Which led fixture do I go with....

[spotter]

I am very close to starting my upgrade tank. It will be a custom made 60 x 36 x 30 glass tank and my plan is to set it up as a peninula so it will be viewable from 3 sides. The tank will have a full canopy on it so appearance of the units is not a concern to me. Here are the LED systems and how many I have been told that I would need for each. These suggestions were all made by the individual manufacturers.

AI SOL....3 rows of 3 using 40 degree optics for the middle row and a combination of 40 and 70 degree optics on the outside row. SOL's were suggested because of the depth of the tank. Estimated total cost around $4,000

Ecotech Radion....suggested starting off with 4 but thought 6 would provide the best coverage for the entire tank. Estimated cost $3200 - $5000 depending on whether I go with 4 or 6

Maxspect Mazarra P....given they only cover an 18" x 18" area they are suggesting 3 rows of 3 using 70 degree optics on all fixtures. estimated cost $4200.

As of yesterday I was set to buy the Radions but I just dont know and given the cost of this, I dont want to make a bad decision. So everyone's opinions, preferences and experiences are welcomed. I just ask that we dont turn this into a debate over LED vs MH. I've made my decision to go with LED's and would like to keep the discussion to that. :semi-twins:

 

[downbeach]

Two of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-Co...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item746bf2cc68

estimated cost: $338.00

 

[spotter]

I have seen those before and saw them on Feng's tanks at Red Sand. I had purchased a similar fixture from Cad Lights about a year ago and the blue was just way too blue. I would definitely want something that I can control the colors on. I realize it would be a huge savings but just not convinced that over a longer period of time these will stand the test of time.

 

[downbeach]

I have seen those before and saw them on Feng's tanks at Red Sand. I had purchased a similar fixture from Cad Lights about a year ago and the blue was just way too blue. I would definitely want something that I can control the colors on. I realize it would be a huge savings but just not convinced that over a longer period of time these will stand the test of time.

Do you still have that fixture? These are made with different blue/white ratio's, if you got one that was rated at 20,000K it probably has 30blue/25white vs 30white/25blue. Or, it may have been one of the earlier offerings using 120 1W LED's. I bought two 120W Blueline's from Champion and they have a 35White/20Blue balance, but they were more expensive(almost twice), but still no where near the numbers that you're considering. My philosophy is that all LED units will come down in price in another year, and since I haven't made a huge investment in these fixtures now, it won't be too hard to replace them.

 

[Gonzapa]

For the price that are just a little more expensive than a 250 W MH bulb. If they last more than a year they will pay for themselves

 

[spotter]

Do you still have that fixture? These are made with different blue/white ratio's, if you got one that was rated at 20,000K it probably has 30blue/25white vs 30white/25blue. Or, it may have been one of the earlier offerings using 120 1W LED's. I bought two 120W Blueline's from Champion and they have a 35White/20Blue balance, but they were more expensive(almost twice), but still no where near the numbers that you're considering. My philosophy is that all LED units will come down in price in another year, and since I haven't made a huge investment in these fixtures now, it won't be too hard to replace them.

I dont have it any more. I sold it a couple of days after getting it.

 

[Brando457]

I think it also depends how you plan to scape your tank and placement of corals. Are you going to do rock from the very back to the very front or have it mainly centered.

I'm on the same boat between AI and ecotech

 

[spotter]

I have two possible rock plans....both would have the rock going down the center of the tank since it will be viewable from 3 sides.

The first would be rock/coral formations at the 2 ends and one in the middle. The middle structure would be the focus and larger than the other two. This would be where I would concentrate on SPS. The two on the ends would be for LPS and the valleys in between the formations would become zoa gardens.

The second would be to just have two larger formations that would be all SPS and then rest of the base areas would be zoa gardens and lps that can be placed lower in the tank.

Of course, this will probably change 10 times before the tank actually gets wet.

 

[Brando457]

I'm honestly leaning towards the AI, I can't justify spending an extra $300 to have a few green and red leds especially for my nano tank.

 

[mnat]

That is a really touch choice because all three of those LEDs fixtures are really nice.

AI
Pros: Great penetration, fully controllable, made in the US for easy customer service, very modular, have been around the longest
Cons: Only blue, royal blue and whites, can't really swap out individual leds

Mazarra
Pros: Completely changable Leds so you can pick and choose all the leds you want, fully controllable like the others
Cons: Smaller so may need more units, chineese company even though they are distributed through an american company, brand new so no real feedback/trouble shooting

Radions:
Pros: 4 different colors, wireless, can control your pumps as well, great penetration, very local company (they are headquartered in PA), ecotech makes really quality works, can run off of a vortech back up battery
Cons: brand new so no real data on them, the most expensive, some concerns with the fan being on the bottom but again no data on them

This is a tough choice because each unit has its strengths and weaknesses. If money was not an issue I would probably get the radions but that is because I am infatuated with them. I personally have and love my AI fixtures and plan on having more of them down the line. I have also seen local tanks that have them and the owners have been very happy with them. I guess the safer play would be the AI but the radions offer more upside but have more risk becaus they are untested (granted I don't think ecotech would put out a poor unit). The mazzaras would be my choice if I liked to tinker becuase you have essentially an unlimited combonation of colors and types of light (they have UV leds now).

I would avoid the chineese made units, I don't think 1w or 2w lights are going to penetrate and they have no controllability. I hope this helps.

 

[spotter]

I really apprecaite the pro's and con's. I had similar thoughts on all three. Not that price isnt an issue for me as much as I would like to say that, This build is going to be an expensive one since the tank is going to be custom built in my basement by Coast to Coast and I want equipment that is going to make the tank look the best that it can and create an environment for my live stock that they will grow in.

 

[mnat]

I live in Point if you want to swing by and look at the AI fixtures, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the fixtures. Coast to Coast builds amazing tanks, so I understand you want to make sure it all looks nice.

 

[9supratt4]

If I was buying....I'd buy the radions. My reasons being...first the fixture is very sleek. Second, the fixtures will communicate with each other as well as my pumps. And third, having the green and red bulbs in there, imo, give a more broad spectrum of light. No other fixture has those other spectrums...they all concentrate on blue and white. The red and green are supposed to help with chlorophyl production and also help with the coloration of the corals, including the hard to keep blue corals. Only reason I have not personally upgraded is $$$ and I'm still a little worried about keeping SPS under these lights long term, but that seems to be proven not to be an issue more and more.

 

[spotter]

that would be great!

 

[spotter]

If I was buying....I'd buy the radions. My reasons being...first the fixture is very sleek. Second, the fixtures will communicate with each other as well as my pumps. And third, having the green and red bulbs in there, imo, give a more broad spectrum of light. No other fixture has those other spectrums...they all concentrate on blue and white. The red and green are supposed to help with chlorophyl production and also help with the coloration of the corals, including the hard to keep blue corals. Only reason I have not personally upgraded is $$$ and I'm still a little worried about keeping SPS under these lights long term, but that seems to be proven not to be an issue more and more.

I am finding this to be a more difficult decision than the decision to ask my wife to marry me! She has said that I have spent more time researching everything for the tank than I did with thinking about wanting to marry her or looking for the right ring.

 

[downbeach]

That is a really touch choice because all three of those LEDs fixtures are really nice.

I would avoid the chineese made units, I don't think 1w or 2w lights are going to penetrate and they have no controllability. I hope this helps.

In the FWIW column, I have two of these on a 6 foot tank, and have both Crocea and Maxima Clams on the bottom (24"). They are a very vanilla unit, and can't be dimmed, but I couldn't dim my t-5's or MH's either. I can control the blue/white off/on with timers, since they have their own power cords/switches. So, I think that as far as the spread and penetration are concerned, there is no problem.

 

[Jcurry@wesketch]

AI Sol: 9 UNITS @ 75W = 675W
Ecotech Radion: 4 UNITS @ 130W = 520W
6 UNITS @ 130 WATTS = 780W
Maxspect Mazarra P : 9 UNITS @ 60W = 540W

I don't really see the savings here over 2 x 250W MH in lumenarc or Lumenbright reflectors. The payback for these LED fixtures on a tank that large is way to long IMO. For smaller tanks I would consider LEDs because the payback is much faster. But the dimensions your proposing are perfect for MH in a good reflector.

 

[spotter]

Part of my decision to go with LED's was where my tank was going to be located. Originally I was going to do an in wall build and was going to go with MH but now that I am going to do a peninsula style where the light fixtures will be completely enclosed I wanted to take heat into consideration. I appreciate the wattage comparisons but I have been under the impression that there really is no comparison of total watt's between led and mh fixtures. I know there are countless threads debating led's vs mh and I think in the end it usually ends up being personal preference that is the deciding factor.

 

[alex93se]

Where did you you heard that the ecotechs have more coverage than the AI's? From what I've read, you'll probably need 9 ecotechs to match the coverage of the AI's as well. If the ecotechs have a broader coverage that the AI's, based on their design and led placement, they would have very weak light penetration for a 30" deep tank. I'd wait and see how the reviews are when the ecotechs come out. If you place them high enough, 6 AI's will cover your tank very well. Hope that helps.

 

[spotter]

All of the information that posted in my original was collected directly from the manufacuters. I sent them the specs of my tank and live stock desires and they responded with what they suggest. Ecotech told me that one radion will cover a 30 x 30 area and will penetrate the 30" with the fixture 8" awl. Thats how they based their suggestion on 4-6 units. Im not planning on keeping any clams in the tank so high par levels on the sand bed wont be a huge concern. The people at AI said 6 would be ok but highly recommend 9.

I do appreciate your thoughts but can you tell me how you are coming up with the need for 9 radion?

Steve