Looking for lighting similar to Neptune Sky

drkcurrent · Nov 25, 2024

Hey all,

I am in the process of putting together a 48" tank and I'm stuck on lights. I had both radions and the sky in the past. I liked the sky more cause it produced a normal natural color is light. My system is in our living room so avoiding that blue light is key. I'm okay to sacrifice some par and growth to get a better looking like.

What is the current best option to produce a natural sun light? Hybrid led+t5s? ATI straton?

Thanks

bobnicaragua · Nov 25, 2024

Closest thing to natural sunlight is halides. I still use them, corals tend to do very well under them.

T5 and LED hybrid is a great option and hard to go wrong with.

The Straton is a good light, but you are going to pay for it.

I have a canopy. That means I can run any lights I want with no light spillage or mounting issues.

drkcurrent · Nov 25, 2024

Thank you! I'll look at some halides.

rtparty · Nov 25, 2024

Radion Pros go far more white than the Sky.

Stratons work

The new Nicrew Gen 2 can go pretty darn white

Philips Coral Care is nice if you can handle the weight. The Sky was modeled after them

drkcurrent · Nov 25, 2024

rtparty said:
Radion Pros go far more white than the Sky.

Stratons work

The new Nicrew Gen 2 can go pretty darn white

Philips Coral Care is nice if you can handle the weight. The Sky was modeled after them

Good to know about the pros.

Bruttall · Nov 25, 2024

It sounds like you are looking for about a 10,000 kelvin temperature spectrum, or white light.
Allow me to suggest Reefi Labs Uno 2.1 lights, they are HALF the price of Radion or Sky, have more channels, more wattage output and a longer warranty 3 year. Customer support is also the best I have ever seen, anywhere.

I found this setting posted by Dana Riddle from his testing of the Reefi's.
To make a long story short, it is quite possible to create a light with an approximate 10,000K rating. Many roads lead to Rome when attempting to spectral tune lighting, but these setting on the Uno achieved 10,617K:
Cool White, Warm White, Amber and Lime all at 100%; Blue @15%; Royal Blue @ 36%; Violet and 420nm #18%; 400nm @ 21%. Visually, the light was a crisp white light.

ReeFi LED Uno - Testing Soon

I received a ReeFi Uno LED luminaire for testing. Hope to get started late Tuesday or Wednesday. Photo taken at ISO 100, f/32 and 1/4000th second.

www.reef2reef.com

Master slider on bottom allows you to set the channels to the desired spectrum, then adjust intensity with Master to achieve the Par you want. This is the peak setting I use on my mixed reef.

I have mine 12 inches above the water using 90 degree reeflectors, peak is 106 watts in 27inches of water 50 to 80 par on my sand bed. 127 watts was 100 par on sand.

I'd also suggest using a par meter to set these up. They are powerful extremely well built lights.