LED lights for BTA?

[t5Nitro]

I'm downsizing and I need to get some new lights. I currently have ATI T5 which are great, but I'd like to get into LED because of how cool they run and the fact that I won't be able to hang lights over this new tank.

The LFS had this over their display tank (no anemones in it though):

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=22443

Is this going to provide the light necessary in a tank 16" deep (assuming the anemone would be furthest away from the surface possible)?

I'd really like to get 2 AI sol and a mounting rail, but this is a cheap alternative if it will work. It actually looked really bright at the store.

 

[Genin]

I honestly can't answer if it will work for an anemone. I know at 12" they claim it gives 130par, at 16" I honestly don't know. I use the 18-24" on my 15gallon tank (which is only 12"tall) and it is plenty bright. I have had most of my palys flat out bleech under it so I guess it must be bright enough. I didn't like the shadows on the sides of the tank so I decided to use 2- 24w T5 for fill lighting. Nice and bright, with shimmer and good colors. It is very white though so I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like the 10k look. I'm not sure if you can switch out the LEDs on it.

 

[jimmy_beaner]

I don't know about that unit but my RBTAs love the LEDs. I had a clone that split off of the mother colony and it didn't have a mouth and at less than 50% power, it grew just fine and a month later has grown a mouth and new tentacles. I have 19 Crees over the Biocube 29

 

[t5Nitro]

I could always put 2 of those fixtures over my tank, side by side. This would be around $650. Or should I just grab 2xAI sol and mounting kit? The downside to that is they cost around double what two of the marineland fixtures would.

If I remember correctly, the LFS had 2 fixtures on their tank. So maybe that's why it was pretty bright. So if you all were to buy, would it be 2xmarineland reef fixtures or an AI system? The color of the marineland fixtures at the store looked fine to me. I just don't want it being too bright nor too dark as I don't think they have control.

I actually won't be around this tank except for weekends. So I'm on the edge if it's worth spending the big dollar on the newest and greatest. Just looking for opinions. Need to buy something in a few weeks.

Check this video out I just found. It shows the color and brightness of just one of these fixtures over a tank. In the comments he/she says the anemone is doing just fine. That's good.

edit: That tank in the video has a lid on it as well which mine won't.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NimOEmFhysE&feature=related

 

[theronsta]

Is this going to provide the light necessary in a tank 16" deep (assuming the anemone would be furthest away from the surface possible)?

No.
I have one of those marineland strips on a 55 tank at work and all i can say is dissapointing. You have to have the strip over the middle of the tank to get full coverage on the bottom. The color is also horrible. I would recommend getting the Reefbrite LEDs. I have one Super actinic strip on my 46 at home for better color and we had 3 (2 super actinic, 1 50/50) on another 55 at my work and we were successfully keeping clams and carpet nems.
I would do 2 white, 2 50/50, and 2 Super actinic 36 inch strips (1 of each over each half.) you can even do 2 actinics to 1 daylight if you want more blue like I do.

or get the AI's

 

[natebedwell06]

the marineland led's do suck, i use mvava on mine, if i knew how to post pictures id post some of my tank with the led's on it, when i take a pic i have to tone the intensity down on my phone or camera to keep the pic from blurring from the led's being to bright, i dont have a nem in my tank but we have some tanks at work with led's and some with halides and some with pc's and you can tell the nem's def. love the led's

 

[Genin]

I could always put 2 of those fixtures over my tank, side by side. This would be around $650. Or should I just grab 2xAI sol and mounting kit? The downside to that is they cost around double what two of the marineland fixtures would.

If I remember correctly, the LFS had 2 fixtures on their tank. So maybe that's why it was pretty bright. So if you all were to buy, would it be 2xmarineland reef fixtures or an AI system? The color of the marineland fixtures at the store looked fine to me. I just don't want it being too bright nor too dark as I don't think they have control.

I actually won't be around this tank except for weekends. So I'm on the edge if it's worth spending the big dollar on the newest and greatest. Just looking for opinions. Need to buy something in a few weeks.

Check this video out I just found. It shows the color and brightness of just one of these fixtures over a tank. In the comments he/she says the anemone is doing just fine. That's good.

edit: That tank in the video has a lid on it as well which mine won't.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NimOEmFhysE&feature=related

Honestly I don't know how it will work with an anemone. I am the same as you in that I got a deal on my MarineLand fixture and thought it would be great to try. Like I said I personally like it very much but if you don't like shadows you may want to get multiple fixtures, or like in my case just do a couple T5s. Plus the T5s will allow you to color customize what look you are going for. Maybe with T5s and this fixture you'd probably be good to go with keeping an anemone (don't crucify me anemone squad!).

 

[rwb500]

the marineland LED's are no more powerful than a standard PC fixture. They have about 20-30% of the power that a properly designed DIY fixture would have, for a given tank size. they are literally a useless addition to the hobby, unless you love your low-light soft corals but hate changing PC bulbs.

also most proper LED fixtures have somewhere between 50% and 66% blue. Some of the earlier built commercial fixtures had fewer blues, but now i think the manufacturers are copying the DIY'ers more. anyways, the marinelands are what like 15% blue? i dont remember the numbers, but whatever they are, it is nowhere near anything that most people like.

 

[theronsta]

Honestly I don't know how it will work with an anemone. I am the same as you in that I got a deal on my MarineLand fixture and thought it would be great to try. Like I said I personally like it very much but if you don't like shadows you may want to get multiple fixtures, or like in my case just do a couple T5s. Plus the T5s will allow you to color customize what look you are going for. Maybe with T5s and this fixture you'd probably be good to go with keeping an anemone (don't crucify me anemone squad!).

the t5 thing would probably help get the spread. but still not sure about the deepness of your tank. Im just not a fan of optic lens LEDs..

 

[Genin]

rwb500,
Standard PCs is not a fair comparison, that's just product bashing. Please provide information to back that claim up. When will 21w of PC compare to 21w MarineLand Reef Capable LED? Standard PC bulbs need to be replaced every 6-8 months to keep the spectrum correct and will not provide the same lux or par value, even when compared to the weak ML system. There's still plenty of power savings and heat savings to note.

I do agree with you that it only provides about 30% of the output of a 3w Cree. That makes sense since the ML uses 1w LEDs. Also you are correct, it is approximately 15% blue.

OP,
You can summize that for an anemone and your tank depth you are going to need to go to higher watt LEDs to make it work. It will cost you a very pretty penny but you won't need to replace the bulbs for years and years and it will look awesome. Plus you'll save money on energy bills.

 

[t5Nitro]

Yea, I think a 2 module AI and tank mount rail is in the thinking. This thread didn't really give me a big push to go this route. I looked into the Ecoxotic Panorama LED as well. But at that price point, the AI upgrade isn't too far away.

 

[hypnoj]

I have 25 Cree's (5 x Evil's PAR 38 bulbs) over my 80 g anemone tank and they're thriving. Those marineland ones just don't put out enough light. The AI modules are really good, but there are lots of LED set up's between the marineland and the AI modules. Keep looking until you find what you really need and want.

 

[t5Nitro]

Where did you buy the Evil's PAR 38 bulbs? How are you mounting them?

 

[hypnoj]

I got mine from nanotuners.com. there is another retailer that sells them as well. I mounted mine in IKEA hanging can light fixtures. Pic to follow, you get the idea.

 

[Whip316]

i got the marineland led over a 20g tank and its plain dim and really lackluster. i had a single 27w PC 50/50 over that tank and it was wayy brighter. they need many more LEDS in the fixture to do any good except for lighting a small tank that needs no real lighting. like a QT or something.