LED light suggestion help!

[Kluver]

I'm so confused with the selection of LED that I'm hoping someone can shed some light for me. My current tank is an 65gal with the following dimension: 36x18x24. It has 6 T5 at 39W each (retrofitted under my canopy). I have mainly leathers, mushrooms, some LPS and two montipora. I need an LED light equivalent. I like to be able to add more SPS in the future. I love the brightness that my T5's bring.
I just ordered the Orphek Nilus 24 Inch LED fixture and I'm completely disappointed. It's light is directly centered in my tank with shadows on both sides and the back. I've tried lifting it higher and still no luck. It's going back to the store. Can anyone suggest an LED setup that will take place of my beloved T5's? I don't think I like fixtures anymore since I will need to hang it underneath my canopy and space will be tight. Plus likely I will need two to prevent shadows and the $$ would be out of my budget. I'm looking to spend max $1000. Therefore, I'm leaning toward LED strips but don't know how many strips are needed and if it will penetrate to the bottom (24" but with retrofitted underneath canopy it will be around 32"). The canopy to water line is around 10". After researching, I like the following (please ignore the kelvin reading for now):
1. Current USA TrueLumen Pro LED http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_USA_TrueLumen_Pro_LED_Striplight_20_Inch_LED_Light_Fixtures-Current_USA-CU03000-FILTFILDTN-vi.html. However, I've heard that these led will not be able to penetrate deep enough.
2. Ecoxotic Panorama Pro 19W 12,000K/445nm Blue LED Module http://www.marinedepot.com/Ecoxotic_Panorama_Pro_LED_Module_Linkable_LED_Light_Fixtures-Ecoxotic-XX08225-FILTFILDLK-vi.html For these, since it's 12.75" long I'm concerned of the amount of strips I will need and that will cost too much.
3. Innovative Marine Skkye Light Single Strip 36 Inch 18 Watt 14,000K LED Fixture http://www.marinedepot.com/Innovative_Marine_Skkye_Light_Single_Strip_LED_Fixture_20_Inch_LED_Light_Fixtures-Innovative_Marine-0I10230-FILTFILDTN-vi.html I like these are best since I think they will fit under my canopy and it seems bright enough but unsure how many to get and if the manufacture is any good.
In summary, things that I'm looking for are: not cast any shadows, bright like my T5's, able to handle SPS in the future and budget of 1K. Any suggestions/comments/feedback regarding these lights or others LED would be greatly APPRECIATED! :headwally:

 

[mori]

you could try 2 AI super blue.

 

[dunc101]

Two Kessil a350's would look great on that tank and cover the tank great! They are $399 a piece leaving you with $200 under budget.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewi...child=YH1131&gclid=CPn74KnH_a8CFYuc7Qod23yFhA

I don't think the a150's would be quite powerful enough for a 24 inch deep tank with sps. If you are not going to do a ton of SPS, however, that may also be an option (and save you another $200).

If you don't mind a DIY, then the solderless Triple Puck Kits from rapidled.com is practically the exact same thing as an AI Sol Blue. 2 of these would place you UNDER $500 for EVERYTHING.

 

[Kluver]

Two Kessil a350's would look great on that tank and cover the tank great! They are $399 a piece leaving you with $200 under budget.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewi...child=YH1131&gclid=CPn74KnH_a8CFYuc7Qod23yFhA

I don't think the a150's would be quite powerful enough for a 24 inch deep tank with sps. If you are not going to do a ton of SPS, however, that may also be an option (and save you another $200).

If you don't mind a DIY, then the solderless Triple Puck Kits from rapidled.com is practically the exact same thing as an AI Sol Blue. 2 of these would place you UNDER $500 for EVERYTHING.

I like the DIY method and was doing some research last night. I looked at some solderless kit from rapidled.com but was not sure about the heat sink. They measured it to be about 6". With 80 degree optics how many lights/kit will I need to cover my tank? I can usually do alot of DIY projects but led is completely foreign to me

 

[Outlets710]

I'm just lighting a 26 nano but I was going to go from 2 t5s and a Ecoxotic blue bar to an AI SOL but too many said I won't be able to grow sps so now I am looking to go w a 4 bulb ATI with a Reefbrite tech led on the front end. I have seen a few of these bars onATI fixtures on other tanks and they look fanatastic. You will probably be right at 1k but it's top of the line.
going rimless so i am a little limited.

 

[bhazard451]

After 3+ years, I decided that T5s and Metal Halides weren't worth having to continually change bulbs out for $60+ a pop every time. I wanted to go with LEDs, but the systems available are very expensive.

There is a thread here called Chinese LED lights which has some great info. I just bought a very nice dimmable unit for $230, which is much more powerful than all of the fixtures you listed, and cost much less. They even have a nice unit for $165.

If you're willing to take the chance of having to deal with a Chinese supplier directly, this will save you hundreds and get you a very nice fixture capable of growing SPS. You can even find these on ebay from US sellers, although most of the units aren't dimmable on there.

This is my light that I just ordered.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/317880/211503820-561581677/Dimmable-NOVA-A4.html

This is the $165 one.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/317...9/Dimmable-120w-55x3w-led-aquarium-light.html

Both Dimmable, and you can choose which color leds and optics you want installed by emailing first.

 

[Outlets710]

After 3+ years, I decided that T5s and Metal Halides weren't worth having to continually change bulbs out for $60+ a pop every time. I wanted to go with LEDs, but the systems available are very expensive.

If you're willing to take the chance of having to deal with a Chinese supplier directly, this will save you hundreds and get you a very nice fixture capable of growing SPS. You can even find these on ebay from US sellers, although most of the units aren't dimmable on there.

This is my light that I just ordered.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/317880/211503820-561581677/Dimmable-NOVA-A4.html

This is the $165 one.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/317...9/Dimmable-120w-55x3w-led-aquarium-light.html


I order a light from Eshine, they are China based company, I was happy with it, dimmer works fine just took a little long for it to get here. Good luck

Both Dimmable, and you can choose which color leds and optics you want installed by emailing first.

Oops meant that for Kluver

 

[Kluver]

After 3+ years, I decided that T5s and Metal Halides weren't worth having to continually change bulbs out for $60+ a pop every time. I wanted to go with LEDs, but the systems available are very expensive.

There is a thread here called Chinese LED lights which has some great info. I just bought a very nice dimmable unit for $230, which is much more powerful than all of the fixtures you listed, and cost much less. They even have a nice unit for $165.

If you're willing to take the chance of having to deal with a Chinese supplier directly, this will save you hundreds and get you a very nice fixture capable of growing SPS. You can even find these on ebay from US sellers, although most of the units aren't dimmable on there.

This is my light that I just ordered.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/317880/211503820-561581677/Dimmable-NOVA-A4.html

This is the $165 one.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/317...9/Dimmable-120w-55x3w-led-aquarium-light.html

Both Dimmable, and you can choose which color leds and optics you want installed by emailing first.

Wow nice and cheap! Bhazard can you give me more info on your light please? How high are you hanging them over your water line? Does the light spread evenly over your tank (I can't stand shadows are a noticable difference between light and dark areas) and what's the color temp of that light? I wanted something close to 20K look.

Outlets--- I also read on some thread that AI Sols can't grow SPS very well but that thread had some mixed feelings as well. So let me get this straight, you are likely to stick with t5's mainly and add led as a supplement?