What lighting do you use?

[Ocean’s Piece]

I recently went through the dilemma of wanting to upgrade/modify my LEDs in my Biocube and keep the hood on. There are only a few alternatives, and they’re all expensive (most commonly Steve’s LEDs at a price of $400, which is not feasible or worth it for many reefers). I found a solution, 21LEDUSA.com ‘s ReefBars, at an amazing price of $50 after everything. These lights have made a drastic difference in color to my tank and achieve what I was looking for in new lights, more blue to tone down the whiteness of the Biocube lighting. I see way to many new Biocube reefers falling into the trap from Steve’s LED users to buy them, but there are frankly cheaper alternatives out there like these that provide the same results. I hope this video can help budget reefers like me have a stunning tank for cheap.
(Not saying Steve’s LED’s are terrible, they’re some great lights, just not for me).

What lighting do you use? There are thousands of different light brands out there and they’re all are unique. I have heard of some people running successful reef tanks with cheap, no name lighting and others that have run their tanks with some of the most expensive lighting options there are. They all seem to look different and unique. Share your pictures!

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[lapin]

I have 10ea Kessil 360 on my main tank and 1ea AI16hd on my rock nem . NPS tank

 

[Steve2020]

I am using 4 GHL Mitras 7206's. Excellent light in my opinion. Lots of power ( 185 watts/unit ) but Deffinantly not cheap. Only running 30% brightness. 225 par top of rocks, 110 par center bottom and 85 par bottom corners. Corals are happy.

 

[fish farmer]

I've almost always DIY on lighting. My first tank had a metal halide retrofit kit that came with the heavy tar ballast. Then I added another DIY Power Compact kit for actinic supplementation.

Current system has a now unavailable 14,000K BuildMyLED fixture with two T5 blue plus bulbs which use a dimmable retrofit kit.

I can dim both fixtures and have several options for T5 bulb colors if I want to try a different spectrum. They are controlled with plug in light timers.

 

[MaxTremors]

There is a massive difference between what I’ve spent on lighting over the years (thousands) and what I spent on the light currently on my tank ($28, IIRC, Noopsyche offered for me to test out their lights, I just paid shipping). I put $25-$50, just basing it off what I actually paid for the lights I’m currently using, if it was based off retail price it would be $200-$400, and if it was what I’ve spent on lighting my entire time in the hobby, it would be $2000+. If I added my refugium light it would still be under $50, I’m using the little ACKE plant light (which is a great value for the money).

Edit: your trachy looks great, mine has nearly doubled in size and colored up nicely (it’s sort of acid yellow green with some orange/peach coloration around the rim).

 

[Arego]

3 sbox extremes and two T5s, coral+. 100%blue 75%white and any sunlight that comes in.

 

[shakacuz]

i bought my lights new.. i jumped too soon on lights without doing extensive research. looking back now i could’ve saved a lot on light costs. i spent about 600-700$ on my lights…

i could get double the par with a good 400$ if i would’ve been patient and did research on cheaper alternatives.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

I am using 4 GHL Mitras 7206's. Excellent light in my opinion. Lots of power ( 185 watts/unit ) but Deffinantly not cheap. Only running 30% brightness. 225 par top of rocks, 110 par center bottom and 85 par bottom corners. Corals are happy.

Very nice setup you got there!

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

There is a massive difference between what I’ve spent on lighting over the years (thousands) and what I spent on the light currently on my tank ($28, IIRC, Noopsyche offered for me to test out their lights, I just paid shipping). I put $25-$50, just basing it off what I actually paid for the lights I’m currently using, if it was based off retail price it would be $200-$400, and if it was what I’ve spent on lighting my entire time in the hobby, it would be $2000+. If I added my refugium light it would still be under $50, I’m using the little ACKE plant light (which is a great value for the money).

Edit: your trachy looks great, mine has nearly doubled in size and colored up nicely (it’s sort of acid yellow green with some orange/peach coloration around the rim).

Nice! How’d you manage to get offered free lights?!? Also, I’ve always wondered, what lights do you run on that cube tank of yours.

 

[CrimsonTide]

AI 16 prime HD. I have a cheap Amazon light for my coral quarantine and it grows everything fantastic except sps but would probably grow them if they were near top of the water.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

i bought my lights new.. i jumped too soon on lights without doing extensive research. looking back now i could’ve saved a lot on light costs. i spent about 600-700$ on my lights…

i could get double the par with a good 400$ if i would’ve been patient and did research on cheaper alternatives.

Something that is way too common unfortunately. Too often, I see people recommending all the brand new name brand lights to new reefers and they just buy it because someone else told them to. There’s definitely a million ways to run a reef tank. But at the end of the day, I’m sure you got some quality lights that are going to last a long time

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

AI 16 prime HD. I have a cheap Amazon light for my coral quarantine and it grows everything fantastic except sps but would probably grow them if they were near top of the water.

Was considering getting one of these for my Biocube until I found the 21LEDs. I even found a steal for one of these for $140, only used for a year! But the hassle of modifying the hood for one of these wasn’t worth it in my opinion.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Was considering getting one of these for my Biocube until I found the 21LEDs. I even found a steal for one of these for $140, only used for a year! But the hassle of modifying the hood for one of these wasn’t worth it in my opinion.

My AI Prime 16 HD I bought used and the mount. I think I paid $150 for both shipped to my house. So I think I saved about $100 over buying brand new and that included paying shipping.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Why do you want to keep the lid? I don't have a biocube but don't they make mesh lids for them?

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

My AI Prime 16 HD I bought used and the mount. I think I paid $150 for both shipped to my house. So I think I saved about $100 over buying brand new and that included paying shipping.

Yeah they’re expensive new. But that’s with all new lights. A bunch of sellers on eBay and on this forum selling theirs. That’s something I have learned over the past few months. Before you buy, check the used market, especially on corals. Often times, you can find corals that cost a hundred or so in the LFS and you’ll find people just giving away free frags on the local forums.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Why do you want to keep the lid? I don't have a biocube but don't they make mesh lids for them?

Evaporation and the sleek look mainly. If you have ever seen any of the biocubes without the hood, they don’t look as sleek as those that have the hood on.

 

[JoJosReef]

I use two 21LED Deep Blue ReefbarPros on top of my Evo, upgraded from a single Fluval Marine 3.0 for about the same price tag, and I'm guessing about 3x par output and better spectrum. Very happy with them. Think the corals are too. Would love to try ReefBrites, but they are much more expensive, and the 21LED people in Texas seem to know their lighting.

My office IM 10g cube uses an AI Prime 16HD (xmas gift). Great light for a cube imo.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Evaporation and the sleek look mainly. If you have ever seen any of the biocubes without the hood, they don’t look as sleek as those that have the hood on.

I figured evaporation. I dont remember when seeing them if liked them better with or without the canopy. If you think it looks better with the Lid thats all that matters.

 

[Steve2020]

Very nice setup you got there!

Thank you. My retirement hobby.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

I figured evaporation. I dont remember when seeing them if liked them better with or without the canopy. If you think it looks better with the Lid thats all that matters.

Exactly. Some people like the look, some don’t. All preference.