LED Lighting

[claytaylor32]

Tank Dimensions: 12.75"L x 48.5"W x 25" H (60 gallon)

I would love some recommendations for LED lighting. I am relatively new to the saltwater tank hobby and am trying to decide on LED lighting. I have tried a couple different reef strip lights that I did not like the lighting/lack of shimmer, but did like the way that it was programmable. The biggest drawback for the strip lights was having to remove them to do tank maintenance. I don't want to hang the lights, so I am interested in being able to clamp to the side of the tank, gooseneck style. Also, would it be possible to buy one light at a time if several units were need ie leave part of the tank darker? Finances are an issue, but I would rather do that than buy a strip light that I don't like that covers the whole area. Thanks!

 

[mmittlesteadt]

I have a friend that bought a small Kessil unit and after seeing the effect over the tank, I'm saving my money for that upgrade. Killer LED lights...full shimmer effect, programmable, adjustable intensity and pretty damned bright for such a small unit. Pricey, but well worth it.

 

[coralsnaked]

Reef Breeders Photon 48 with built in legs

 

[claytaylor32]

Love those Kessils - I just don't know which ones / how many to buy. Would probably start out with one on one end of the tank then add others because they are so pricey.

 

[HobosReef]

The general rule I believe is 2 watts per gallon for LEDs

 

[toothybugs]

The general rule I believe is 2 watts per gallon for LEDs

There is no general rule, it all depends on tank depth and what you're trying to grow. PAR rules the day.

 

[whosurcaddie]

There is no general rule, it all depends on tank depth and what you're trying to grow. PAR rules the day.

Yep.

 

[jchakraborty]

Have you ever looked into EcoRay lightings

 

[Moray26]

Maxspect Razor's

 

[BigCountry74]

your gonna want to hang/mount them. its not hard. sorry man. do it right and you will be rewarded. do it wrong and all hell breaks lose...just my .02

 

[Bpb]

Kessils look great but would be horrible ineffecient on a tank that is only 12" front to back. They have a true cone or circular style light beam, and if you hang them high enough to get even coverage without a big dark spot in the middle, you're going to be spending as much money to light the floor as you will the tank. I'd look into BuildmyLED strips, they mount perfectly flush on the tank rim, are waterproof (I spill drops of water on mine all the time), and would provide excellent even coverage from end to end, while being able to grow anything you want.

 

[claytaylor32]

thanks for all the replies....i am trying one kessil 160WE right now...it is lighting half the tank well...it definitely is hard tho with a 12 inch wide tank...very narrow so the light with gooseneck comes down too close to the front. May check into mounting.

 

[NS Mike D]

What ever you decide on (and pay attention the the posts here that say it's about PAR) consider these options,

1. Dimmable/Programmable. You will want to control you blue lights separately from your white lights. You'll run your blue lights longer than the whites and you'll want to ramp your lights on and off like nature does.


2. Add additional color. While with and blue spectrums are what drives coral growth, other colors will show off your tank better.

3. Consider units that can withstand being submerged. (maybe I have butter fingers but more tank once might lights have taken a dip)

4. Contact a few companies and give them tank dimensions and what you plan to stock it with and let them recommend the unit(s).


Then compare the suggestions and post them here for feed back from folks with first hand experience. Of course we tend to (and myself included) limit our opinions on the equipment we use.

On that note I am using Fluvals Marine & Reef. They aren't favored on this board but they met what appears to be the spectrum requirements for corals, they are a German-based company (seems that europeans have good reputations for reef tank hardware) and their customer service tells me that my 24" model matches my 29 nano for coral growth. ( just added my sps so we'l see of they are right, but my soft and lps corals are doing quite well).