The perfect light for a 40 breeder?

[Metal Mum]

It's me again >:P
This time I'm trying to figure out what light to put on a 40 breeder, and preferably just one. The HOB stuff is unfortunately in the way for doing dual lights, and hanging kits scare the heck out of me (⁠^⁠～⁠^⁠;⁠)⁠ゞ

The tank is going to be Anemones (likely Bubble Tips) and Macroalgae only, so I don't need anything crazy. My only concern is the standard glass lid I'll be getting, so the light needs to be strong enough to not have much issues with that.

Right now I just have a little Nicrew Barlight on it that was on another thank originally. She's doing her best lol.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

"perfect" is many things to many people. With my 40 breeder "perfect" is a 150 MH pendant for day light and 2 OR3 bars for evening light.

Otherwise I would be happy with a 150 or 200 watt nicrew light, I've used nicrew on my other tank with good results.

 

[oreo54]

It's me again >:P
This time I'm trying to figure out what light to put on a 40 breeder, and preferably just one. The HOB stuff is unfortunately in the way for doing dual lights, and hanging kits scare the heck out of me (⁠^⁠～⁠^⁠;⁠)⁠ゞ

The tank is going to be Anemones (likely Bubble Tips) and Macroalgae only, so I don't need anything crazy. My only concern is the standard glass lid I'll be getting, so the light needs to be strong enough to not have much issues with that.

Right now I just have a little Nicrew Barlight on it that was on another thank originally. She's doing her best lol.

There are brackets that attach left and right not to the back.
There are bars that also go l/r. For Nicrew.
https://www.nicrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Part-7-3-1536x1024.jpg
Pick a color:
https://www.quanta-lights.com/products/3-pack-helix-combo?variant=45671894745245

Glass only cuts like 10%.

 

[vlangel]

I think a ReefBreeder Photon V-24 would be perfect for a 40g breeder and it will grow anything. It comes with a hanging kit or legs too.
Actually I need to clarify that it came with a hanging kit and legs when I bought mine. That is no longer the case.

 

[kevgib67]

@kingranch2003

 

[mcarroll]

A 40B is one of the easiest tanks to light since it's so shallow. Almost anything will work and have plenty of power.

So tell us what things you like or hate about reef lights that you are already familiar with and maybe we can give you and idea of what options would be "best" or "perfect" for you.

 

[JAMBR231]

I have a couple Viparspectra hanging on my frag tank. Affordable, easy to use and do a great job.

 

[Metal Mum]

A 40B is one of the easiest tanks to light since it's so shallow. Almost anything will work and have plenty of power.

So tell us what things you like or hate about reef lights that you are already familiar with and maybe we can give you and idea of what options would be "best" or "perfect" for you.

"Perfect" for me is honestly newbie friendly, but with the ability to ramp up and down. I think a lot of lights do that nowadays though so that's probably not hard.

I thought about Viparspectras, but the hanging mount is just a little daunting to little ol me LOL.

 

[Metal Mum]

There are brackets that attach left and right not to the back.
There are bars that also go l/r. For Nicrew.
https://www.nicrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Part-7-3-1536x1024.jpg
Pick a color:
https://www.quanta-lights.com/products/3-pack-helix-combo?variant=45671894745245

Glass only cuts like 10%.

OH MY GOSH how did I forget about the side ones
That's on me.

As for the Quanta Helix, I was looking at those. The price just felt a little daunting plus possibly overkill for anemones and macro, but I definitely have my eye on it for Black Friday

 

[mcarroll]

If you can hang a plant from your ceiling (ie with a plant hook) this is no different. (And that's not hard to do if you never have.)

You'll get a kit something like this (two per light fixture):

Then you drill a hole in the ceiling where you want to hang it and fold the left-hand hook assembly and push it into the hole where it automatically unfolds. Then you're done! (Repeat for the other needed hooks.)

Maybe consider a light that clamps to the rim of your tank if that still seems like "no way". Or a simple strip light (or set of strip lights depending how big the tank) that rests on top of the tank.

 

[oreo54]

OH MY GOSH how did I forget about the side ones
That's on me.

As for the Quanta Helix, I was looking at those. The price just felt a little daunting plus possibly overkill for anemones and macro, but I definitely have my eye on it for Black Friday

Helix out of the box doesn't have any " function" like ramping.
And many 36" do not seem available.

From what I read anemones like fairly high par. Like 150.

Of course your tank is only 18" deep but getting 150 to the sand isn't " exactly " inexpensive for the most part. Not in nan " aquarium " light.

Just for comparison a Viparspectra black box with time function ( you figure out mounting) is about $150 for each
110 watts roughly split 50/ 50 between blue and " not blue".
https://growace.com/products/vipars...98HNZX7EGcQjp8D2Mzn5eDH3nVqYTEj4aAkuGEALw_wcB
It does not consume 165 watts btw.
I don't know if it ramps up or just goes ON with the timer.

That technically is the cheapest you'd get.
Well ALMOST.
There are manual ones that are cheaper:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFLPJY...=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1


As an example only this " off brand" ( micmol) in the US would be an example of a light likely to come close to checking all your boxes.
36" long, 120 watts total, controllable and dim-able.
Decent spectrum
Side attachment with no restrictions due to plastic rim. 4 color channels but a bit odd combos.
$340 including shipping.
Please note I am not familiar how they deal with tariffs. Sooo annoying but as I said an example.

2 Quanta helix bars are $390 total ( 120 w total) with no bells and whistles .




ALSO a NIcrew 200 w/ controller and a different mount will also run in the $400 range. $350 for 1509 watts.
Guessing at $50 for a left to right mounted arm.

 

[BriDroid]

I have a 40 breeder, and I truly think that the 3 pack of Quanta Helix lights are the best. I can grow anything I want in my 40 breeder with 2 Meso Blues and 1 Reef Crest. It's a great blue heavy color without the Windex look. They say it's close to 20K. It's a PAR beast too! I run my Meso's at 85% and my Reef Crest at 80% intensity. For the cost vs performance, I don't think they can be beat!

 

[Metal Mum]

Thank you everyone!! Definitely going to be keeping an eye out on all the suggestions to see if Black Friday yields anything good ^-^

 

[exnisstech]

I think a ReefBreeder Photon V-24 would be perfect for a 40g breeder and it will grow anything. It comes with a hanging kit or legs too.

Stopped by to say just that. I would look for a used one tho. Reefbreeders is no longer including mounts so adding tanks mounts puts the price at $619 if purchased from reefbreeders.
I'm running a meridian 11 over a 40 gallon breeder running the encompass lens and just place coral based on light requirements, higher light corals in the center and others toward the side.

 

[vlangel]

Stopped by to say just that. I would look for a used one tho. Reefbreeders is no longer including mounts so adding tanks mounts puts the price at $619 if purchased from reefbreeders.
I'm running a meridian 11 over a 40 gallon breeder running the encompass lens and just place coral based on light requirements, higher light corals in the center and others toward the side.

Thanks for sharing exnisstech. It doesnt seem like that long ago that I bought my fixture but times seems to go fast these days. I only paid little over $350 for my unit which I thought was very reasonable, especially with the hanging and leg mounts.
I am sure they are still a good company but I will be mindful of the updated info that you have shared if I mention them again.

 

[exnisstech]

Thanks for sharing exnisstech. It doesnt seem like that long ago that I bought my fixture but times seems to go fast these days. I only paid little over $350 for my unit which I thought was very reasonable, especially with the hanging and leg mounts.
I am sure they are still a good company but I will be mindful of the updated info that you have shared if I mention them again.

Ya they didn't reduce the price of the photon to clear out stock when the median was released that's for sure. Probably because they know how capable the photon is. I would have went photon over the median 45 but I wanted a single fixture to cover a 4ft tank and no new photons were available larger than a 32

 

[vlangel]

Ya they didn't reduce the price of the photon to clear out stock when the median was released that's for sure. Probably because they know how capable the photon is. I would have went photon over the median 45 but I wanted a single fixture to cover a 4ft tank and no new photons were available larger than a 32

I hear you. I have a 4ft tank now and still kept the Photon even though the ends of the tank were darker. The right side is now lit better because the mangrove needed more light as it grew taller so I added an LED fixture I had laying around. I just keep low light coral on the dimmer left side plus my feather dusters garden. It works for me.

 

[exnisstech]

I hear you. I have a 4ft tank now and still kept the Photon even though the ends of the tank were darker. The right side is now lit better because the mangrove needed more light as it grew taller so I added an LED fixture I had laying around. I just keep low light coral on the dimmer left side plus my feather dusters garden. It works for me.

Ya the meridian is over the acro tank. I still love my photons. I repurposed all 3 and replaced the 6 noopsyche I had over my 330. A 32 and a 24 doing duty over SPS and the other 32 over softies. The noops were great lights for the price but having panels vs 12 pucks in the living room is much nicer easier on the eyes.

@Metal Mum hanging lights isn't too bad. Maybe research a little bit. I've hung a couple using these

Replacing the screws with these hooks.

And a plumb bob makes getting them in the correct location easy.

I thinking about hanging this light today because I'm getting tired of looking at and working around the tank mounts.

 

[vlangel]

Ya the meridian is over the acro tank. I still love my photons. I repurposed all 3 and replaced the 6 noopsyche I had over my 330. A 32 and a 24 doing duty over SPS and the other 32 over softies. The noops were great lights for the price but having panels vs 12 pucks in the living room is much nicer easier on the eyes.

@Metal Mum hanging lights isn't too bad. Maybe research a little bit. I've hung a couple using these

Replacing the screws with these hooks.

And a plumb bob makes getting them in the correct location easy.

I thinking about hanging this light today because I'm getting tired of looking at and working around the tank mounts.

I am a 66+ woman and hung my own lights using the cup hooks. We have a wood ceiling which probably made it easier.