hoohoohdillyo
New member
As some of you saw I picked up the 34 gallon deep blue frag tank, it measures 36" long x 18" deep x 12" tall. I already have a bio-ball sump that is being converted over to a refugium for this tank that measures 30" x 14.5" x 16". For starters I am using one of my mag drive 7's on it for a return pump, I will more than likely upgrade this in the future so something a bit better, but for now it's free! For the things I don't yet have I am looking to get a Jebao WP-25 powerhead and an SC Aquariums SCA -301 65 Gallon Protein Skimmer. I'm not exactly sure what to do on the lights... I have been talking with Crazyeyes and my roommate Planefanatic and what to do and figured I'd check here for a bit of advice.
Keep in mind I don't have endless pockets, with that said I would rather buy something one time and get it done right the first time so saving money isn't the most important part here, it's getting the best that I can without going too far overboard. I really want something that is auto sunrise to sunset. Timers are nice and all, but they don't slowly dim the lights, it's a sudden surprise on the fish.
Option 1: Pick up a used D120 from a friend for around $75-100. I know I won't love this, but it could always be temporary until I make up my mind and I can sell it for what I would have into it. Upside here is it's cheap, downside is well, it's cheap.
Option 2: Pick up a used Ecotech Radion XR30w gen 2 for roughly $375. This sounds like a great deal since these are awesome lights, has an app that I can use to control it on my phone, auto turn on, auto dimmer, so on...Upside here is that it's a proven light and looks good, downside is the price!
Option 3: Build my own lighting system. I can build my own light using Rapid LED's Aurora puck with a wide angle lens. Then picking up a storm led controller for it as well as the power supply, board, so on. The thing here is the price is around the same as the used Radion gen 2's placing a single puck system at about $300 (enough for my tank) and a dual at $125 (if I wanted to expand later on) and that's with no wi-fi connection on it. Upside here is that I get to custom make it, downside is well, it's the most expensive setup when you consider what you get out of it.
Option 4: Brand new from ebay IT-2060 for a bid cost of roughly $260-$275. This is pretty much an oversized D120, but with full auto sunrise/sunset and a cool remote! It's still not the best, but for $100 savings over the used Radion, is it simply worth using the Bridgelux chips instead of the ultra powerful Cree's? Upside here is that the price is pretty nice, the downside is it's pretty much the same thing as a D120, just with a built in timer and kind of an auto dimmer.
Option 5: You guys tell me what you'd suggest and why. I am open to other suggestions just as long as what you suggest has a sunrise to sunset option on it, otherwise the used D120 can't be beat. At this point I have no interest in MH, T5's, Power Compacts... So on. This setup is for my bedroom and I don't want the extra heat generated from them. Also, buying a new Radion or equivalent at $650 or more is out of my price range and I cannot even think about an option like that. I'd say let's try to keep this under $400 for sure.
Keep in mind I don't have endless pockets, with that said I would rather buy something one time and get it done right the first time so saving money isn't the most important part here, it's getting the best that I can without going too far overboard. I really want something that is auto sunrise to sunset. Timers are nice and all, but they don't slowly dim the lights, it's a sudden surprise on the fish.
Option 1: Pick up a used D120 from a friend for around $75-100. I know I won't love this, but it could always be temporary until I make up my mind and I can sell it for what I would have into it. Upside here is it's cheap, downside is well, it's cheap.
Option 2: Pick up a used Ecotech Radion XR30w gen 2 for roughly $375. This sounds like a great deal since these are awesome lights, has an app that I can use to control it on my phone, auto turn on, auto dimmer, so on...Upside here is that it's a proven light and looks good, downside is the price!
Option 3: Build my own lighting system. I can build my own light using Rapid LED's Aurora puck with a wide angle lens. Then picking up a storm led controller for it as well as the power supply, board, so on. The thing here is the price is around the same as the used Radion gen 2's placing a single puck system at about $300 (enough for my tank) and a dual at $125 (if I wanted to expand later on) and that's with no wi-fi connection on it. Upside here is that I get to custom make it, downside is well, it's the most expensive setup when you consider what you get out of it.
Option 4: Brand new from ebay IT-2060 for a bid cost of roughly $260-$275. This is pretty much an oversized D120, but with full auto sunrise/sunset and a cool remote! It's still not the best, but for $100 savings over the used Radion, is it simply worth using the Bridgelux chips instead of the ultra powerful Cree's? Upside here is that the price is pretty nice, the downside is it's pretty much the same thing as a D120, just with a built in timer and kind of an auto dimmer.
Option 5: You guys tell me what you'd suggest and why. I am open to other suggestions just as long as what you suggest has a sunrise to sunset option on it, otherwise the used D120 can't be beat. At this point I have no interest in MH, T5's, Power Compacts... So on. This setup is for my bedroom and I don't want the extra heat generated from them. Also, buying a new Radion or equivalent at $650 or more is out of my price range and I cannot even think about an option like that. I'd say let's try to keep this under $400 for sure.
lease note::: For simplification of explanation nothing has been glued or sealed with thread sealant or tape during the taking of the pictures. 
to the hardware store to find the way to set it up and this is what I came up with. This is also why I posted it though, because something so simple could be so hard to think up! Once I have it all complete I am going to post it on the main boards so all anyone else wanting to do this can just :reading: up on it.
