2 Reef Capable Marinelands??

zeeter

Active member
I'm thinking of getting the reef capable fixtures, yet my research shows that they are only good for the least light requiring corals.

What I'm wondering is if I get two of these fixtures will that satisfy the requirements? I have mostly LPS and softies with a Sebae all under 6 T5's right now, and the bulbs are about ready to be replaced.

Also, by getting two fixtures am I defeating the energy saving benefits to buying this light?

75gl tank
 
There's not really much to it, he's right they're crap, I don't know why Marineland hasn't released something else.

Not only is it underpowered and overpriced it was also very unreliable when it was first released, do a few more searches and you'll see reports of burned out LEDs after only a few months. Supposedly they resolved alot of the reliability issues but even ignoring that they still don't have any advantages over other fixtures.
 
I looked at those when they came out. Nice looking fixture (in my opinion), but it just doesn't have the "oomph" to punch light deep into a tank. Putting two fixtures over the tank gives you more light, but that light still doesn't go any deeper than one fixture.
 
I have not read any one is keeping corals successfully with these, since I read like every thread that mentions LED on every reef forum in the past 6 months. :-) The light output is just not there with the low watt LEDs. You can either go DIY route or get pre-made fixtures. Good luck!
 
i have three of the 48" reef capable on my 150 i also have four 48" truelumen three are the deep water blue one is the fusion i keep several LPS,leathers, softies and i even have a few SPS corals that are placed high and showing growth the other corals are doing great as well im sure i could have bought a better setup for what i have spent but i wanted to see if these would work . If you go with the reef capable be prepared to supplement the lights with the atintic blue. Also i have had no trouble with the lights at all and with the additional truelumens i like my lighting setup.
 
The Reef Capable (NOT) Marineland light is worthless as far as a reef is concerned. You need many of them in a standard depth tank to even think about LPS let alone SPS. The 1w LEDs and crappy optics just don't penetrate the water enough.

Here are some PAR numbers I just took of one of the 20" Reef Capable fixtures. Dead center:

  • 3" Below Fixture (in air) -- 475
  • 10" Deep in water -- 120
 
Here is one for you yes I am on my third fixture, Marineland replaced with no questions asked. I moved the new fixture to another aquarium and replaced with a 4 lamp T5HO and my Bird of Paradise growth slowed a bunch compared to when it was under the Marineland LED. The fixture is a 36 to 48" Reef capable and was on my 40 gallon long 36" x 12 wide. FYI the first fixture fried my Green Birds nest which was too close to the top
 
I have a duncan coral on the very bottom of my 29" deep 150 tank and the growth on it is amazing at least 4 new heads in the last three weeks and this is with the three 48" reef capable fixtures and as i stated earlier supplemented with four 48" truelumen blue atintic one is the fusion
 
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