Lighting

DripN.Wet

New member
Does anyone use LED light to illuminate there reef tank? I am starting a 300 gal build and would like to know if you guys think they are worth investing the money in. I have LPS, Chalices, Mushrooms, Leathers, and a Clam and someday would like to be able to grow some SPS. I currently have a 125 setup and use 3 250W metal halides. What is the best wat to light a 8ft tank that is nearly 3ft deep?



Chad
 
i think you are better off staying with MH at this point. I think LED is the future, but I don't think they are there yet, especially for a 3 ft deep tank.
 
well would anyone have any suggestions on the size of MH.... I am thinking 4 x 400W MH but how many VHOs? any info would be great..... I have been pretty succuessful with my 125 but the 300 is a bit intimidating just looking at it.
 
Also anyone with Lights and equiptment that would work for a 300 gal build feel free to text me at 330-347-9873...None of my stuff is large enough to be used on the new tank. I say text because often I am away from the computer for weeks at a time. I'll try to make time to get online to check the posts as often as possible!! Hopefully once or twice a week. I am hoping to start a build thread once I get the floor reinforced and the tank in the house and out of the garage.
 
You could probably use 250w bulbs on that tank as long as you kept light loving corals off of the sand bed. You would just need to make sure you used powerful, high par bulbs.

What bulbs, ballasts and reflectors are you currently using.
 
The reflectors will be a big part of whether you can get away with 250w or if you should go to 400w. If you're wanting to be keeping that clam on the sandbed, I'd be looking at 400w. If you weren't sold on adding SPS though, definitely 250w would be enough. Most people like the radiums on tanks like this, but the bulbs are expensive, and don't burn as long as a lot of other bulbs. You could grow SPS anywhere, even with 30" deep though using a radium, so there is a benefit to it, and the color of their bulbs are terrific. With your current stock list, you could probably even get away with upgrading the reflectors (if needed) and just using the 3x250w halides to grow LPS and softies, even in the larger tank. It wouldn't be ideal, but without having plans for an SPS dominated tank, I don't see the cost of adding another halide, or changing out the whole lighting system as being worth the expense. That's my opinion.
 
3 ft is deep for LED. Unless you keep the high light sps and such in the top 12-18" of water. I have a red planet that's growing CRAZY under a homemade junk LED no optical fixture. I'm looking into the Maxspect LEDs now because of the great performance of my DIY setup.

Kevin
 
The reflectors will be a big part of whether you can get away with 250w or if you should go to 400w. If you're wanting to be keeping that clam on the sandbed, I'd be looking at 400w. If you weren't sold on adding SPS though, definitely 250w would be enough. Most people like the radiums on tanks like this, but the bulbs are expensive, and don't burn as long as a lot of other bulbs. You could grow SPS anywhere, even with 30" deep though using a radium, so there is a benefit to it, and the color of their bulbs are terrific. With your current stock list, you could probably even get away with upgrading the reflectors (if needed) and just using the 3x250w halides to grow LPS and softies, even in the larger tank. It wouldn't be ideal, but without having plans for an SPS dominated tank, I don't see the cost of adding another halide, or changing out the whole lighting system as being worth the expense. That's my opinion.

Any chance he could just use a 400w HM over the clam and 250s over the rest of the tank?

Just don't see a need to toss money down the lecy bill drain if there is no need for it.
 
Have you seen what people are doing with natural sunlight by way of solar tubes. If it's option for you I would seriously consider it. Here's a great link with tons of pictures. http://mail.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1561945
Who knows it might be easier to install than you think, and there's been sevral people getting par levels above 2500. You don't spend much money on elec. for MH's, no chiller, mega growth of corals, and no bulbs or ballasts to replace. If natural sunlight can penetrate 100 ft. of seawater to supply corals with food your 3' tank should be no problem.
 
Solar Lights now that is something I would consider!!! anyone able to text me a web address or phone number where I could contact someone about this option!!! I will be away from the forum for a few days so please text if possible! Thanks Everyone!!!!
 
Have you seen what people are doing with natural sunlight by way of solar tubes. If it's option for you I would seriously consider it. Here's a great link with tons of pictures. http://mail.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1561945
Who knows it might be easier to install than you think, and there's been sevral people getting par levels above 2500. You don't spend much money on elec. for MH's, no chiller, mega growth of corals, and no bulbs or ballasts to replace. If natural sunlight can penetrate 100 ft. of seawater to supply corals with food your 3' tank should be no problem.

I would try that in a heartbeat....if I was single. There is no way in hell my wife will let me cut a hole in the roof....:lolspin: I get in enough trouble when I cut a hole in the floor.
 
I have a couple of solar tubes in my house. The amount of light in the summer is amazing, not so much in the winter. They are for light in one hall and my kitchen. I don't have them on a tank. I have a par meter and will check the par when I get it back (I loaned it out).
 
I think some LED fixtures would work with a 3 foot deep tank. The Pacific Sun 160w CREE LED fixtures are actually recommended for only tanks that are at least 30 inches deep. And I believe the 230w Maxspects have PAR rating slightly stronger than a 400w MH.
 
I would try that in a heartbeat....if I was single. There is no way in hell my wife will let me cut a hole in the roof....:lolspin: I get in enough trouble when I cut a hole in the floor.

Just tell her you got dizzy and didn't know which was was down....or you could always tell her that you forgot which floor you were on. Either way, the desired result is achieved...once the hole is already there, there is nothing else to do :)
 
I have a couple of solar tubes in my house. The amount of light in the summer is amazing, not so much in the winter. They are for light in one hall and my kitchen. I don't have them on a tank. I have a par meter and will check the par when I get it back (I loaned it out).

Even still, if you could use this from April to October, it would be a very intriguing option I would think, and with rising costs of energy, could pay for itself in a very short period of time. I'd be curious as to what kind of PAR readings you get on cloudy days as well. Please do let us know what PAR readings you get, because this could be an option for me, and is something that I'm very interested in looking into a little bit more. The pictures in the link on the guys build thread look GREAT!
 
I have one solar tube on the south facing side of the house and another on the north facing side. There is a tremendous difference in the amount of light each one gets (south facing much brighter).

I will post results once I get my meter back.

--Ray
 
Didn't really read all the responses... not gunna lie... :lol:

Anyway, not sure if you are aware of this... but a friend of mine and C-Sea member has a 300g (Marineland DD) build on the large tank forum. He's only using 250w halides and his tank is primarily SPS... NICE SPS... Also, I believe he's currently considering a switch to LEDs to reduce his electric costs.

Here is the build. It's definitely worth the read for anyone interested in setting up a large system. He switches reflectors and bulbs somewhere in the thread as well.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1593174
 
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