this morning before lights on so let me know if you need different pics. But you can see the nicrews hanging in there. I screwed 2” PVC pipe mounting brackets into the top of the hood and hung the nicrew bar from those.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZXBN12V?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

 

[AquaSixAquaticsReef]

That would be great. Thanks!

I had to take a pic this morning before lights on so let me know if you need different pics. But you can see the nicrews hanging in there. I screwed 2” PVC pipe mounting brackets into the top of the hood and hung the nicrew bar from those.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZXBN12V?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

What nicrew lights do you use?

 

[dwest]

What nicrew lights do you use?

G2 200’s

 

[Thumbster]

Did you order these directly from the website? The price on those is definitely more affordable.

Yes. I ordered off the Noopsyche website.
These are over a 36” wide 40 breeder tank. If I had a 4’ wide tank I would use 3 of these lights.
Also I’m only running them at about 25% and it gives me 100 par on the sandbed.
Mine are 150 watt I think and I’ve read somewhere that the new K7 Pro IV are 100 watt. Still plenty for my tank but you would probably have to turn them up some to get 100 par on your sand bed. I would guess you’d be good at 50-60%.
Here’s a pic I took with them at 35%. White and red channel at 15%, all other channels 35%. Measured with an Apogee par meter I borrowed from the pet store.