Help with Lighting for a Red Sea Reefer 425xl

Voodoojar · 10/29/2016, 04:17 AM

I'm picking up my Reefer 425 today and I'm second guessing my lighting. The tank is going to be a mix of LPS, SPS and soft. Over my current tank (40g 36x16x16 I'm using a Giesemann Matrix 2 4x39w dimmable and plan to transfer it. I'm going to move all my creatures from my current tank to the new one so I want to get the lighting right right off the bat.

Will it provide sufficient light or do I need to upgrade to something more powerful? I know I should check PAR but I don't have the tank yet so...

Ron Reefman · 10/29/2016, 09:20 AM

The new tank is longer and deeper than your current tank. If your old light covered end to end OK, it's probably going to be close at worst and likely OK with just 6" more tank at each end. The difference of 16" deep and 20" deep may be a bigger issue with sps corals. Do you know what your PAR was at the bottom of the 16" deep tank with this fixture?

Voodoojar · 10/29/2016, 11:01 AM

Par is 150 at 16". With the light at 100%

Ron Reefman · 10/30/2016, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoojar

Par is 150 at 16". With the light at 100%

Being at 100% doesn't leave you with a lot of room to maneuver. PAR of 150 is good at 16", at 20" it will be a bit less. Corals will probably adapt, especially if they are zoas, softies or easy LPS. SPS probably won't be happy down near the bottom.

ktownhero · 10/30/2016, 06:26 AM

I have an AP700 for my 425xl

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

ReefCowboy · 10/30/2016, 08:17 AM

If you want to stick to T5's would get an ATI 48" 6 bulb. The par on the Matrix is known to be on the lower end, compared to ATI's.

10/29/2016, 04:17 AM	#1
Voodoojar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 123	Help with Lighting for a Red Sea Reefer 425xl I'm picking up my Reefer 425 today and I'm second guessing my lighting. The tank is going to be a mix of LPS, SPS and soft. Over my current tank (40g 36x16x16 I'm using a Giesemann Matrix 2 4x39w dimmable and plan to transfer it. I'm going to move all my creatures from my current tank to the new one so I want to get the lighting right right off the bat. Will it provide sufficient light or do I need to upgrade to something more powerful? I know I should check PAR but I don't have the tank yet so...

10/29/2016, 09:20 AM	#2
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	The new tank is longer and deeper than your current tank. If your old light covered end to end OK, it's probably going to be close at worst and likely OK with just 6" more tank at each end. The difference of 16" deep and 20" deep may be a bigger issue with sps corals. Do you know what your PAR was at the bottom of the 16" deep tank with this fixture? __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

10/30/2016, 08:17 AM	#6
ReefCowboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,742	If you want to stick to T5's would get an ATI 48" 6 bulb. The par on the Matrix is known to be on the lower end, compared to ATI's. __________________ Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer

10/29/2016, 11:01 AM	#3
Voodoojar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 123	Par is 150 at 16". With the light at 100%

10/30/2016, 06:26 AM	#5
ktownhero Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,426	I have an AP700 for my 425xl Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk