Help me choose new lighting!!

Tammie Hinkle

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Hi all! This is my first post although I have been "lurking & learning" for well over a year.

Our backstory...we purchased a 5yr old, 90gal, existing tank setup over a year ago and have been learning and having fun! The light that came with the setup is breaking(now requires a daily beating ;-)) and my husband has been bugging me to switch to LED anyway, so it's time.

What lighting do you suggest? For our budget, we would like to spend under $3-500(we would rather be under $300, but also understand that sometimes you have to pay for a quality product).

I was planning on just picking one, however it is likely better to ask for suggestions to avoid making a costly mistake(costly more in inhabitant damage than in lighting cost).

We would like it to be able to support all types of corals.

Thanks so much for any input!!
 

Mandrew

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For the budget it would go with a black box LED off eBay. Usually they're $90-120 each and you should run 2 on a tank that size. I've heard good things about SB reef lights which is basically a black box led but with a "better" spectrum for coral growth.
 
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Tammie Hinkle

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Am I not budgeting enough?

If we need to spend more, I am not at all opposed. Basically I want a solid, mid-level light(my oldest daughter will be going to college in 1-1/2yrs , leaving me with the aquarium for 5-6yrs & I am tech adverse...so by middle of the road I mean good, solid light without the tech...or at least with idiot proof tech...in most products, this usually means mid-pricepoint).

After looking at dr foster & smith, I assumed $3-500 would get me where I wanted to be, but I could be terribly wrong; afterall, the numerous choices had my head spinning & left me wanting to continue to beat my light ;-)

I really appreciate the guidance!!
 

MaiReef

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Aquatic Life 46" XS-UV series for $399 is much better than the SB reef lights imo. It is a more refined system with full programmable light control. It even has moon phase, storm and cloud settings. Check it out for yourself at their site.
 

Nick92515

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Mars aqua from ebay, tons of info on them, about $180 for the pair of 165w.
 
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Tammie Hinkle

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Thank you for all of the input, many great choices to look into!!

I had already looked at the aquaticlife edge(was my top contender before I decided to ask for advice because I was scared of picking wrong & killing off the tank...sb reef wifi was my second choice, but I was worried it would be too complicated for me-especially as time goes on(I have MS & while mine is more physical(pain, spasms, & loss of movement), I know I won't completely be able to escape the mental side)), however the sale price on the xs-uv makes that a far better choice(basically twice the price as the edge & the same as the sb with many additional benefits...including that my daughter can make it complicated for her & she can make it simple for me :))

Y'all don't know how much I appreciate the help, by buying an existing system, I loved that we had to make no decisions & do no research on equipment, just the inhabitants & supplements(it's much less overwhelming that way!! Baby steps!!)...until something decided to break. &for some reason this just seemed an overwhelming decision with dire consequences if I chose wrong(it's likely not as complicated as I made it, but it seemed huge). So I truly thank everyone for their help!!
 

AK_Reef

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Aquatic Life 46" XS-UV series for $399 is much better than the SB reef lights imo. It is a more refined system with full programmable light control. It even has moon phase, storm and cloud settings. Check it out for yourself at their site.

I had the aquatic life 46" light over my 100g cadlights for about a year and a half. It was honestly the best led light I've owned. I currently have four xr30 pro radions over my tank and the shadowing and disco ball is far worse than my aquatic life was. I also had better sps growth with the xs-uv. It's a steal at 399, it's a steal at 699(what I paid) and it's was worth 1200 at full retail in my opinion. I'm now going to a nanobox ati t5/led hybrid and selling my radions but the hybrid would definitely be more than the 500.00 budget you've set. Here's an old pic of my tank with the aquatic life:
IMG_0855.JPG
 
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