This Lighting deal is starting to @@@@ me off.

[Hard Softy]

I have the tank 25g Nuvo Lagoon. At first I was planning a Hydra 26 HD ...then we decided on 2 AI primes. I have been considering 2 kessil 160we. The China light 16 inch Euphoria Programmable looks damn good as well. Sorry don't know how 2 link from my phone. It's on Amazon. I have a budget. But I can buy 1 light 1 payday and the other next. Am I a fool for considering the Euphoria or should I settle for the established from you reefers? If I can save then cool, but the end product as well as results are a prime factor. Suggestions or input pls.

[Hard Softy]

Let me clarify something. If I decided to upgrade the tank would your choice be any different? The lagoon 25g will be my first tank ever. But if this hobby is as addictive as they say I want to be prepared. 1st tank 25g will be mainly for named Zoa/ Pally and acan.. could be a rock flower, frog spawn hammers ect. Just help 300 every 2 weeks is the goal. 600 total.

[Matteo]

So I am like you and super indecisive AF with lighting. I just sold my hydra26 its a good light. I have had a prime as well also good. Other really good lights and there is one for sale on the thread is a NanoBox Duo. BUT I really really really want to see these on tanks and see how they do! http://www.micmol.com/store.html

 

IMHO if you have a lagoon 25 do not junk it up with a Chinese box. Get a good looking clean light.

 

There is a NanoBox Duo on here for $330

The micmol Pro is $200 or if you did two minis for better coverage its $249

If you have 2 primes that is fine as well.

Hydra 26HD is good but IMO only for cubed tanks

2 Kessils are good however their White LEDs I hear are garbage and they lack in control the most.

 

With all these options you will be able to upgrade tanks and keep light no problem.

[Exodus]

if you think picking the fixture is the frustrating part, wait till you get the fixture and find out it's not simply "Plug & Play" and there's a learning curve with LED Setting adjustment that comes with it

 

As this is your 1st reef tank ever you are inevitably going to be making all the same mistakes everyone else makes getting acquainted to the hobby, and as you chose such a small volume of water those mistakes with be magnified. At this point you have no experience of mixing salt consistently let alone a plan on how you intend to deal with the phosphates in your tank. No worries we all start somewhere, but my point is this, you already have to take the initial steps and time to learn the keys of reefing "Patience" & "Stability" while having to adjust and learn to the ecosystem portion of the equation, why add more work for yourself with the lighting? If I were you I would save yourself the time get an ATI T5 fixture (Not power module) and start with that.

 

Your getting frustrated with choosing an LED, when you could simply get a T5 hang it, and plug it in and know you should be covered in the lighting aspect, and when your ready to take on more down the road, and you haven't jumped ship in 9 months as most do when they come to the realization this hobby is a money pit, then decide if you want to go bigger and take on the LED aspect having experience with the easiest plug and play solution for lighting.

[Cencalfishguy56]

So I am like you and super indecisive AF with lighting. I just sold my hydra26 its a good light. I have had a prime as well also good. Other really good lights and there is one for sale on the thread is a NanoBox Duo. BUT I really really really want to see these on tanks and see how they do! http://www.micmol.com/store.html

 

IMHO if you have a lagoon 25 do not junk it up with a Chinese box. Get a good looking clean light.

 

There is a NanoBox Duo on here for $330

The micmol Pro is $200 or if you did two minis for better coverage its $249

If you have 2 primes that is fine as well.

Hydra 26HD is good but IMO only for cubed tanks

2 Kessils are good however their White LEDs I hear are garbage and they lack in control the most.

 

With all these options you will be able to upgrade tanks and keep light no problem.

hey I run kessils you asshole lol

[DemonUnleashed]

I like the look of the micmol lights. I contacted the company about par values and they said they don't have any. Then they just said tell us what size tank you have and we will recommend a light. Not really the answer I was looking for.

[Rookie1]

AI prime x2

Nanobox Tide x2

Nanobox Duo

 

It seems that any of these options would be within your budget and although I can't speak for the AI lights first hand I can tell you that Nanobox lights are utterly brilliant.

 

Get the best light you can afford and leave it at that. With your budget you'll easily be able to pick up a great light.

[phillyclownfish]

I have had kessils, the AI Prime and now a radion xr30w. Have you looked at the radion xr15w?

[Matteo]

hey I run kessils you asshole lol

Hahahahahahahah! They work! I'm just reporting what I know from them

I like the look of the micmol lights. I contacted the company about par values and they said they don't have any. Then they just said tell us what size tank you have and we will recommend a light. Not really the answer I was looking for.

I'm pretty sure someone has par values. Just Google it.

[Cencalfishguy56]

Hahahahahahahah! They work! I'm just reporting what I know from them

 

I'm pretty sure someone has par values. Just Google it.

for the record I love mine lol

[Matteo]

Here you go for the micmol

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/331301-micmol-aqua-mini-led-upgrade/

[Hard Softy]

So I am like you and super indecisive AF with lighting. I just sold my hydra26 its a good light. I have had a prime as well also good. Other really good lights and there is one for sale on the thread is a NanoBox Duo. BUT I really really really want to see these on tanks and see how they do! http://www.micmol.com/store.html

 

IMHO if you have a lagoon 25 do not junk it up with a Chinese box. Get a good looking clean light.

 

There is a NanoBox Duo on here for $330

The micmol Pro is $200 or if you did two minis for better coverage its $249

If you have 2 primes that is fine as well.

Hydra 26HD is good but IMO only for cubed tanks

2 Kessils are good however their White LEDs I hear are garbage and they lack in control the most.

 

With all these options you will be able to upgrade tanks and keep light no problem.

[Hard Softy]

Well I I checked out the Micmol pro but the AI Prime has more features and I think it just looks better. I'm going to get the Prime, if I like it I'll add another. If not I can always sell it here Then try something else.

[DemonUnleashed]

Awesome. Thanks Matteo. Sorry didn't mean to hijack your thread

[gus6464]

Radions are trash.

[michaelrzachmann]

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/371815-nanobox-new-product-teaser-one-year-full-time/

 

this would be awesome

[Matteo]

Awesome. Thanks Matteo. Sorry didn't mean to hijack your thread

Impossible. Input is input when I setup my 10-15g macro tank I might buy a micmol mini. They are just soo cool looking!

Well I I checked out the Micmol pro but the AI Prime has more features and I think it just looks better. I'm going to get the Prime, if I like it I'll add another. If not I can always sell it here Then try something else.

 

The prime is a great light. You will be fine with 1 but I know you will probably get 2 as for selling them on here I think the most I saw someone pay for one used with arm mount was 180 ish so keep that in mind

Radions are trash.

Never owned one probably never will

if you think picking the fixture is the frustrating part, wait till you get the fixture and find out it's not simply "Plug & Play" and there's a learning curve with LED Setting adjustment that comes with it

 

As this is your 1st reef tank ever you are inevitably going to be making all the same mistakes everyone else makes getting acquainted to the hobby, and as you chose such a small volume of water those mistakes with be magnified. At this point you have no experience of mixing salt consistently let alone a plan on how you intend to deal with the phosphates in your tank. No worries we all start somewhere, but my point is this, you already have to take the initial steps and time to learn the keys of reefing "Patience" & "Stability" while having to adjust and learn to the ecosystem portion of the equation, why add more work for yourself with the lighting? If I were you I would save yourself the time get an ATI T5 fixture (Not power module) and start with that.

 

Your getting frustrated with choosing an LED, when you could simply get a T5 hang it, and plug it in and know you should be covered in the lighting aspect, and when your ready to take on more down the road, and you haven't jumped ship in 9 months as most do when they come to the realization this hobby is a money pit, then decide if you want to go bigger and take on the LED aspect having experience with the easiest plug and play solution for lighting.

Dis guy be keeping it old skool

[Exodus]

Dis guy be keeping it old skool

I may be old school with over 20 years.

 

Though from what I have seen with so many people who get involved in this hobby, they have no clue what they are getting themselves into to begin with, this isn't buying an oscar from walmart and plopping it in a tank. There is so much to learn, and will always be more you can learn, nobody has ever had it completely figured out. With that said I like to see people start out on the right foot, that way when they have greater success they tend to stay more engaged and stick around longer, I suggest T5 as it is a simple plug and play option that will take the burden and frustration off learning the entire lighting portion of the equation till he has gotten a better handle on the basics.

[Matteo]

 

I may be old school with over 20 years.

 

Though from what I have seen with so many people who get involved in this hobby, they have no clue what they are getting themselves into to begin with, this isn't buying an oscar from walmart and plopping it in a tank. There is so much to learn, and will always be more you can learn, nobody has ever had it completely figured out. With that said I like to see people start out on the right foot, that way when they have greater success they tend to stay more engaged and stick around longer, I suggest T5 as it is a simple plug and play option that will take the burden and frustration off learning the entire lighting portion of the equation till he has gotten a better handle on thebasics.[/quote

 

Oh I hope I didn't offend:) I was just playing fun. I completely agree, you can't go wrong with T5. I think in today's market there is just far more LED fixtures available for cheap prices and the control and color options are appealing to people.

[Exodus]

Oh I hope I didn't offend:) I was just playing fun. I completely agree, you can't go wrong with T5. I think in today's market there is just far more LED fixtures available for cheap prices and the control and color options are appealing to people.

 

No offense taken, I just didn't want to come off as a Dick in my first post to the op. I'm sick of seeing so many people get it in the hobby, realize it wasn't as they expected, they don't have tank of the month and they realize the expenses behind it and jump ship. While it is inevitable its good for the hobby to keep as many people involved as possible.

 

I was new just like everyone else was at one time, I know there is allot to learn to be successful and I'm still learning every day, while still making boneheaded mistakes like anyone else, I was just offering a suggestion that would ease initial struggle. In hopes it would help him improve his success with his first reef.

 

As you know Matteo, the biggest thing that I dislike about LED's is watching how people claim the technology is "sooooo" much cheaper in the long run they will have saved sooooo much money, yet then why is it that 80% of the people I see here get their first LED fixture then if not yearly are jumping fixture to fixture to DIY and always swapping it out and changing? There is no way in hell that is any cheaper than T5's I know from personal experience Halide/PC -> T5 -> AI Nano -> AI Prime -> Hydra 26 -> Radion 30 -> Kessil A360 -> Back to T5 LOL!

[Hard Softy]

Great points Exodus, I've been surfing these forums daily for at least 3 months. Lighting has always been controversial. When I posted this last night I already had a few ... I was just taking out some frustration. BTW I did look into t5 some but with leds hybrid. I still have a few weeks to decide and thank you for the imput. What's very hard about this, it's that I'm a technology junky!

[Matteo]

 

No offense taken, I just didn't want to come off as a Dick in my first post to the op. I'm sick of seeing so many people get it in the hobby, realize it wasn't as they expected, they don't have tank of the month and they realize the expenses behind it and jump ship. While it is inevitable its good for the hobby to keep as many people involved as possible.

 

I was new just like everyone else was at one time, I know there is allot to learn to be successful and I'm still learning every day, while still making boneheaded mistakes like anyone else, I was just offering a suggestion that would ease initial struggle. In hopes it would help him improve his success with his first reef.

 

As you know Matteo, the biggest thing that I dislike about LED's is watching how people claim the technology is "sooooo" much cheaper in the long run they will have saved sooooo much money, yet then why is it that 80% of the people I see here get their first LED fixture then if not yearly are jumping fixture to fixture to DIY and always swapping it out and changing? There is no way in hell that is any cheaper than T5's I know from personal experience Halide/PC -> T5 -> AI Nano -> AI Prime -> Hydra 26 -> Radion 30 -> Kessil A360 -> Back to T5 LOL!

I wouldn't argue cheaper in long run haha. This month alone I have gone throw 4 different led fixtures and ideas. I totally get it:) I think a problem with LEDS or lighting in general you get gear snobs where people dis one led over another and people swear by it. Like you said, I am going to T5 also however it will have LEDS too. I do not think I ever will not LEDS but I like DIY:)

Great points Exodus, I've been surfing these forums daily for at least 3 months. Lighting has always been controversial. When I posted this last night I already had a few ... I was just taking out some frustration. BTW I did look into t5 some but with leds hybrid. I still have a few weeks to decide and thank you for the imput. What's very hard about this, it's that I'm a technology junky!

Also I just really really love lighting. I just love reef gear more than the reef itself. I love seeing how each individual machine is doing its part to sustain my reef. But that's me! But if do you choose one of the LEDS I listed I am sure you will be happy. Many many many people including myself have had complete success. If you are like me or Exodus though and are super picky on your lighting you may not like those.

[R_MC]

I think what most people have learned is that coral will adapt as long as you let them. Almost every light fixture in this thread will satisfy coral growth. Find one with an aesthetic you can live with and a color spectrum that you like (focus on high cri neutral whites - avoid fixtures with individual red or green leds - do look for Cyan as there is a gap with phosphor converted white), plot out an integration period starting with very low exposure (10-15% ramped to 20-30% over two weeks - slowly ramping no more than 5% per week after that) and your coral will thank you... Check for algae growth, if you get algae growth and everything else is good reduce your photoperiod.

 

Then just LEAVE it and do not touch it at all. Even if you don't see growth or color changes in a week, wait a month... wait 2 months and take lots of pictures. Everything I've learned so far has told me that stability matters way more than how exact the spectrum is and that LEDs require a very long adjustment period due to their high intensity "hot spots" and spikes in blue/uv that the coral may not be used to.

[Rural]

Radions are trash.

if you are throwing them out to the curb, ill gladly take them.

 

http://ecotechmarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Ecotech_CoralLab_WP1.pdf

[gus6464]

if you are throwing them out to the curb, ill gladly take them.

 

http://ecotechmarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Ecotech_CoralLab_WP1.pdf

 

I already have the ultimate light with my custom ATI Powermodule. If I were to go LED only I would pick up a Philips CoralCare.