Reefer 250 light replacement

[bearman88]

Hi guys,

I have had the same two Hydra 26's on my Reefer 250 since 2017, and they are finally going out. So I'm researching what to replace them with.

I am considering the Kessil AP9X, two Hydra 32s, or one Hydra 64. I really like the idea of suspending from ceiling with hanging kit for clean aesthetics.

I don't know much about lighting, I'm more of a "set it and forget it" lighting type (as of now). I am mainly softies/LPS with plans of a little beginner SPS only.

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[mcarroll]

All of those sound like good options.....I guess that's not much help tho.

I'm curious how your Hydra are going out? What kind of symptoms?

 

[X-37B]

Those are all good choices.
I had great results with the 16hds which got me into leds.
Meridian would be a good choice for 1 fixture only.
They can be hung from the ceiling.
I hung my photon 24 over my rs170.
I run 3 of the Photons.
I run radions on 2 systems also.

 

[bearman88]

I am also considering one Hydra Edge 68: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hydra-edge-68hd-led-reef-light-fixture-aquaillumination.html

 

[X-37B]

I am also considering one Hydra Edge 68: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hydra-edge-68hd-led-reef-light-fixture-aquaillumination.html

I would do 2 32's over a 36" tank vs 1 64.
A 24" Meridian would be a good single fixture for that tank.

 

[bearman88]

All of those sound like good options.....I guess that's not much help tho.

I'm curious how your Hydra are going out? What kind of symptoms?

The fan blades stopped spinning for a while now, but biggest thing was that one light's white spectrum stopped working completely.

 

[bearman88]

So I went with the Kessil AP9X. So far so good! I used the ceiling mount kit, which took some time but not too bad. The app/WiFi setup was pretty straightforward also. I like the mobile app, once you figure it out it's easy to use so far. Much better than my AI app experience - but that was a 9 year old device so no qualms. It did seem like I always had issues with connecting to my AI lights. The WiFi equipment in them is really poor IME and what I've seen online.


This is them today at about 2 hours before peak brightness.

 

[bearman88]

My only concern is that the left and right ends of my tank seem to be a little dark. I need to get a PAR reader, which I've never used before.

 

[Freenow54]

Hi guys,

I have had the same two Hydra 26's on my Reefer 250 since 2017, and they are finally going out. So I'm researching what to replace them with.

I am considering the Kessil AP9X, two Hydra 32s, or one Hydra 64. I really like the idea of suspending from ceiling with hanging kit for clean aesthetics.

I don't know much about lighting, I'm more of a "set it and forget it" lighting type (as of now). I am mainly softies/LPS with plans of a little beginner SPS only.

Any advice is appreciated!

Depends on your budget. It seems Orphek is coming out with some cool stuff.

 

[Freenow54]

Depends on your budget. It seems Orphek is coming out with some cool stuff.

Sorry way behind

 

[Freenow54]

Lots of people don't like Par meters I happen to think that they are great. I don't know if you have an LFS near you that will rent you one or not. I don't and bought an Apogee $ 1,200.00. I mapped out my entire aquascape which at the time did not plan well and with the par meter found areas I could not put Coral on

 

[bearman88]

Lots of people don't like Par meters I happen to think that they are great. I don't know if you have an LFS near you that will rent you one or not. I don't and bought an Apogee $ 1,200.00. I mapped out my entire aquascape which at the time did not plan well and with the par meter found areas I could not put Coral on

Nice.. no telling how much $$ I've wasted on coral that maybe just wasn't getting enough light.. probably could have paid for one of those by now

 

[Freenow54]

Nice.. no telling how much $$ I've wasted on coral that maybe just wasn't getting enough light.. probably could have paid for one of those by now

I may venture into SPS LPS only requires 150 max any light will do that. If I remember some SPS need 450 so the story goes. But I have found flow can be ultra important, and care also comes into play according to what I have read

 

[mcarroll]

A lux meter will give you a good enough idea what's going on. $10-$15 for a handheld. A lux meter app is $free.

 

[Freenow54]

A lux meter will give you a good enough idea what's going on. $10-$15 for a handheld. A lux meter app is $free.

yes I bought one did read about a controversy about that on this site. OK for Pot Growers to me. Mine was a Milwaukee what a joke that they make one case in point to me