Lighting brand ReefBreeders is soon to launch a new Photon LED light fixture called Meridian. An evolution of the popular Photon V2 Pro, Meridian will be available in five sizes, 11”, 24”, 35”, 45”, and 63” which will be suitable for lighting reef tanks from 24×24” – 72×24”.
These thin panel lights will be fitted with either 1,2,3,4 or 5 x 75 watt PCBs, populated with 24 diodes each, and split into six controllable color channels including 400nm uv, 416nm violet, 440nm violet, 450nm blue, 465nm blue, neutral white and warm white. ReefBreeders lights have always shone very blue, but the Meridian has gone even more blue with a third more blue diodes than previous models, and 15% more LEDs in total than before. Control looks versatile, with manual, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi control options.
The new form factor of the Meridian moves the cooling fans from underneath to the top of the unit, making the underside splashproof, and the chassis includes grooves front and back for mounting angle adjustable Meridian Edge LED bars or bolting linear units together, as well as grooves in the top of increased mounting arm flexibility. The units can still be ceiling suspended or mounted to the tank, but with more tank mounting options than before.
Modular LED lighting
The Photon has always been thought of as a single panel light or luminaire, users matching the size of unit to the length of their tanks for full, economical coverage but just one power supply. The addition of the 11”, 75 watt unit adds modular mounting options that can bolt together, be controlled together, and even run off the same single power supply by daisy chaining, and the larger models can do this too. Current, pre-release adverted pricing is from $399.99 for the 11” model, up to $1999.99 for the 63” model.
What we think
ReefBreeders Photons have always had a cult following in the reef hobby, with many hardcore coral growers choosing them for the combination of coral growth capability and economical price. With the Meridian, the flexibility of size, control, and mounting have all been improved (as well as the light itself,) and we like the angle adjustable bolt-on striplights. Splashproofing that underside will no doubt add to their longevity too, especially in the wet conditions of coral grow-outs.
Pretty much every aspect of the Merdian has been tweaked or improved vs the Photon Pro, although this has come at a price, with the new 35” Meridian expected to sell at $1199.99 versus the $759.99 for the old 32” Photon V2, and although power is improved in the new 45” Meridian, its $1599.99 advertised price tag is a big jump from the 48” Photon of old, at $879.99.
The ReefBreeders Photon has always offered the right combination of features for the price, and we have no doubt that the Photon Meridian will deliver, and grow corals. But now for the first time, and probably due to global economic factors that are out of ReefBreeders’ control, you’ll need to spend just under $2000 to light a 72×24” reef tank with a ReefBreeders LED light fixture, which may just make you sense check those features and figures with others in the market before you add to cart.
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