LED Recommendations

Mr.Ghostly

Mr.Ghostly

New member
I currently was looking to get better lighting so that I would be able to have a stable SPS tank. Also I am not much of a DYIer considering I do not know how to do any of the soldering and what not, and I also looking for something that is not to going to break the bank hard since I am on a budget. Lastly the dimensions of the tank are 36x18x24 (which makes this a 65g tank)
 
Are you absolutely set on LED? Tek makes kick-butt 6 and 8 bulb T5 fixture that would be more than enough to grow SPS, and you would have far more color selection with your choices of bulbs. I learned that the "long term payback" of going LED was a bunch of smoke getting blown around. Sure, LED will grow SPS like weeds, but you really lose a LOT of the color spectrum that make them look their best, unless you spend big money for all the various color LEDs and additional supporting hardware. Since you are not looking for DIY, you severely restrict your options, and the ones you do have are not best suited for a 24"+ tall tank, let alone their expensive pricetags.
 
FishBeard said:
Are you absolutely set on LED? Tek makes kick-butt 6 and 8 bulb T5 fixture that would be more than enough to grow SPS, and you would have far more color selection with your choices of bulbs. I learned that the "long term payback" of going LED was a bunch of smoke getting blown around. Sure, LED will grow SPS like weeds, but you really lose a LOT of the color spectrum that make them look their best, unless you spend big money for all the various color LEDs and additional supporting hardware. Since you are not looking for DIY, you severely restrict your options, and the ones you do have are not best suited for a 24"+ tall tank, let alone their expensive pricetags.
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I mean I'm not set in stone about LED...since I currently have a 2 LED strips that have 27 bulbs each that are 1 watt a peace ones attinic and one blue but isn't LED the new Trend? Also what you mean about the long term payback?
 
People are convincing themselves on led because of the cost of ownership over the life of the fixture, justifying not needing new bulbs once a year. But even some of the oldest led fixtures currently being used are only a few short years old and there is no long-term reports coming back in yet how well they hold up over their expected life. By all means go with LED if you are leaning that way, but I wouldn't recommend writing off other options without comparing all the pros/cons of each with other members that are using different lights. Some of the most beautiful and colorful sps dominant tanks these days are still using fluorescent and metal halide light systems.
 
FishBeard said:
People are convincing themselves on led because of the cost of ownership over the life of the fixture, justifying not needing new bulbs once a year. But even some of the oldest led fixtures currently being used are only a few short years old and there is no long-term reports coming back in yet how well they hold up over their expected life. By all means go with LED if you are leaning that way, but I wouldn't recommend writing off other options without comparing all the pros/cons of each with other members that are using different lights. Some of the most beautiful and colorful sps dominant tanks these days are still using fluorescent and metal halide light systems.
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I alrite that what fixture would you recommend any links to this would be greatly appreciated
 
I was in the same boat as you, but after doing my research, I decided on LED. Nothing against FishBeard, because he is a great reefer, and a vast source of info, but without a doubt, LED's are the right way to go. The newer technologies more than compensate for the color spectrum issue. The new mixes and different colors make every single coral pop like nothing else. The new controllers also make specialized lighting the most dynamic its ever been. LED's are more expensive than a T5 or MH option, but you also aren't replacing bulbs, frying out ballasts, and worrying about excessive heat, which could require you to by a chiller. And LED's use significantly less energy, which means lower bills.

The depth and intensity of light that LED's create are far greater than MH. It doesn't always look that way based upon certain tests, but without getting into crazy technical details, LED light and MH light penetrate the water differently, and the way of measuring light intensity in water favors the style of MH, making it appear better.

Whatever you decide to do, however, make sure its right for you. If LED's make you uncomfortable, go with T5's or MH. Make an informed decision, and then go by your gut. That's the beauty of reefing, there are a million different options, and each one works for somebody!
 
yogoshio said:
I was in the same boat as you, but after doing my research, I decided on LED. Nothing against FishBeard, because he is a great reefer, and a vast source of info, but without a doubt, LED's are the right way to go. The newer technologies more than compensate for the color spectrum issue. The new mixes and different colors make every single coral pop like nothing else. The new controllers also make specialized lighting the most dynamic its ever been. LED's are more expensive than a T5 or MH option, but you also aren't replacing bulbs, frying out ballasts, and worrying about excessive heat, which could require you to by a chiller. And LED's use significantly less energy, which means lower bills.

The depth and intensity of light that LED's create are far greater than MH. It doesn't always look that way based upon certain tests, but without getting into crazy technical details, LED light and MH light penetrate the water differently, and the way of measuring light intensity in water favors the style of MH, making it appear better.

Whatever you decide to do, however, make sure its right for you. If LED's make you uncomfortable, go with T5's or MH. Make an informed decision, and then go by your gut. That's the beauty of reefing, there are a million different options, and each one works for somebody!
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I know watcha mean its just I have no idea what to go with I was looked into the ai sol super blue along with a little into ecotech radion just not exactly sure what exactly would be "best" and reasonable priced since there so many LED options
 
I have diy LEDs on my setup and I love the colors my sps give out. Plus DIY is much easier than b4 cuz now they have the bjb solderless connectors they have preset drivers, invertronic drivers. Just b sure to get them dimmable. I know George had the non dim fixture and that might have been one of the reasons he didn't quite like the color.
But still everyone has there own liking and sum r led, t5, or mh. At the end it really is what ur eyes like the most.
And there r made fixtures already for an alright price if u don't want to build it .
 
The best priced option is going to be the ecoxotic fixtures. You could either get the full fixture, piecemeal some strips, or even have fun with the PAR38 bulbs. No matter what, for pre-built, ecoxotic is the best priced with the best results.
 
LED definitely is the way of the future for the hobby no doubt. But at this time, without going DIY or dumping tons of money into overpriced fixtures with a wider spectrum of diodes for a better range of color output (i.e. more than just cool whites and royal blues), it is still lacking.

Lets face the fact here, to get great coverage over the tank in question, what few retail options there are that are considered "current" generation technology, you still need at least 2 of them to get good coverage, this is hardly cost effective to justify LED on a budget. For a fraction of up-front cost, and a year to buy yourself time to see where LED goes in the next 10-12 months by the time you need new bulbs, you can buy a quality fixture and bulbs for either MH or T5, and they will both work great for that first year.

Now, if you want to talk DIY, I would be more than happy to help you out with putting together a really nice package on a budget, and even willing to help walk you thru the build. You would get exactly what you want, wouldn't overpay for a name brand, and can have bragging rites that yea, you built it!
 
FishBeard said:
LED definitely is the way of the future for the hobby no doubt. But at this time, without going DIY or dumping tons of money into overpriced fixtures with a wider spectrum of diodes for a better range of color output (i.e. more than just cool whites and royal blues), it is still lacking.

Lets face the fact here, to get great coverage over the tank in question, what few retail options there are that are considered "current" generation technology, you still need at least 2 of them to get good coverage, this is hardly cost effective to justify LED on a budget. For a fraction of up-front cost, and a year to buy yourself time to see where LED goes in the next 10-12 months by the time you need new bulbs, you can buy a quality fixture and bulbs for either MH or T5, and they will both work great for that first year.

Now, if you want to talk DIY, I would be more than happy to help you out with putting together a really nice package on a budget, and even willing to help walk you thru the build. You would get exactly what you want, wouldn't overpay for a name brand, and can have bragging rites that yea, you built it!
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Ok I mean i wouldn't mind doing a DIY build as long as I know what i'm doing and explained kinda why I need specifics parts and what not considering I have a canopy onto of the tank at the moment. With the whole T5 and MH thing its more of hearing soo much about LED thats the only way I thought it is to go but some good recommendations about T5 MH I might just take a peak at it I truely don't know what to go with
 
Canopies make DIY even easier, as you can use the cheapest ugliest aluminum "c" channel you can find to use as heatsinks, and just rig the stuff right into the canopy without having to worry about it looking pretty. A good portion of DIY money goes into getting nice looking heatsinks to hang exposed over the tank. Taking that out of the equation leaves quite a bit more money for stuff that really matters like better drivers, or more diodes, or even controllers for sunrise/sunset automated dimming.

If you REALLY have no idea what you like best, perhaps contacting several members in your area and arranging a meetup so you can see what their lighting looks like, that can help greatly deciding what you like best. Pictures are very misleading because they can be so overly photoshopped to look good, but the tank may look nothing like in the picture when you see it with your own eyes.
 
In terms of reviews for the Panorama, if you google it you'll find tons of reviews. And plenty of customer videos on youtube. That's what cinched it for me.
 
FishBeard said:
Canopies make DIY even easier, as you can use the cheapest ugliest aluminum "c" channel you can find to use as heatsinks, and just rig the stuff right into the canopy without having to worry about it looking pretty. A good portion of DIY money goes into getting nice looking heatsinks to hang exposed over the tank. Taking that out of the equation leaves quite a bit more money for stuff that really matters like better drivers, or more diodes, or even controllers for sunrise/sunset automated dimming.

If you REALLY have no idea what you like best, perhaps contacting several members in your area and arranging a meetup so you can see what their lighting looks like, that can help greatly deciding what you like best. Pictures are very misleading because they can be so overly photoshopped to look good, but the tank may look nothing like in the picture when you see it with your own eyes.
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Maybe I do a little because what I have is 2 LED strips and I kinda like them never had MH or T5 but considering I am on a budget and going to college at the same time and what your saying is that it would be enough for a SPS dominated tank and its like 3-400 dollars its not really that bad but for bulbs it just basically replacing them once a year?
 
FishBeard said:
Canopies make DIY even easier, as you can use the cheapest ugliest aluminum "c" channel you can find to use as heatsinks, and just rig the stuff right into the canopy without having to worry about it looking pretty. A good portion of DIY money goes into getting nice looking heatsinks to hang exposed over the tank. Taking that out of the equation leaves quite a bit more money for stuff that really matters like better drivers, or more diodes, or even controllers for sunrise/sunset automated dimming.

If you REALLY have no idea what you like best, perhaps contacting several members in your area and arranging a meetup so you can see what their lighting looks like, that can help greatly deciding what you like best. Pictures are very misleading because they can be so overly photoshopped to look good, but the tank may look nothing like in the picture when you see it with your own eyes.
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Also can you give me an average price tag of doing a DYI led system that would I would be able to house SPS and maybe a clam
 
Mr.Ghostly said:
Also can you give me an average price tag of doing a DYI led system that would I would be able to house SPS and maybe a clam
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I just priced out a LED setup for a soft/mixed reef 40 breeder which is pretty close to your tank and that was in the low $300's with cheap heatsinks

I also priced out a LED setup for a SPS dominant std. 75g tank, which would be closer to what you need for your extra depth, that was in the low $400's

Both of these setups were from aquastyleonline.com, and primarily using Bridgelux LED's with a few of their other off-brand to add extra color. I believe shipping tacks on about $50-$60 to your order as well. This included everything needed to manually dim cool white, royal blue, purple/uv/red and warm white/blue channels (4 separate channels total)
 
All right fishbeard sounds good I'll prob send you a PM when I am able to have the money for the DYI build which should be hopefully sometime soon. I also have one more questions besides dosing and flow which I will prob add another MP10 or MP40.....but would you recommend running something like a GFO and carbon???
 
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