Which lights AI Prime16hd reef or AI Hydra 32 for a 40b (1 Viewer)

[H-D-Fatboy-16]

My reef is going to primarily be lps what par numbers am I searching for and can I reach them with a pair of AI prime 16hd's or do I need hydra 32s. Im looking at chalice, Duncan's, torches, trachyphyllia, acans, gsp, blastoes among others.

 

[Coachb1218]

You'll get different PAR numbers from different people.

I do have an opinion on 2 16s vs 1 32. Get the 2 16s. That way if one breaks or quits working for any reason, you still have back up. I MIGHT be talking from recently having to send one of my 16s in to AI after it fell in the water.

 

[H-D-Fatboy-16]

I'm going to have 2 of either. Just not sure which I need

 

[H-D-Fatboy-16]

So what light do I need to run with a dominant lps reef with few sps frags.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

More LEDs is always better with sps for the spread since you can just turn them down if they are too bright. Because of that I'd go with the 32s, but the Primes would probably work just fine, especially with only a few sps. Just put them right under the lights and lps around the edge of the tank and should be nice. Cheaper that way. You could always toss on a 3rd prime later if you thought it wasn't enough.

 

[H-D-Fatboy-16]

Will the par numbers be good at the bottom for lps

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

Will the par numbers be good at the bottom for lps

Hard to say for sure, I haven't tested the numbers in a setup like that but I would think so. I had a single 26 over a 40b a couple years back that grew hammers, acans and blastos quite well. Definitely dark in the corners of the tank though so I kept mostly softies on the bottom. Got a 2nd light and upgraded to a 75 and the two 26s lit that whole tank no problem.

 

[H-D-Fatboy-16]

Well if I can run the lights at less than 15 percent and still have par at the bottom that would be great