lighting that won't break the bank?

[steveo9043]

So I have been trying to do my research into the lighting aspect of the hobby. So far I have just given myself a headache.

I have thought about the DIY LED's, T5's, MH, Etc

I want to be able to keep a variety of corals in the future, Don't need to be able to keep them all.

I have looked at the marineland reef led kits but way too expensive.

I was looking at this on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/48-QUAD-Aqu...263?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45ff662f37

Would that be good? How does my bow effect the lighting?

I would like to stay under $150.

 

[jwblocal701]

Check out these LEDs
I just got a smaller set and there real nice
48" is 175.00 not much more that u want to spend and they ship from Chicago
http://www.aquavibrant.com/index.ph...ray-ii-ultra-slim-led-db-10000k-actinics.html

 

[steveo9043]

Thanks for the input, I will look into them. Again I don't know too much what I am looking at lol.

I did notice that it says the output would be the same a 3 t5's.

 

[steveo9043]

edit: double post

 

[jwblocal701]

You got to remember with LEDs you'll never have to replace the bulbs
With other lighting you will
So in the Long run it's technically cheaper

 

[steveo9043]

Understandable, I prefer the idea of LEDs. Use less power and last longer. Just want to make sure it's sufficient for my tank.

 

[bennyblanco]

I'm selling my 36 tek t5 6 x 39wt fixture. Not sure what size is needed for a 72

 

[steveo9043]

48in

 

[DragonFish]

39w is nowhere near enough light over a 72 bowfront. I saw some PAR readings of that fixture and they are pretty low. Let me dig around and see what I can find.

 

[DragonFish]

I don't think you're going to swing LEDs over a 72 for around $150 unless you find a great deal in the Used Equipment forum. If it were mine I'd get this and use the extra money to replace the bulbs right away with good quality ones.

http://www.aquatraders.com/48-inch-4x54W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Digi-Timer-Fixture-p/52325.htm

 

[steveo9043]

Thanks for the link. I was trying to buy used marineland led's from someone local but sold before I sent them a message.

The light fixture is only 8in deep and from the center of the bow to the back is 18in. Is that ok?

 

[bennyblanco]

48in

Cool, good luck! Check Craigslist as well.

 

[DragonFish]

Yes, the spread of the light should be just fine. Stay away from the Marineland lights anyway, even the "Reef Capable" isn't enough light. Just to give you an idea, I'm running 36 watts of LEDs over my 16 gallon bowfront.

 

[yogoshio]

These have kept a friends nem garden going for a while now. He has two of these over his 75 gallon.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-Re...424?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1d111ce8

 

[suliaman007]

I have a tek 48" 8x 54w t5 fixture or $200. Its a little more than you want to spend but you don't need to to worry about not having enough light. The bulbs have a few months left.

 

[ska d]

I don't think you're going to swing LEDs over a 72 for around $150 unless you find a great deal in the Used Equipment forum. If it were mine I'd get this and use the extra money to replace the bulbs right away with good quality ones.

http://www.aquatraders.com/48-inch-4x54W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Digi-Timer-Fixture-p/52325.htm

i agree this is true. but i think we are on the verge of seeing the price of leds drop significantly. sort of like the led tvs. a year or two ago they were super expensive. and now they are about what we were paying for lcd a couple of years ago. it seems there has been a flood of new led fixtures from diy to controllable with built in microprocessors. with all this competition its only a matter of time before companies have no choice but to offer their product at a more reasonable price. led technology has been around for ages now and the bubble is about to burst. i was at a lfs last weekend and the owner showed me a new unit that just came in. 120w multi color fixture. fully programmable built in processor. they were still in the back room but he told me they set them up side by side with the radion and not only did he think they looked better but the par was higher. the radion sold for 825 and this new unit was 399. why would anyone ( i certainly wouldnt) pay 825 for a unit when you can get something that will do the same thing ( minus wireless) for half the price. as these new products hit the market units like marineland ( i know they suck) will be sitting on the shelf forever. people upgrading will want to unload their old outdated equipment cheap. i wonder if the par 38 lamp could even be given away at this point.

 

[steveo9043]

These have kept a friends nem garden going for a while now. He has two of these over his 75 gallon.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-Re...424?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1d111ce8

I have read up about those. My only issue is I have the acrylic/plastic lids on my tank. I think that would get too hot. I have recently put a yellow headed jawfish in my tank and know they are known for jumping so don't know how that style cover will work.

 

[steveo9043]

I have a tek 48" 8x 54w t5 fixture or $200. Its a little more than you want to spend but you don't need to to worry about not having enough light. The bulbs have a few months left.

Thanks,

Ill keep that in mind.

 

[steveo9043]

i agree this is true. but i think we are on the verge of seeing the price of leds drop significantly. sort of like the led tvs. a year or two ago they were super expensive. and now they are about what we were paying for lcd a couple of years ago. it seems there has been a flood of new led fixtures from diy to controllable with built in microprocessors. with all this competition its only a matter of time before companies have no choice but to offer their product at a more reasonable price. led technology has been around for ages now and the bubble is about to burst. i was at a lfs last weekend and the owner showed me a new unit that just came in. 120w multi color fixture. fully programmable built in processor. they were still in the back room but he told me they set them up side by side with the radion and not only did he think they looked better but the par was higher. the radion sold for 825 and this new unit was 399. why would anyone ( i certainly wouldnt) pay 825 for a unit when you can get something that will do the same thing ( minus wireless) for half the price. as these new products hit the market units like marineland ( i know they suck) will be sitting on the shelf forever. people upgrading will want to unload their old outdated equipment cheap. i wonder if the par 38 lamp could even be given away at this point.

Thanks for the input. I know led's are still relatively knew to the hobby and they have a premium price point right now. Do you think it's possible to do a DIY project for around my price point? They would need to be sitting/mounted to the top of the aquarium as its in my living room with 18ft high ceilings so hanging isn't an option.

 

[steveo9043]

I have a tek 48" 8x 54w t5 fixture or $200. Its a little more than you want to spend but you don't need to to worry about not having enough light. The bulbs have a few months left.

After looking up the specs on that light I don't think it's going to work. I can't have a hanging light feature and if I found some way to mount it, it's 2in deeper then even my deepest point.