Dutchymomo Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Hey everyone I´m looking to start up a reef aquarium and have done lots of research. I know bigger tanks are easier to keep parameters stable, but I want a standard 29 gallon tank. I am looking to keep softies to start, but will eventually get lps and maybe some easy sps in like a year depending on my success. I have been thinking about an ocean revive t247 led but was not completely sure. I am trying to keep lighting under $200 and I was going to buy the light on sale so it would be even cheaper. Another great option would be a Mars Aqua LED, but it does not have very many features. For other equipment I will use an... - aqua clear 50 HOB - Chemi pure blue - ehiem jager heater 100 wat - hydor koralia power head 425 gph - BRS reef saver rock - Caribsea live sand Any help, advice, and or recomendations will be greatly appreciated Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Hello and Welcome to nano T5 lighting is very nice but the one down side is bulb replacement every 8-12mnths. That gets costly. Many use the Mars aqua and like it. It's a popular budget light. The dimensions of your tank will also determine the light choice. With some choices in led you would need multiple lights to cover the length. Here are some lights you can look into with various budgets ABI par38 Current Orbit Aquamaxx nemolight Nanobox Aqua illumination Kessil Quote Link to comment
ReefGoat Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Maybe take a look at the Sb Reef lights 16" timer. Powerful light for 200 bucks and it comes with a 2 year USA warranty where you don't have to deal with some shady Ebay or Amazon seller that may or may not even be located in this country and probably won't even email you back on the Mars Aqua. It's not a big fancy light but at 200 bucks I think it's a steal in my opinion. https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-reef-lights/2-sbox-pro-timer.html Quote Link to comment
Dutchymomo Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 Thanks so much I’ll luck into it Quote Link to comment
Dutchymomo Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 I looked into it I think I’ll go with the sBox but I’m gonna wait for a sale Quote Link to comment
ReefGoat Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Yeah just take your time. There are lots of videos on YouTube of people using them and what they look like lit and what not. Like I said.......I wouldn't expect Radion quality. But at 200 bucks for the power that you get in that light plus the warranty. If that's your price range you really can't beat it. I went with the Reef Breeders because I just liked the way it looked more than the Sbox. I did also add on T5 to mine as well though. As far as the sale goes. I wouldn't hold my breath. I never saw the price fluctuate sale wise on the Sb Reef lights in the several months that I was shopping for lighting on the 45 gallon. But black Friday is coming up and they may run one for the holidays. It'd be worth waiting and seeing being that it's so close. Quote Link to comment
specore Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 If you want a higher end light used AI primes pop up fairly often for <$200. Keep an eye on the marketplace forum and you never know what you'll find. 2 Quote Link to comment
specore Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 AI Prime $150 shipped and done. 1 Quote Link to comment
FISHnChix Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 What's a standard 29 gallon tank? I am not familiar with the dimensions? Quote Link to comment
Dutchymomo Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 30 long 18 tall 12 wide all in inches i like the sBox but I’m gonna shop around on eBay and forums looking for tank brake downs and stuff to try and get the best stuff for around $200 could I get away with one AI prime on a 29 gallon Quote Link to comment
FISHnChix Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 3 minutes ago, Dutchymomo said: 30 long 18 tall 12 wide all in inches i like the sBox but I’m gonna shop around on eBay and forums looking for tank brake downs and stuff to try and get the best stuff for around $200 could I get away with one AI prime on a 29 gallon No I dont think so. The tank is too long you would have tons of shadowing on the sides. Maybe if your aquascape allowed you could start with corals in the center and one light and get another down the road.. if you wanted a prime that is.. 2 Quote Link to comment
paulsz Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 8 minutes ago, Dutchymomo said: 30 long 18 tall 12 wide all in inches i like the sBox but I’m gonna shop around on eBay and forums looking for tank brake downs and stuff to try and get the best stuff for around $200 could I get away with one AI prime on a 29 gallon I have the AI prime hd over a 35gallon cube (20" each side) and it's doing okay for softies but there is shadowing near the ends. So for a 30" long tank, you'd definitely wouldn't be able to just have one AI. Like Weikel said, maybe you can buy one for now and keep the rocks simple and closer to the center (by center, i'd say leave 5" on each end empty, as they won't receive much light). Then down the road you can get a second light. Quote Link to comment
Dutchymomo Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 Ok cool I´ll probably get the sBox then it looks good and I think it would work great. Thank you everyone for your help and I will eventually make a build thread, but I don´t think I will build till After christmas because of both Black Friday and New Years day sales Quote Link to comment
specore Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 36 minutes ago, Weikel said: No I dont think so. The tank is too long you would have tons of shadowing on the sides. Maybe if your aquascape allowed you could start with corals in the center and one light and get another down the road.. if you wanted a prime that is.. Probably right. I didn't realize a standard 29 was so long Quote Link to comment
FISHnChix Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Just now, specore said: Probably right. I didn't realize a standard 29 was so long Yea I never heard of a 29 tank like that I was thinking a biocube at first lol Quote Link to comment
MrObscura Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Your post sound very very similar to my thought process originally. Budget lighting, softie and Lps with maybe an "easy" sps or two down the road. We'll, that lasted all of two minutes. Lol I went for an ai prime. It's 200 bucks but a hell of a deal. You get a strong light with great control. Don't skimp on lighting. Just get the prime. In the long run your better off and if things go anything like they did with me you'll have plenty of sps within a couple months. 😁 Just keep higher light corals towards the middle, Lps and softies will be fine in the shader areas. The very edges just might look rather dim to the eye though at 30 inches long. Quote Link to comment
ReefGoat Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 The problem with one AI prime is that it's like a spot light in a bigger tank. He'd need 2 AI primes with the width and depth of that tank. Which after mounting options he's closer to 500 bucks. That Sb Reef light may not have all the bells and whistles but it is very powerful don't kid yourself. It's probably just as or likely more powerful than one AI prime. It just doesn't have all the pretty bells and whistles 1 Quote Link to comment
MrObscura Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Yea he'd need 2 to completely light the tank for sps. But I'd bet one would be just fine for most softies and Lps throughout the tank except for perhaps the very edges. It really depends on what he want to accomplish with the tank long term. Which like I said is hard to know early in the planning stages. 1 Quote Link to comment
ReefGoat Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Yeah I agree. My budget for lighting on the 45g shallow was around 500 bucks. I found it super hard to get full length coverage with that budget on a 3ft tank. After like a month of scouring the internet I finally landed on the 24" Reef Breeders after finding out that's what Adam from Battle Corals uses in his grow tanks. I figured if they were good enough for him to use on his systems. Then they're good enough for me LOL. But the catch was that I wanted a T5/LED hybrid. My heart wanted the Nanobox/ATI hybrid but my wallet didn't lol. I ended with a DIY hybrid setup that I think came out looking pretty suave. You can check it out on my journal thread because i'm not going to post my pictures here in his thread lol. Right now I'm just using some cheap T5 fixutres for a trial run. Eventually they will be the Reef Brite supra slim lines. In the event that I ever have a spare 1200 bucks laying around. I'll probably spring for the Nanobox/ATI. 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 3 hours ago, Dutchymomo said: 30 long 18 tall 12 wide all in inches i like the sBox but I’m gonna shop around on eBay and forums looking for tank brake downs and stuff to try and get the best stuff for around $200 could I get away with one AI prime on a 29 gallon No. The longest is 24", after that you will have significant shadowing on the sides. You would have to aquascape and plan all low light corals outside of the 24" area. You would need 2 Ai Primes for full coverage on 30" long. If you want full coverage but not breaking the bank. Current Orbit Or Aquamaxx nemolight, or the light that @ReefGoat suggested Quote Link to comment
Dutchymomo Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 I could get one AI prime to start then eventually get a second and just not get to many high light corals and start off with softies only. Would that work? Could I make an island aquascape in the middle of the tank and have a smaller island off to the side? I think it would work but the rock work would not have very much depth or originality. Quote Link to comment
Dutchymomo Posted October 31, 2018 Author Share Posted October 31, 2018 I have finally settled on an SBreeflight Im going to get the 16 inch one and should get good coverage based on my research. Cant wait to get my first reef. 1 Quote Link to comment
ReefGoat Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 I think you'll be satisfied. With your budget, your options are pretty limited for new lighting on that sized tank. You would have more options with used lighting. But you always run the risk of buying someone else's problems or shoddy broken equipment. That light you're getting is MORE than powerful enough to keep any coral you want down the road. Quote Link to comment
Dutchymomo Posted October 31, 2018 Author Share Posted October 31, 2018 Thank you so much! I know you have been following my post and have helped a ton. Thank you 1 Quote Link to comment
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