Which lighting is best for me?

IE Reefer · Feb 14, 2021

I have a soft/LPS 29g (13 1/8 W x 12 D x 18 5/8 H) tank that's been running for almost a year (April) and I've been wanting to upgrade my lights from Current USA Orbit Marine LED to something more powerful. I've been shopping around for AI primes and Kessills without any luck and I was wondering if there are any other brands of lighting that are as good as them for half the price. Thank you in advance.

Saltyreef · Feb 14, 2021

I always buy my lighting used from the market place. Im using ai hydras that are about 10 years old and theyre still going strong running off a director.
I vote Ai

AdamB · Feb 21, 2021

Hydras are great but in liked the 165 watt viper spectras on my old tank . It’s not got all the bells and whistles like hydra but I could grow anything with those lights for half the cost

Dkmoo · Feb 21, 2021

Do you ever plan on getting SPS? I have a 29g running 2 ai prime + a reefbrite strip and its been a struggle to trying to get it into the 300 - 400 par range with the right spectrum. So now I wish I had gotten something with more horsepower or a t5/led hybrid rack...

Something to think about if yiu want to future proof your tank.

But if yiu are just sticking with softies / LPS and don't want to spend for the customizability of ai primes. Check out reefbrite lumi pro strips, I have 1 8inch strip that added about 50PAR so figure either 2 18inch one or 1 24 inch one would be enough for you. As primary source you probsbly want the 50/50 pro one. Very cheap but down side is you are stuck with the spectrum ( blue and white). I assume you have the standard 29 dimensions and just had a typo in your post? Either a 18 or 24 inch would fit the standard 29g tank

rckfsh44 · Mar 25, 2021

elusiveop said:
I have a soft/LPS 29g (13 1/8 W x 12 D x 18 5/8 H) tank that's been running for almost a year (April) and I've been wanting to upgrade my lights from Current USA Orbit Marine LED to something more powerful. I've been shopping around for AI primes and Kessills without any luck and I was wondering if there are any other brands of lighting that are as good as them for half the price. Thank you in advance.

I have a 29 gallon high also, I’m running a HD32 Hydra , this light has the horsepower for SPS in a 29

dedragon · Mar 25, 2021

@elusiveop if those are the dimensions, i think you have a 12-15 gallon tank, not a 30 gallon. Just to keep in mind for additives and stuff

IE Reefer · Mar 25, 2021

dedragon said:
@elusiveop if those are the dimensions, i think you have a 12-15 gallon tank, not a 30 gallon. Just to keep in mind for additives and stuff

wops, I must have miss typed 30" for 13"

dedragon · Mar 25, 2021

lol typos happen. just wanted to make sure you werent dosing for a 30 gallon and had like 1/3 the amount of water

lpsouth1978 · Mar 25, 2021

Nicrew Hyper Reef 50W with a Kessil Spectral Controller X - $300 total cost for 2 lights, stands, and controller. This setup would do great on your tank and would even be capable of SPS if they are placed well.