LED Decision - Need Advice

T

travie

New member
I want to upgrade to an LED fixture or two, but I have no idea which brand/fixture to go with. A little about my tank: 55g at 48"x13"x21" and is a mixed reef with SPS, LPS, and softies. I do plan to upgrade to a bigger tank down the road, and I figure at that time I'll be able to afford the cost of another LED fixture or two if need be.

I've been researching, and I have no clue which fixture/brand to go with. My budget is around $1,000 for a fixture or two plus what will be needed to get a controller and mount/hanging kit.

I have five brands on my radar right now AI Vega, GHL Mitras, Reef Breeders Photon32, Apollo Solar Blast, or Maxspect Mazarra system.

Any advice and sense of direction would be greatly appreciated. If more information is needed from me, let me know.
 
I forgot to mention a sixth fixture, EcoTech Marine Radion XR30w Pro.

I think I have it narrowed down to AI Vega, GHL Mitras, EcoTech Marine Radion XR30w Pro, or Maxspect Mazarra system. The controllability of these four put them at the top of my list. I realize I might only have to go with one fixture for the short-term depending on which one I go with; leaving the outside 2 to 6 inches darker.
 
Tavie, I can only speak of the Maxspect Razor which is not listed but as far as the Maxspect build quality and results I am very impressed. My two cents

Cheers
 
I'm happy with my buildmyled.com fixture, but I have a feeling you're looking for something a bit shinier.

As others suggested, I'd also look into Kessil. If I were going to drop big money on a big name fixture, it'd definitely be the A360.

Are you planning on getting a controller at some point? If so, that's something to consider while looking at your options.

Whichever fixture you get, make sure it has at least a little red, a little green, and some 400-420nm.
 
I switched to the EverGrow/Reef Breeders 32" and sold the Eco Tech Radion. Easier to use, better PAR and a set it and forget it timer/controller. Oh, and good customer service too... even all the way from China! But then if money is no object, feel free to give the economy a boost and buy an overpriced led. :headwallblue:
 
GroktheCube said:
Are you planning on getting a controller at some point? If so, that's something to consider while looking at your options.

Whichever fixture you get, make sure it has at least a little red, a little green, and some 400-420nm.
Click to expand...

Ron Reefman said:
But then if money is no object, feel free to give the economy a boost and buy an overpriced led. :headwallblue:
Click to expand...

Cost is definitely a factor in my decision. My budget is only going to be around $1,000 for this purchase. If that only nets me one fixture when I should probably get two, I will only get one for now and arrange coral accordingly.

My research hasn't really shown me a fixture that I want, which has a healthy 400-420nm spectrum, and has more controllability then only being dimmable.
 
travie said:
Cost is definitely a factor in my decision. My budget is only going to be around $1,000 for this purchase. If that only nets me one fixture when I should probably get two, I will only get one for now and arrange coral accordingly.

My research hasn't really shown me a fixture that I want, which has a healthy 400-420nm spectrum, and has more controllability then only being dimmable.
Click to expand...

EverGrow or Reef Breeders lets you put in as many 400nm, 410nm, 440nm, 450nm and 460nm as you want.

What more control do you want? You can change lenses from 60 to 90 to 120 degrees and dim them up and down. Do you want them to change color too?
 
Take a look at the MaxSpect Razor - it offers one of the best values for features out there. Two of the 20" fixtures would set you back around $850 and will light your current take really well. You could upgrade to a 120 (4x2) later on and use the same lighting. I've used the 27" model over my 3'x2' tank for the past 8 months with excellent results. Good luck with your decision!
 
Ron Reefman said:
EverGrow or Reef Breeders lets you put in as many 400nm, 410nm, 440nm, 450nm and 460nm as you want.

What more control do you want? You can change lenses from 60 to 90 to 120 degrees and dim them up and down. Do you want them to change color too?
Click to expand...

Seriously... ;)

I like/want the controllability of the AI Vega and/GHL Mitras, but from what I have been reading they do not have much lighting in the 400-440nm spectrum. Thus I am trying to find a decent compromise within my budget.
 
GroktheCube said:
Are you planning on getting a controller at some point? If so, that's something to consider while looking at your options.

Whichever fixture you get, make sure it has at least a little red, a little green, and some 400-420nm.
Click to expand...
Good advice about compatibility with a future controller. I also agree that some red and violet is important but ''some 400-420nm'' is not enough. 420-430nm is just as important as RB to most photosynthetic organisms, so use at least ''some'' and make it 400 or 410 to 430nm.
Green is another story. There is no reason to add any green at all to any fixture that uses any kind of white emitter. All white LEDs produce green light, usually 25-50% of the total output is in the green part of the spectrum. Green is the second highest peak, after RB, in any cool white emitter and it's the predominant peak in any neutral or warm white. PAR meters (and the human eye) are very sensitive to green light so you should get great PAR numbers from green LEDs, but green light does not support photosynthesis so there is no real gain from additional green light.
Your white LEDs provide all the green light that your eyes will need. The corals in your tank don't use green light for photosynthesis. Why would you add green LEDs?
 
I am building a fixture with the equivalent brand and amount of leds of two ai vegas for only $400. The heatsinks I found also look very good and will make them look like a regular consumer fixture and not a diy project. They will be fully controllable with my reefkeeper.
 
GHL Mitras will light 95% of that tank with one light, has all of the colors you would want/need and it is COMPLETELY controllable, even by the light itself!

I love the light. Although it is $1200 for one which is a little over your budget but well worth it in my opinion.




Oh and you can't find one owner of the mitras that is even slightly unhappy! ;)
 
travie said:
Cost is definitely a factor in my decision. My budget is only going to be around $1,000 for this purchase. If that only nets me one fixture when I should probably get two, I will only get one for now and arrange coral accordingly.

My research hasn't really shown me a fixture that I want, which has a healthy 400-420nm spectrum, and has more controllability then only being dimmable.
Click to expand...

The LEDs I got from Buildmyled.com were configured to my spec in terms of color, including near UV. I'm quite happy with them. The price difference between them and the more pricey units was enough to get me an Apex that would allow me to program the majority of the features that the pricey LEDs have as extras.

DIY is also another option if you want be able to control color on the fly and don't want to spend tons of money.
 
Dave Thebrewguy said:
Good advice about compatibility with a future controller. I also agree that some red and violet is important but ''some 400-420nm'' is not enough. 420-430nm is just as important as RB to most photosynthetic organisms, so use at least ''some'' and make it 400 or 410 to 430nm.
Green is another story. There is no reason to add any green at all to any fixture that uses any kind of white emitter. All white LEDs produce green light, usually 25-50% of the total output is in the green part of the spectrum. Green is the second highest peak, after RB, in any cool white emitter and it's the predominant peak in any neutral or warm white. PAR meters (and the human eye) are very sensitive to green light so you should get great PAR numbers from green LEDs, but green light does not support photosynthesis so there is no real gain from additional green light.
Your white LEDs provide all the green light that your eyes will need. The corals in your tank don't use green light for photosynthesis. Why would you add green LEDs?
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that some pigments respond to green light, and that having a small number of green LEDs was helpful for color.

Is that incorrect? I make no claims about being an expert.
 
I'm with Ron Reefman on this.....Other then the green led's(dont need them) and the Photon 32. I'd go with 2- Photon 16's.

Totally controllable with built in timer controller. Have them build to your specs(light colors). Find a group buy here on the sponser site and you would be around half your budget for the 2. Can always change LED's on your own with this light also.....
 
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