Looking to change from VHO to LED lighting on my 180. Ultimately plan to have multiple coral types and fish. Of course my wife does not want to fund after just buying the tank. Can I light the tank for under $400? I have a 4' reefbrite xho blue to start with. I am fairly handy and plan to build the mounts.
LED for 180
- Thread starter Foooz
- Start date
RayAllen3422
New member
Look for the Mars LED thread in the lighting section I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Ron Reefman
Active member
Under $400 for led on a 180g tank is really a tight budget.
There are a number of Chinese fixtures (they all look remarkably similar... LOL) and should work OK. Somebody on RC a few days ago was asking if a particular E-bay Chinese led fixture was "OK?". It was only $64. You'll want 3 fixtures at the minimum and 4 would be a better choice. You'll get better coverage end to end and if one every fails, 3 is still enough to keep things going until you get the 4th one fixed or replaced. And at $64 or even $90 per fixture, there is a chance you may have an early failure.
There are better made Chinese fixtures that people here have been using for several years now and they both have pretty good reputations (EverGrow makes them for OceanRevive and ReefBreeders and they are sponsors here at RC with sponsor forums down below). But their fixtures are a little more expensive. They do however use better quality parts, like quiet fans (some use fans that end up making noise), real heat sinks rather than a sheet of aluminum, aluminum cases rather than steel (remember you are using it over saltwater... rust), and more. But if budgets are tight, the cheap ones do make about the exact same light as the inexpensive ones that are better made.
I use to use some of the cheap ones and then 3 years ago replaced them and all my NH and t5 fixtures with EverGrow made products. They have been absolutely problem free since I got them!
There are a number of Chinese fixtures (they all look remarkably similar... LOL) and should work OK. Somebody on RC a few days ago was asking if a particular E-bay Chinese led fixture was "OK?". It was only $64. You'll want 3 fixtures at the minimum and 4 would be a better choice. You'll get better coverage end to end and if one every fails, 3 is still enough to keep things going until you get the 4th one fixed or replaced. And at $64 or even $90 per fixture, there is a chance you may have an early failure.
There are better made Chinese fixtures that people here have been using for several years now and they both have pretty good reputations (EverGrow makes them for OceanRevive and ReefBreeders and they are sponsors here at RC with sponsor forums down below). But their fixtures are a little more expensive. They do however use better quality parts, like quiet fans (some use fans that end up making noise), real heat sinks rather than a sheet of aluminum, aluminum cases rather than steel (remember you are using it over saltwater... rust), and more. But if budgets are tight, the cheap ones do make about the exact same light as the inexpensive ones that are better made.
I use to use some of the cheap ones and then 3 years ago replaced them and all my NH and t5 fixtures with EverGrow made products. They have been absolutely problem free since I got them!
I've seen some nice builds on 6 ft 180's using two Evergrow IT2080's (I think they're the same as the photon 32?) I use one of the IT2080's on a 60 gallon tank I have, and it's been great going on two years now. SPS, LPS, softies all doing very well. I think you could do two of those and have pretty good coverage, and not break the bank. Not sure if you could get under 400, but much cheaper than say a Radion/Hydra/etc setup which would cost three times as much.
Ron Reefman
Active member
Yup! But now you be buying an IT2081 with an aluminum case (nice improvement) and adjustable legs (also nice). I use 2 over my 180g. But they retail for $450 each and he would need 2. The OP asked to keep it under $400. But if you can swing $900 or find a pair used, they are nice fixtures. I've been using mine for 3 years now ant the have run 24/7 except for the odd power failure during summertime Florida thunder storms!
Yup! But now you be buying an IT2081 with an aluminum case (nice improvement) and adjustable legs (also nice). I use 2 over my 180g. But they retail for $450 each and he would need 2. The OP asked to keep it under $400. But if you can swing $900 or find a pair used, they are nice fixtures. I've been using mine for 3 years now ant the have run 24/7 except for the odd power failure during summertime Florida thunder storms!
Ron--nice lookin' tank, man! I believe you were one inspirations for my LED choice 2 years ago.
Ron Reefman
Active member
Thanks man, I appreciate the kind words.
The tank will look even better in a couple of months. A friend of mine in our local club is downsizing from a 180g to an 80g. He has a lot of really nice corals (mostly Acros) and I'll be buying some full colonies and/or some mini colonies. He has a couple that are blue, blue/green and purple. I'm looking forward to having some new fancy corals.
The tank will look even better in a couple of months. A friend of mine in our local club is downsizing from a 180g to an 80g. He has a lot of really nice corals (mostly Acros) and I'll be buying some full colonies and/or some mini colonies. He has a couple that are blue, blue/green and purple. I'm looking forward to having some new fancy corals.
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