Lighting for a reef tank is as important for coral development as sunlight is for us land dwellers. Basically, without quality light sources, your tank is destined for lackluster growth.
Reefers who entered this multidimensional hobby with little knowledge or experience are often shocked to learn about not only the true impact of light, but how many different tank-specific lighting options exist.
If you think lighting an aquarium is as straightforward as choosing bathroom lightbulbs, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you better think again.
Author:
As a lifelong aquarist, Yuliya has an endless curiosity about our underwater universe. After graduating with a bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering, she transformed her passion into a successful career. While working at the Institute of Environmental Protection in Moscow, her passion for saltwater and reef aquariums only increased. Moving to the United States in 2013, Yuliya embarked on another impactful journey by sharing her unprecedented experience for all aquarium hobbyists ... Read More.
Need a crash course in reef tank lighting principles? Check out our guide: Illuminating Reef Tank - Lighting Guide for Beginners.
As you investigate the influence of lighting, you’ll inevitably come across one of the more touchy subjects among aquarists: T5 vs. LED fixtures.
To say reefers are passionate about their lighting source is a massive understatement. This passion is completely understandable. After all, this single element holds the key to stellar coral health.
It’s common to prefer specific lighting types over others, but to create a vibrant tank, the only preferences that matter are those of coral.
Unfortunately, for years it was impossible to completely adhere to coral lighting preferences. However, times have changed. Now, it’s quite possible to perfectly replicate light spectrums within your tank.
Leading this evolution in lighting technology is ATI Sunpower and ReefBrite. Their illuminating partnership offers not only brilliant coral lighting design, but when combined, delivers precise spectral colors for optimum growth.
While the ATI Sunpower T5 is a popular lighting fixture, many reefers desire its robust operation with the efficiency and aesthetic value of LEDs.
Cue hybrid lighting fixtures.
By combining T5 and LED light sources, it’s possible to achieve amazing results. The only problem, they’re expensive.
This is where ReefBrite comes into play. This supplemental light source easily attaches to the ATI Sunpower T5 fixture, which produces the efficiency of hybrid designs without the inefficient price.
Let’s take a moment and explore the ReefBrite XHO light strip and how it impacts the health and beauty of reef tanks.
Leveraging the Old and New - Reef Brite Company Review.
With the tagline, The Professionals Choice, it’s clear ReefBrite isn’t another pop-up aquarium supplier.
Based in Hamilton, New Jersey, Reef Brite is a specialty devision of Illumination Technology. I’m sure it goes without saying, this company specializes in cutting edge lighting systems.
While hobbyists may be unfamiliar with this dynamic lighting manufacturer, the professional world has been treated to their innovative solutions for over a decade. Needless to say, the first rollout of consumer-grade equipment was met with great excitement from throughout the reefing community.
As an experienced reefer, I can’t tell you how many lighting companies I’ve come across during my time. While some were fairly solid options, far more were cheap replicas of professional-grade equipment. Time and again, I witnessed many of my fellow aquarists suffer the consequences of misleading specifications, improper fixture design and inconsistent lighting levels.
Then, there’s ReefBrite.
Throughout my investigation of this lighting manufacturer, I found every product adhered to one major theme: affordable precision.
I’m not the only one who feels this way. In fact, the quality and benefits of the ReefBrite product line is so great, even competitors offer their products.
Ultimately, Reef Brite sets a standard all other tank equipment manufacturers strive to achieve: reliable, affordable and innovative.
The Radiance of Refined Lighting - Reef Brite XHO Review.
As a supplemental lighting unit, Reef Brite XHO delivers precise illumination capable of boosting both visual and biological efficiency. Available in a myriad of size, from 2-inches to a whopping 72-inches, it generates significant lighting energy from its 3-watt LED strips.
While this fixture is most commonly used as a supportive light source, we’ll cover that in a moment. For now, let’s explore the features and functions of the Reef Brite XHO fixture as a standalone unit.
Along with offering a variety of sizes capable of lighting both large aquariums and compact nano reef tanks, this fixture is compatible with almost any size reef tank.
Unless you’ve worked with tank lighting fixtures in the past, you may not know that the actual light source is only half of the equation. The other half is fixture design.
The problem with some lighting systems isn’t the type of light it supports, but how the light is directed.
One of the key elements of a lighting fixture is its reflective technologies. If you’ve ever used a cheap fixture, you’ve likely notice the interior curves surrounding lighting strips is either dull or simply steel.
Without precision-cut backings, it’s impossible to efficiently feed coral the quality and quantity of light needed for optimum growth. Lighting fixtures must capture and redirect light directly into the tank, while also directing heat away from the water.
ReefBrite XHO accomplishes this requirement, and then some. Constructed out of extruded aluminum, this fixture produces a unique rippling, or shimmering, effect. While pretty, the reflection pattern accurately replicates the penetrative effects of natural sunlight.
When combined with its installation flexibility, it’s no surprise ReefBrite XHO Blue LED Strip are quickly becoming a must-have for serious reefers.
Now that we’ve covered its exterior design, what about its LED lights?
Illuminating Your Tank in High Definition - XHO LEDs.
Regardless of your personal goals, all reefers share the same desire: to enjoy perfectly lit environment.
Of course, the term “perfectly lit” means so much more than what you see with your eyes.
The true beauty of aquarium lighting rests in the invisible realm, but we’ll get to that momentarily.
The ReefBrite XHO LED Strip fixture offers three LED strip options, which include:
- Natural Daylight.
- 50/50.
- Actinic Blue.
Deciding which color is best for your tank depends on coral species. For example, ReefHacks uses 2 actinic blue lights strips, which supplements our ATI Sunpower T5 unit, to highlight our SPS coral.
Along with its relatively cool operating temperature, I really appreciate how these lights seem to instantly increase coral details and colors. This is partially due to the natural effects of LEDs, but mostly is attributed to the Reef Brite XHO reflector system. Its optimized design, combined with its low glare rating, delivers high definition illumination.
If you haven’t used quality LED aquarium lights before, get ready to experience your tank like never before.
Can LEDs Support a Reef Tank? A Brief Investigation.
Earlier I mentioned lighting as being a hotly debated topic among reefers. However, it’s not just the generalized topic that’s been responsible for heated discussions on countless forums, but rather, the actual light source.
For years, both novice and experienced aquarists battled it out over whether LEDs could grow corals.
While I’m not here to defend one reefers preference over another, I feel it’s important to reveal what science has to say. From here, the decision to solely use LEDs in your aquarium is up to you.
When identifying ideal lighting options, it’s important to recognize that the spectral needs of coral is directly related to the depth it prefers in the natural world. Interestingly, even similar species that grow at different depths are visually different.
This is because coral use specific pigmentation to absorb maximum light energy. As you dive deeper into water, light availability simultaneously reduces. Therefore, coral native to shallow waters produce pigments designed to minimize zooanthellea algae light absorption. On the other hand, deeper water coral produces a different pigment to maximize light absorption.
Ultimately, the goal when choosing lighting is to provide optimum photosynthesis. Because coral is actually a plant and an animal who exist in one of nature oldest symbiotic relationships, to keep the “animal” alive, you must ensure the “plant” has the perfect amount of light for maximum photosynthesis.
Without diving into extreme detail, the majority of coral thrive on light within the 400 to 500nm range. The key element of healthy light exposure is satisfying the spectral growth requirements of specific coral species, while simultaneously offering an aesthetically pleasing illumination.
LEDs are capable of delivering precise spectral light, without the heat and glare associated with more traditional bulbs. As long as you satisfy the color and spectrum requirements for optimum growth, there’s no reason why an LED-only reef tank won’t blossom with lustrous beauty.
Of course, this now leads us to the meat of this review…
ATI Sunpower T5 + Reef Brite XHO = Unparalleled Results.
Throughout the past several years, as the prevalence of LEDs began to spread within the reefing community, a new trend emerged: hybrid lighting systems.
Essentially, this concept combines both T5 and LED bulbs to provide unparalleled growth and beauty.
Hybrid T5 and LED fixtures are among the hottest trends in reef tank lighting, but there’s a serious problem: it’s expensive!
While some reefers find the use of two different light sources unnecessary, in reality, it’s as if you’re taking the best qualities of two worlds and combining them into one epic universe.
Long held as the pinnacle of reef tank lighting, T5 fixtures offer spectral precision and flexibility without overheating. For many beginners, T5 lights tend to be their first choice.
Although the use of LEDs in reef tanks is relatively new, its impact on coral growth and tank aesthetics has elevated these bulbs to mainstream status faster than previous lighting innovations.
Perhaps the most noteworthy benefit of LEDs is its unique level of spectrum flexibility. Unlike other lighting fixtures, it’s possible to refine spectra options and light intensity without increasing water temperature.
As our understanding of lighting and coral grows, so does the number of lighting options. Currently, hybrid lighting kits are dominating the reefing community. These configurations combine the efficiency and precision of LEDs, with the robust illumination and ease of T5 fixtures.
This is where ReefBrite XHO comes into play. Due to its installation flexibility, and broad compatibility with other lighting systems, it’s become a popular option for those looking to enjoy the benefits of hybrid lighting without the cost.
In fact, the use and efficiency of ReefBrite XHO has made its way into other businesses. Trusted tank lighting manufacturer, ATI Sunpower, and ReefBrite understood the positive effects of using their products together. From this understanding, a friendship blossomed and now both lighting companies support this efficient union.
Ultimately, if you’re searching for a cost-effective solution for hybrid reef tank lighting, you should absolutely investigate this epic combination.
The Shining Brilliance of Perfected Lighting - Final Thoughts.
Overall, ReefBrite XHO Blue LED strip is among the rarest tank lighting fixtures. Not because it delivers otherworldly options, but because of its stability, reliability and flexibility.
Whether you’re just starting out as a reefer or are an accomplished aquarist, Reef Brite XHO can elevate the look, health and longevity of your reef tank.
What’s your experience with LED aquarium lighting? Have you considered upgrading to a hybrid solution? Visit our Facebook page and send us a message with your thoughts, questions or comments. As always, the Reef Hacks team is here to hep navigate you throughout the watery world of reefing!
Until next time, Happy Reefing!
by Yuliya Ivanova for ReefHacks.