Tank lighting upgrade

Saul2309

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Hi everyone!
I am just upgrading from my 20g to a 75g reef, for my 20g I was using fluval sea but I wanted to get better lighting for coral growth.
I was thinking getting 2 ai prime but i’m not sure if it’s enough since in the forum I see everyone recommending hydras, but they are a bit above my budget, I don’t want to spend more than 300 per light, that’s why primes were one of my choices.
I want to ready my tank for all kind of corals, that’s why I want to make sure I make the right choice.
Please give me suggestions and a bit of the pros and cons, thank you!
 

TheSheff

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Hi everyone!
I am just upgrading from my 20g to a 75g reef, for my 20g I was using fluval sea but I wanted to get better lighting for coral growth.
I was thinking getting 2 ai prime but i’m not sure if it’s enough since in the forum I see everyone recommending hydras, but they are a bit above my budget, I don’t want to spend more than 300 per light, that’s why primes were one of my choices.
I want to ready my tank for all kind of corals, that’s why I want to make sure I make the right choice.
Please give me suggestions and a bit of the pros and cons, thank you!
What tank is it? The shape is important to know when picking lights IMO
 

nereefpat

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I was thinking getting 2 ai prime but i’m not sure if it’s enough since in the forum I see everyone recommending hydras, but they are a bit above my budget, I don’t want to spend more than 300 per light, that’s why primes were one of my choices.
Noopsyche K7 is basically an AI Hydra 32. They cost closer to 200 per light. The only downside is apparently the Chinese App used to control them.
 

TheSheff

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Noopsyche K7 is basically an AI Hydra 32. They cost closer to 200 per light. The only downside is apparently the Chinese App used to control them.
Yeah I recently got a k7 mini and the app is atrocious. Apparently it looks better on android.
 

Reefer911

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Hi everyone!
I am just upgrading from my 20g to a 75g reef, for my 20g I was using fluval sea but I wanted to get better lighting for coral growth.
I was thinking getting 2 ai prime but i’m not sure if it’s enough since in the forum I see everyone recommending hydras, but they are a bit above my budget, I don’t want to spend more than 300 per light, that’s why primes were one of my choices.
I want to ready my tank for all kind of corals, that’s why I want to make sure I make the right choice.
Please give me suggestions and a bit of the pros and cons, thank you!
If you’ve ever considered Reefi, I have two Uno 1.0 lights that I’d let go for $225 each. They’re great lights but I couldn’t figure out how to program them so I took them down. They’re boxed up in my fish room.
I’ll be listing them this week
 

Gellisjr1

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Just a little FYI if you can swing the cost now. Aqua Illumination Hydra 32's & Primes are on sale 20% off. I just bought a Hydra 32 for my cube tank from Bulk Reef Supply. If it wasn't for this sale I was considering the Maxspect Jump Blue LED light. It gets very good reviews. To answer your question about the Prime 16 HD. They have a 24x24 light spread. So with a 49 inch long tank you will only need 2 Prime 16 HD's for your tank.
 
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TheSheff

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And also please let me know if the primes would do the job or I should fo for the k7
I would say that both would do the job but it comes down to money and preference. The AI primes do have a much better control interface, but can be expensive. While the noospyche lights have a terrible control interface but are pretty affordable.
 

Jekyl

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If the primes are what's in your budget I'd say go for them. Plenty of people have had success. If down the road you require stronger lighting you can just add T5 or LED strips like orphek.
 

TheSheff

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If the primes are what's in your budget I'd say go for them. Plenty of people have had success. If down the road you require stronger lighting you can just add T5 or LED strips like orphek.
I totally agree, T5's would be a great upgrade in the future for more PAR and better coverage.
 

Uncle99

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I used two Visparspectra 165 over this 65g for $300.
Still running 6 years later.
Light is light provided correct spectrum and intensity.
And you’ll have $300 for corals!
Just a thought.
IMG_0127.jpeg
 

Sleeping Giant

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Hi everyone!
I am just upgrading from my 20g to a 75g reef, for my 20g I was using fluval sea but I wanted to get better lighting for coral growth.
I was thinking getting 2 ai prime but i’m not sure if it’s enough since in the forum I see everyone recommending hydras, but they are a bit above my budget, I don’t want to spend more than 300 per light, that’s why primes were one of my choices.
I want to ready my tank for all kind of corals, that’s why I want to make sure I make the right choice.
Please give me suggestions and a bit of the pros and cons, thank you!
noopsyche pro x2
 

Dburr1014

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What is the budget?
Do you need individual lights or will a blanket of light do?

Reefbreeders lights are being upgraded but you can still get the 48 v2 models. They will grow anything you throw at them. Anything.
This price is at premium aquatics Google says today.

Screenshot_20231114_094512_Chrome.jpg
 

Sleeping Giant

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Noopsyche K7 is basically an AI Hydra 32. They cost closer to 200 per light. The only downside is apparently the Chinese App used to control them.
zero downside to these lights, it's not like you mess with the app after you set your lights. easy to work with, great price and loads of par
 

gregdepot

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Quanta is buy one get one 50% off(refunded currently) I ordered 2 more using with XR15 and A500X on 180, even ordered one for a planted tank, using Viparspectra on fuge, ive used some primes also many solid options
 

VintageReefer

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75g reef here with reefbreeders 48 v2 plus
No issue with anything from zoa to sps.

4 current pics. + 1 (not so great) pic from when I was doing sps a while back just to show how the fixture looks with mounting legs

543E31C0-E983-42AD-B078-C6D7799870C0.jpeg B5F8473C-0596-4560-B6F6-C78F772DCDB5.jpeg 329D2D3A-2081-4A90-96A8-3A69FF3A60E8.jpeg BBD1FFB4-C110-45F7-BE93-C90B5E87EBE1.jpeg BC31B336-26A8-4F32-BDBB-D0A5C3F67C3A.jpeg
 
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VintageReefer

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You can get the v2+ which is the same light without the wifi app module for 600 currently - this is the one I have. There’s a remote to program, takes a few minutes but it’s user friendly and I have 3 quick presets and a daily schedule

If you need the app you can always upgrade the fixture down the line
 

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