LED Lighting for a JBJ 30 Gallon Rimless

AquaBogie · 10/19/2013, 03:51 PM

I am a real noob when it comes to Saltwater, I have a TON to learn. I just bought the JBJ 30 Gallon Rimless/Stand combo. Getting some Live Rock and sand and doing the cycle. I have not bought lights and have been torn.
I would like to be able to have the option to grow anything I want in the tank within reason coral wise. Some obviously would just be too large to do. But SPS, LPS, etc all of them.But at the same time I like the nice sunrise/sunset effects.

Can anyone make some recommendations on a good light set up, and controller to use? As it seems really difficult to find a good review site as well. I was looking at the Kessil A360W or the Aquaillumination Hydra. But the only controller I can find is the Apex system, any help would be extremely appreciated.

nanoreefer1000 · 10/19/2013, 04:27 PM

Look into Maxspect fixtures, Reefbreeders, and DIY

Wmich2008 · 10/19/2013, 04:35 PM

What is your lighting budget? Depending on how far into your cycle you are you could always look at the hydra 52.

zombiereefer · 10/19/2013, 08:22 PM

i have a 120w 16k maxspect razor on my 45 gal rimless cube. i love it. im growing multiple sps in the sand. 30" from the light at 65%. its a great light and a great starter led fixture. there isnt as much control as some of the other fixtures but its enough and they are cheap 420$ very much worth it.

AquaBogie · 10/19/2013, 08:55 PM

Sweet thanks guys, going to look into these. I may have more questions later lol

AquaBogie · 10/20/2013, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmich2008

What is your lighting budget? Depending on how far into your cycle you are you could always look at the hydra 52.

I haven't started my cycle yet, I get the tank this week. I have around 5-700, my problem is I still don't know if I can get sunrise/sunset with any of these lights. Also for the Hydra52 I read the controller is terrible....

I want to make sure I do this right and get a light I can grow into, so price I can work with. But I also would like to avoid having to hang anything from the ceiling.

nanoreefer1000 · 10/20/2013, 12:39 PM

sOME diy'S, Reefbreeders Photon, and Razor do dawn/dusk

AquaBogie · 10/21/2013, 10:26 AM

Going to have to do research today and tomorrow, to see what looks best.

solitude127 · 10/21/2013, 01:22 PM

Can you hang the light or does the fixture need legs to rest on the tank? I have the same tank and am using the Aquaticlife 24" 36w fixture. It does great for LPS and Softies and if I keep the SPS up top, it'll keep them happy too. I didn't have the option to hang the light, but if I did, I probably would have went with AI

AquaBogie · 10/23/2013, 01:36 AM

Technically I could hang the light, at my current residence. But it's a rental and I am not confident I will always have that capability... I could do a fixture if I could find one. I think the biggest problem for me is there is soo much more information for Saltwater than there is for Freshwater, so I am getting a bit overwhelmed at the moment.

I work part time for a fish store in town just started a month ago so I can get discounts on my hobby and make a little extra cash. All of the tanks I clean that have the AI controller's are just terrible. Not durable, cheap, disconnect from the system regularly. We have to reset the one at a big restaurant every time we go to clean. They look great, but if I go with AI I would have to probably go with an apex controller as I really don't like the AI controllers... Again just too much choice and I hear different things from different people.

My store owner hates AI lights he loves Kessil, but again still no controller. I like to minimize how much stuff I have to maintain as I want to focus on the tank and only have to tweak the lights but not worry about turning them on at random times as my work schedule is 9am on monday-friday and 6 am sat and sunday so ... turning the lights on at 6 isn't ideal. My freshwater fish skip morning food on the weekends so I don't shock them with lights at 6am. I still feel lost, and I really want something that I can grow into so if I wanted to grow the SPS or other corals I would have the lighting for it... I don't want to spend 4-500 now and have to replace it in 6 months because I want to grow some Acropora corals... anyways sorry for my rant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by solitude127

Can you hang the light or does the fixture need legs to rest on the tank? I have the same tank and am using the Aquaticlife 24" 36w fixture. It does great for LPS and Softies and if I keep the SPS up top, it'll keep them happy too. I didn't have the option to hang the light, but if I did, I probably would have went with AI

10/19/2013, 03:51 PM	#1
AquaBogie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 50	LED Lighting for a JBJ 30 Gallon Rimless I am a real noob when it comes to Saltwater, I have a TON to learn. I just bought the JBJ 30 Gallon Rimless/Stand combo. Getting some Live Rock and sand and doing the cycle. I have not bought lights and have been torn. I would like to be able to have the option to grow anything I want in the tank within reason coral wise. Some obviously would just be too large to do. But SPS, LPS, etc all of them.But at the same time I like the nice sunrise/sunset effects. Can anyone make some recommendations on a good light set up, and controller to use? As it seems really difficult to find a good review site as well. I was looking at the Kessil A360W or the Aquaillumination Hydra. But the only controller I can find is the Apex system, any help would be extremely appreciated.

10/19/2013, 04:27 PM	#2
nanoreefer1000 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bay Area,CA Posts: 1,040	Look into Maxspect fixtures, Reefbreeders, and DIY __________________ 6 gallon reef

10/20/2013, 12:39 PM	#7
nanoreefer1000 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bay Area,CA Posts: 1,040	sOME diy'S, Reefbreeders Photon, and Razor do dawn/dusk __________________ 6 gallon reef

10/21/2013, 01:22 PM	#9
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	Can you hang the light or does the fixture need legs to rest on the tank? I have the same tank and am using the Aquaticlife 24" 36w fixture. It does great for LPS and Softies and if I keep the SPS up top, it'll keep them happy too. I didn't have the option to hang the light, but if I did, I probably would have went with AI __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

10/19/2013, 04:35 PM	#3
Wmich2008 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Battle creek Michigan Posts: 536	What is your lighting budget? Depending on how far into your cycle you are you could always look at the hydra 52.

10/19/2013, 08:22 PM	#4
zombiereefer Moved On Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Springfield, IL Posts: 159	i have a 120w 16k maxspect razor on my 45 gal rimless cube. i love it. im growing multiple sps in the sand. 30" from the light at 65%. its a great light and a great starter led fixture. there isnt as much control as some of the other fixtures but its enough and they are cheap 420$ very much worth it.

10/19/2013, 08:55 PM	#5
AquaBogie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 50	Sweet thanks guys, going to look into these. I may have more questions later lol

10/21/2013, 10:26 AM	#8
AquaBogie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 50	Going to have to do research today and tomorrow, to see what looks best.