Now that I have a lot of calls to make about having a tank built thanks to all your recommendations, I am now looking into lighting options. other than the price, does anyone have any feedback on LED lighting fixtures? Right now, I am looking into housing a lot of smaller fish in a 300G with SPS coral.
-
Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.
LED Lighting
- Thread starter ClimberChris
- Start date
A tank that deep you will need lights with optics..
It depends how deep the tank is and how deep his sand bed is. You can go to 24" easy without optics.
The tank I want designed will be approx 31" deep. I heard so many mixed reviews on LED lights and I am a little scared to invest because I have read a lot of mixed reviews.
You are going to have to look at Aqua Illuminations or the Orphek. Why is everyone saying that?
To penetrate down the 31 inches you are going to need at least 3w LEDs with 40 to 60 degree optics (probably 40) and those are the companies that sell them (you could probably look at the Maxspect Mazarras that just came out but they are brand new). LEDs are amazing, no heat, low electric bill, great color and great growth. Yes they are expensive now but you would need a bunch of 250w or 400w halides to light that monster which would still cost a lot of money to setup and then you have to worry about temp and a huge electric bill along with yearly bulb changes.
To penetrate down the 31 inches you are going to need at least 3w LEDs with 40 to 60 degree optics (probably 40) and those are the companies that sell them (you could probably look at the Maxspect Mazarras that just came out but they are brand new). LEDs are amazing, no heat, low electric bill, great color and great growth. Yes they are expensive now but you would need a bunch of 250w or 400w halides to light that monster which would still cost a lot of money to setup and then you have to worry about temp and a huge electric bill along with yearly bulb changes.
WOW, the Orpheks are really nice lights. I don't mind spending the money for a quality product. I had a 45 Gallon that was plagued by problems because I went the cheap route and after moving home while I had my house built, I gave the fish to a family friend, sold the equipment and swore to myself I would do it the right way when I settle into my new house. One question I have with LEDs though is how often do I have to change the bulbs?
Typically LEDs last around 50,000 hours. More or less depending on what current you are driving them at, heat and so on.
The Cree XP series will run for 12 hours a day for 10 years and still maintain 75% of their max light output. Even at 50,000 hours, the LEDs don't just die.
Also, your tank is 31" deep, but what is its actual depth? How low will you run the water line? How deep will your sand bed be? You may need to get some optics but probably not 40's. DIY will probably be your best bet and will be the cheapest.
Edwardw771
NJRC Member
Don't forget Acan Lighting.
The great thing about LEDs is that even if you need to replace them (unlikely) they are very cheap to replace (about 5-10 bucks a bulb). I know for the AI you just open the fixture and can pop the bulbs right in, they are not soldered into place. That is another quesiton to ask, if the bulbs/pucks are soldered or not.
I have the cheap leds from reefkoi, 120-1w leds. Same as redsand had/has same as the ones steamer bought from amazon for under 200. As long as u put enough of them over the tank youll b more than fine. My tank is 72 long 24 wide and 28 high. I have 6 of these led units hung 8" over the tank. Currently from the sand to 3" up there is Ora spongodes, orange monti, acans, pink bird, war coral and 2 clams. All growing fine. You pay for the dimming and the other features with the high end leds. Any lighting for a 300 is a big investment, If you want to come by n check them out lmk. You would need 7-8 of these over a 300 assuming its the standard 8' long. Just trying to save u some coin u can put toward other things. If money doesnt matter, get 6 AI's
Last edited:
I just picked up a Reef Tech LED. A lot of power and flexibility. Another unit to consider would be a Vertex, It almost puts out as much PAR as the Reef Tech.
http://www.reeftechled.com/?page_id=505
Ken
http://www.reeftechled.com/?page_id=505
Ken
I love my Aquaillumination Sol Blues!! I tried Metal halide, T5's, and now onto LEDs.