Almost There-Lighting?

Well guys I am almost there. My fish room is completed, both stands for the tanks are built, stained and painted and all is in place. I have a 210 gallon display tank and a 65 gallon rimless mangrove tank that are side by side. In the room is a 100 gallon sump and a 30 gallon refugium/ pod tank. I know the type of lighting I want and need for the mangrove tank. But I am curious about some suggestions for the display tank. It will a mixed reef tank and I am wanting some type of pendant lighting that will hang down from the ceiling. I was curious as to what suggestions you all might have and how you all might do it. I have researched a lot of threads and to be honest, electrical stuff is not my thing, I can plumb like a mad man but this lighting thing has A LOT of options. Hope all is well with everybody this summer and hopefully after all of these Thunder games I can make some more meetings.

Regards,

Jeff C.
 
If a pendant style setup is what your after I would narrow it down to 2 categories. 1st being the tried and true metal halide setups with a quality pendant reflector like a Lumen Bright and a quaity bulb such as a radium 20k or phoenix 14k and I run both of these setups with great results. 2nd would be a LED pendant they use less power and produce less heat than metal halides but picking the right LED can get tricky with so many options and mixed reviews. I do have some successful experience with AI SOL blue units and when you figure in that your not replacing 2 or 3 bulbs every year the extra cost can be quickly offset. Another great LED fixture would be radions with even more features than the AI's but also come with a much higher price tag but you will get more led colors and power with this unit and is a great option if you got the funds. Both of these units are controllable allowing for custom color setups a big plus over halides.
 
Thanks for the reply. When it comes to the halides, you are right, they are tried and true. I am just trying to figure out whether the LED are worth the price and whether they will stand the test of time. As for heat with the halides, I shouldn't have a problem since the with pendants and not enclosed. It's like you said, the cost of the electricity and the cost of bulb replacement.
 
I am beginning a large LED build, I hope I am making the right decision. Still new technologies but the energy savings and documented growth should pay off.
 
That is pretty much my thoughts as well. I wish I had the cajones to build my own system but as they say "dammit Jim I'm a plumber, not an electrician" To much out of my league. I am pretty sure I am going with the AI SOL, I just need to figure out how many with the set up in the DT I may do.
 
Does anyone know if any of the LFS' in OKC have any AI SOL in stock that I can look at. We will be going to the Thunder game tomorrow and I would like to look at one in person. Plus I would rather get it through a LFS as opposed to an online vendor. Hope everyone in OKC is doing well after those storms!
 
Wet pets has them in stock. Edmond has some set up, but I believe they would have to order them.
 
If a damn concrete driver can build his own I'm sure you can! Save a ton of cash and check out rapid led. It's so basic, heatsink USA and rapid has everything you need!
 
Where is Aquariums located in OKC. We can only go to one place before the game since we are hooking up with some friends at Thunder Alley.
 
I will be completing mine this Monday and will have tank shots on Tuesday. Check out my build thread. Not as hard as I thought it would be.
 
Thanks Kent - it's TORCH, not touch! ;-)


Got it. Looks interesting, and wonder how this would be configurred to cover a 96" x 36" tank with a depth of 27"

LL
 
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I don't thank you would have a problem with the depth.
I am running his new one with a 100 watt 12k and a 50 watt 460mm blue .
I have 2 on my 75gal and will run the same on my new 120.
I would think at the least you would want 3 lights with the white and blue.
At 16 inches my par is over 200 and at 1 inch im over 700.
 
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