What matters with LED lighting for a saltwater aquarium?
When choosing a marine LED, people often look at the wattage first. However, power alone does not tell you whether a light is correctly sized for a particular reef aquarium.
Besides the aquarium length, tank width, water depth, reef structure and coral stocking play a particularly important role.
A narrow reef aquarium with mainly LPS corals places different demands on lighting than a wide aquarium densely stocked with SPS. That is why reef lighting should always be planned for the specific tank.
Remember: the highest wattage is not automatically the best solution. What matters is how well the light is distributed across the reef structure you actually use.
aquaBAR Gen4 Reef for LPS corals
LPS corals such as Euphyllia, Goniopora, Micromussa, Acanthophyllia or Trachyphyllia may prefer different light conditions depending on species and placement.
For LPS and mixed reef aquariums, aquaLEDs specifies a tank width of up to approx. 65 cm for a single aquaBAR Gen4 Reef.
If two fixtures are used, the manufacturer specifies a tank width of up to approx. 90 cm.
The actual settings and positioning should nevertheless always be adapted to the corals you keep, the water depth and your individual aquascape.
aquaBAR Gen4 Reef for SPS corals
In an SPS-dominated reef aquarium, the demands on lighting planning often increase considerably.
Especially with larger Acropora and Montipora colonies, you need to bear in mind that the corals can shade each other as they grow.
For SPS aquariums, aquaLEDs specifies a tank width of up to approx. 50 cm for a single aquaBAR.
When using two aquaBAR fixtures, up to approx. 75 cm tank width is specified.
With SPS in particular, you should therefore not choose based on maximum power alone. Suitable light distribution across the entire reef is just as important.
One or two aquaBARs over the reef aquarium?
Whether one or several fixtures make sense does not depend on the size of the aquarium alone. The tank width and the structure of the reef in particular influence the angles from which the light reaches the corals.
In a narrower aquarium, a single, correctly sized aquaBAR can be sufficient. As tank width increases, a second fixture can make sense to reach the front and back of the reef from different directions.
This becomes particularly relevant as larger coral colonies develop and certain areas of the reef become increasingly shaded.
Which aquaBAR Gen4 Reef size do I need?
The aquaBAR Gen4 Reef is available in eight sizes. The range extends from the aquaBAR30 with 30 watts and 35 cm length to the aquaBAR240 with 240 watts and 215 cm length.
The fixture length should not automatically be equated with the aquarium length. An aquarium must always be considered as a complete system.
To choose, you should know at least the aquarium length, width, height or water depth, aquascape and coral stocking.
If you are unsure about the size, just tell us your tank dimensions and livestock. We will help you choose a suitable aquaBAR configuration for your reef aquarium.
Wi-Fi control and automated daily cycle
The aquaBAR Gen4 Reef comes with a Wi-Fi controller that lets you control the light cycle, so the lighting can be automated throughout the day.
Instead of switching the aquarium lighting straight on in the morning and off again in the evening, you can create different phases of the day – from sunrise through the main lighting period to sunset and moonlight.
This lets you set up a repeatable lighting schedule without having to switch the reef lighting on and off manually every day.
Why light distribution in the reef aquarium is crucial
When planning coral lighting, you should not only look at how much power is installed above the aquarium. Ultimately, what matters is how the light reaches the different areas of the reef.
An open aquascape behaves differently from a densely built aquarium with large coral colonies. As corals grow, additional shaded areas can develop.
That is why it can make sense to light a reef not simply more strongly, but from several directions. This is exactly where you need to distinguish between pure light output and actual light distribution.
aquaLEDs aquaBAR Gen4 Reef at Premium Reefing
At Premium Reefing you can get the aquaLEDs aquaBAR Gen4 Reef in different lengths and power levels for saltwater and reef aquariums.
Instead of choosing the lighting purely by wattage, we recommend sizing it based on your actual aquarium. That way, tank size, reef structure and coral stocking can all be taken into account together.
