refugium lighting for corals

LPS, SPS and all coral chat
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Lumia
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:41 am

refugium lighting for corals

Post by Lumia »

I'm setting up a refugium for my 40-gallon tank and wanna know what lighting works best for corals. Got some Zoanthids and a few softies, but they're not thriving. Heard mixed things about LED vs. T5. What's your take?
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luckycharm
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Re: refugium lighting for corals

Post by luckycharm »

LEDs are the way to go if you're aiming for efficiency and control. I've been running a Kessil A360X over my refugium, and my corals are popping. Just make sure you dial in the spectrum, around 14K works wonders for Zoas.
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Kaido
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Re: refugium lighting for corals

Post by Kaido »

T5s can be solid too, especially if you're on a budget. I've got a four-bulb fixture over my 30-gallon refugium, and the growth's been steady. Just replace the bulbs every 8-10 months, or they lose their punch.
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fishing
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Re: refugium lighting for corals

Post by fishing »

I agree with luckycharm. LEDs are easier to manage, and you can tweak the settings without swapping bulbs. Plus, they run cooler, which helps with tank temp stability.
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tidesound
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Re: refugium lighting for corals

Post by tidesound »

luckycharm wrote: ↑Fri Jul 25, 2025 12:29 am LEDs are the way to go if you're aiming for efficiency and control. I've been running a Kessil A360X over my refugium, and my corals are popping. Just make sure you dial in the spectrum, around 14K works wonders for Zoas.
Yeah, but don't sleep on hybrid setups. I run LEDs for the day cycle and toss in a T5 actinic for dusk/dawn. Gives the best of both worlds.
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learns
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Re: refugium lighting for corals

Post by learns »

Has anyone tried the AI Prime for refugiums? I'm curious if it's strong enough for SPS. My tank's a 50-gallon mixed reef, and I'm debating between that and a Radion.
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flint
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Re: refugium lighting for corals

Post by flint »

AI Prime's decent for softies and LPS, but if you're gonna mess with SPS, you might wanna step up to something beefier. Radion's got the juice, but it's pricey.
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Lumia
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Re: refugium lighting for corals

Post by Lumia »

Thanks for the input, everyone. Gonna start with LEDs and see how they respond. Appreciate the advice!
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luckycharm
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Re: refugium lighting for corals

Post by luckycharm »

No prob! Keep us posted on how it goes. And if you hit any snags, we're here to help.
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tidesound
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Joined: Fri May 10, 2024 11:17 pm

Re: refugium lighting for corals

Post by tidesound »

flint wrote: ↑Fri Jul 25, 2025 4:14 am AI Prime's decent for softies and LPS, but if you're gonna mess with SPS, you might wanna step up to something beefier. Radion's got the juice, but it's pricey.
True, but you can always add a second Prime if you're not ready to drop cash on a Radion. Two Primes can cover a 50-gallon pretty well.
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