Master Spread - The Secret to Mimicking the Sun and Sky with Your Reef Tank Lighting!

Last week we introduced the three concepts to mastering your reef tank lights. Today we dive into that first concept of Mastering Light Spread. To understand how to master light spread we first need to understand the three different light types: Spotlights, Soft Flood Lights and Soft Diffused Lights!
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The content contained in this video is general information on the topic and should not be relied upon as your sole source of information or safety advice for this project or topic. Each product or situation is different and has its own concerns related to successful completion and safety that must be fully researched by the individual considering the project or product.
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[@BRStv]

What type of light do you have? Spot Light; Soft Flood Light; or Soft Diffused Light? Is it the right tool for your job?

[@Incrediblez420]

I Have a 48" Fluval Aqua Sky 25,000k 35 Watt LED Light, Works great for my needs, has great control over the areas of lighting in the color spectrum. Also comes with some great preset light settings, cost around $250 sadly but good light, only other issue is you need Smart device to control it only. These no on or off switch so you need a phone just to turn it on.

[@marcelrodriguez2067]

4 kessil a360x on my 4ft tank. I didnt add T5 hybrid simply because hanging from ceiling was not a choice for me.

[@ClockworkOuroborous]

Not yet set up, but I bought the Zetlight Pico for my 20g standard. Any chance of an investigate for that one for nano tanks? Or other options you offer for nanos?

[@telegraham]

I’ve enjoyed supplementing LED with LED bars. Orphek, Reef Brite and off brands all make excellent bars to emulate the success of the Blue Plus at a budget for everyone. The same coverage as a T5, less expensive and a higher PAR per wattage ratio. Win, win!

[@cbravo212]

Would love to see you guys do some setup and suggestions on 6 foot tanks with braces to deal with. Great vids as always.

[@JCTReefer]

Mike Ferris you and me both!!!!!!!

[@JCTReefer]

I’ve been using Photon V2’s for almost three years now. Love the lights and customer service. Logan is great to deal with. I’m glad to see y’all are carrying this great fixture now! I would LOVE to see y’all do a video on this fixture!!! Particularly on height and spread. This thing will put out some par I tell ya! Per apogee MQ-510. Best thing I’ve bought since going to leds. A must have for sure. Nice video !!!!!!

[@the.humble.reefer7230]

Great video Ryan, thank you for all you do for our hobby.

[@insanity4224]

Legitimately useful info here :) thanks BRS

[@Tetrastructural]

This is a great series that helps you get the most out of your lighting investment. It's very much appreciated!Also please do an investigates on the Maxspect RSX! I don't have access to a PAR meter so I'm really curious about optimal mounting height.

[@someone6reefs]

Great info 👍🏽

[@anchor4346]

Comparing spacing for tanks other than those you used can be done using a percentage of area covered vs. the new area covered. This is done much easier if the new tank has at least one of the dimensions (depth and/or length and/or height) being the same as the 120. I thin there is an equation for light loss over depth, I just don't remember it at this time.

[@rc2300s2r]

Although i don’t think it would be very practical. I’d like to see a fiber optic set up to harness natural sun and moon light to light a reef tank.

[@williamtaylor7145]

Nothing yet, but listening to you and your BRS team l feel l will make the right choice!?🤔

[@jimmygreenspan8832]

I'm a big fan of LED's. And big wide soft diffused ones. You can't go wrong with that.

[@KlimovArtem1]

I’m using 3 bars of Fluval Marine 3.0 as soft diffuse light and growing everything, including SPS for about 2 years. When I tell any professional, they just laugh, because those light as cheap (relatively) and very few people are using them. But I love them and think they are way underrated. And I’ve switched to them from Kessil...

[@brwaldbaum7284]

Last decade: LEDs offer an unmatched spectrum and will last over 20 years! Today: They're almost as good as T5HOs!

[@BRStv]

Every chance I get I sing the praises of t5's as the gold standard of reefing. The shift to LED's is not made because it is better for the corals. I believe it is largely because no one wants to buy seemingly dated tech with fluorescent tubes which is silly but understandable if you didn't know better.. That said, the lack of shimmer, larger form factor, and limited adjustability means LED's are going to beat T5's in the end. If we approach it right we can get the best of both worlds.

[@brwaldbaum7284]

@@BRStv I was being a bit playful. Hope you didn't take my comment too seriously.

[@BRStv]

LOL, not at all! It's good to get these thoughts out into the world because I'm sure you won't be the only one to come to the same conclusion. :)

[@telegraham]

Bulk Reef Supply ...and Ryan said it. T5s are a great option for the budget conscious reefer. We all can’t start with the best LEDs have to offer. Right tool for the right job with the right budget. 👍

[@photographyinflight4183]

​@@telegrahamWhy would you want to spend more on an inferior product 🤔

[@leonardbarron6967]

I want to set up a 75 gallon tank with softies, maco algae , and sea grass, with a sand substrate, With the various sea grass's in the rear of the tank behind live rock reef. I was thinking about a 6 bulb t-5 light fixture, using your set up in your video " The best light testing performance so far ? What makes t-5 reef light " using your set up 4 blue pluses, a coral plus, and true actinic, but replacing the rear blue pluses bulb with a a full spectrum plant light, would this over power these bulb combo's or make the par too high ? Any help would be appreciated. Leonard Barron

[@abh3960]

I have the remote controlled relassy led. 20 gallon and 45 gallon 35x18x14. Mixed reef lps sps. Where should I put my light.

[@williamtaylor7145]

I'm leaning towards the AI prime 16 hd,l have a 60 gallon cube

[@anchor4346]

SPS .. I look at dimmable T5 with LED.. Can have shadows if you want them but can fill in shadows progressively as needed with T5's. Helps stop that STN at the base as the coral ages some..

[@tomg5405]

You find?

[@lagoonreef]

Lagoon style aquarium are always easy to light up

[@FireRuby999]

What's recommended or best option for a tank with a lid and a support brace down the middle top 36gal bow front aquarium. Width 16" length 30"

[@BRStv]

If you have a center brace and are going LED, just try to get an even amount of fixtures so that you're not placing one fixture directly above the center brace. For a 30" long tank, two AI Primes would be an awesome lighting solution, for example.

[@davidling3821]

Would like to know. I have a 36L X 18W X 16D .I'm using the Orphek Atlantik V4 Gen2 which is 24" long. I have the lights mounted 16" above the water.Watching the video talking about spread. This light should do the job correct ? Spread and par ? I'm hoping that I wouldn't need any other type of lighting to assist to do this. Any thoughts ? Thanks. BTW. I have the power setting to what Randy recommend ,ch's 1,2,3 @100% ch. 4 @25 %

[@BRStv]

I agree, I would expect this light alone to to the job for just about any coral that you'd want to keep, especially since your tank is on the shallower side at 16" tall.

[@michaelmercer782]

I have an ai sol blue and I am curious if it is considered a spotlight? I have it all the way down to 6% whites 15% blue and 22% royal blue and it still seems to be to much mounted at 12 inches abound the water

[@BRStv]

My guess is that yes it will likely be a spotlight, but the way to get more spread from a spotlight is to move it higher off the water much like you have done. :)

[@mattc8163]

Currently using 2 AI Prime 16hd's with the aquatic life t5 hybrid

[@reefermadness4891]

I have the 48" aquatic life paired with 2 radion g5 xr15. Over a standard 120g 48" × 24" × 24"

[@marcelrodriguez2067]

Im currently using 4 kessil a360x on my 4ft tank and had to reduce the lights to %60 intensity since i was getting over 400 PAR on the upper rockwork. Is this enough spread for my tank though?

[@BRStv]

(4x) A360X are exactly what we recommend for a 4ft SPS dominated system. This video should help! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKOonYKimLWgb6c

[@scotthansen4156]

Hey Ryan, I’m thinking of keeping alot of softies,zoas,mushrooms,encrusting monties.what do you recommend for lighting?

[@BRStv]

That will depend greatly on your tank dimensions. For example, if you have a taller tank, you may need a more powerful light vs a tank that is only 12" or so tall. If you want, send us an email with your tank dimensions and a reefing expert will reply with some lighting recommendations/links 🙂

[@alansills2213]

What are those awesome pink fish with the spots and yellow belly? Some sort of hawkfish?

[@BRStv]

Is there a particular time stamp in the video that you're referring to?

[@chucfig3843]

Perpendicular or series /

[@AlphaOmega-vr8ee]

Great vid but where’s the mention of the Reefleds from Red Sea?

[@jbh613b]

Ive been wondering the same thing. On paper the Reefleds (especially the 90s) seem to stand up against their more expensive favorite, the Kessil, and yet it never gets the attention. There must be a reason but I can never figure out why.

[@AlphaOmega-vr8ee]

And the 50s are really comparable to the AI Primes and Kessil 160s.

[@Jason-pt3gw]

I see you guys are selling Reef Breeders Photon V2+ lights. Are you going to do a BRS lighting video on these?

[@JCTReefer]

Kyle are you serious??? I’ve been running a V2 for almost three years. Love the light!!! About to upgrade to the V2+ for my new build. I would love to see them do a video on them. I’m going straight to the website right now. Had no idea they were selling them.

[@BRStv]

We certainly will before too long. We have a laundry list of lights to do, so it may be a month or so before we can get to these new lights.

[@Jason-pt3gw]

@@JCTReefer I've had mine for almost 2 years. I got the V2+ right when they came out. Stoked to see them on BRS.

[@donalddefeojr776]

2 hydra hd32’s Over 120 gallon reef

[@pp4009]

6:00 what kind of lamp is used in the tank?

[@BRStv]

That is a stock photo we used for the video, but based on the visuals, my best guess would be some sort of metal halide fixture, which provides very even coverage like Ryan was discussing at that point in the video 🙂

[@tomg5405]

We need cheap options not only the expensive one. They are good results also with cheap black boxes

[@cagive24]

How come never included the red sea 90 light in these tests ? They are a great light

[@BRStv]

We have a ReefLED90 video already on the channel if you wanted to check that out :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2TKeqCqar-ia7c

[@balkin33]

​Gotta get the RMS changed to be adjustable!! Up to at least 12 inches!!

[@BRStv]

For those with G4's we've certainly seen that optimal height is above the fixed 8-9"inches of the RMS. Gen5's do best at 8" or exactly at the RMS height!

[@balkin33]

@@BRStv I know it's just a shame it's not adjustable for the older models, knowing what we now know!!

[@joshuabarnard7548]

Must.... resist.... tweaking.... lights.... AGAIN.....

[@DavidDavis311]

T5 lighting just looks better and is easy on the eyes.

[@julianprevallet8459]

Most people think you have to replace T5 bulbs every 6 months. Well made T5s will last 5,000/ 6,000 hrs. That's every 2 years at 8hrs a day before you need to replace them for spectrum. Some LEDs are just too expensive for something that will be outclassed in 5 years. The hybrid is the future!

[@BRStv]

Hopefully reefers aren't changing out their bulbs that soon, especially after this Investigates that showed minimal efficiency loss until 1.5yrs or more. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqewg559j9RjrK8

[@romansreef6192]

Still looking for the right light

[@lagoonreef]

T5 is go to

[@romansreef6192]

Ya I bought the popbloom not happy

[@TechGuy42ilm]

Get radion and look no further

[@romansreef6192]

Thank you

[@istandwithisreal8883]

Dammit I have a Zoom class at 1:00

[@avishvohra3057]

multitasking XD

[@photographyinflight4183]

Maybe it's just me, but it's almost like Ryan is speaking in code sometimes. His choice of words strung together seems very disjointed and ambiguous at times. Love his enthusiasm though, I'll keep watching of course. Reef on!

[@Keepingitreal123]

85% of energy *

[@tippin.turtle]

This video is for all of you who have been taken advantage by the reef LED lighting industry.

[@andycx2]

Why pay all that extra money for LED when on a larger tank T5's are clearly the best.

[@tomg5405]

But they use more electricity?

[@davidling3821]

LED's last much longer without color shift unlike T5's which have to be replaced regularly adding to the cost over time. In the long run the T5's may end costing more due using more electricity and bulb replacement.

[@simonmakin65]

Love the vids but he sounds so different.. cant get used to it 😭😭

[@tippin.turtle]

Sorry gang...your $800.00 dollar LED's suck!