Looking for a good T5 48" 6X54 watt fixture

[Zacktosterone]

RapidLED sells kits where you attach each 3W LED to an aluminum heat sink using thermo-epoxy and/or screws. For the dimmable kits, you typically wire each color of LEDs in separate strings so you can control the overall color of the fixture and provide dawn/dusk effects using a controller if desired. Each LED has a lens to help focus the light. You can choose wider lenses (80-100 degrees) for more even distribution, or narrower lenses (40-60 degrees) for light penetration.

The solderless kits makes it pretty easy to assemble your own fixture since the wires clip into sockets. They have a movie at the bottom of the page showing you how it is done.

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I have an old Solaris fixture from the stone age of LED's. It pales in comparison to the output and choice of color temperature available today. Intensity and spectrum are no longer an issue, but you may or may not object to the caustic patterns (or "disco effect" generated by an LED arrays. The Kessil seems interesting to me since it puts the array in a compact area ahead of the lens, so the light is cast more like a single point source like the sun. This creates a more natural (simpler) caustic pattern on the sand and rocks.

T5HO's have a far more diffuse and even distribution, but that can look a bit unnatural since cast shadows are often very soft instead of sharp. More like a cloudy day.

Ugh too much work lol just as expensive (almost)

 

[88rxna]

Ocean revive has a group buy going on now. I paid $156 for each unit shipped for the S026. Really happy so far. Colora are better and its known the full spectrum led fixture in fact do grow corals. I had the auquatic life 6 bulb and my bulbs were in need of replacing. At $20-25 a piece, it adds up year after year.
Also, my t5 fixture was using 319 watts 9 hours a day. The leds use 60 watts 9 hours a day!

 

[88rxna]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2340668

 

[Zacktosterone]

I dont know anything about that light. OR looks exactly like reefbreeders. With 90 degree optics I'm worried about a discoball effect. What's the point of a group buy? How much cheaper is the fixture

 

[88rxna]

Research my friend!
Google "ocean revive S026 reviews" or something in that line and read. I am not trying to sell you these lights. I have no disco ball effect. These are spread out more on the fixture unlike the reefbreeders. And yes, it is very similar to them.
Reason of the group buy is the company is new to the forum and tryig to save us a few bucks while trying sell a bunch of units! Win win:thumbup:
The fixture is normaly $175 or so i i think?

 

[Zacktosterone]

Research my friend!
Google "ocean revive S026 reviews" or something in that line and read. I am not trying to sell you these lights. I have no disco ball effect. These are spread out more on the fixture unlike the reefbreeders. And yes, it is very similar to them.
Reason of the group buy is the company is new to the forum and tryig to save us a few bucks while trying sell a bunch of units! Win win:thumbup:
The fixture is normaly $175 or so i i think?

How many do I need?

 

[Meanstreet5150]

Wow I just looked at these, would 2 be enough for a 90 gallon? Or should I just get 3

 

[88rxna]

I have a 90 also. Im using 2 and its plenty. keep in mind these have no moonlights and no timer. Only dimmers for light intensity settings. I started mine at 25% white 45% blue and will ramp it up to 45% white 75%blue over a few weeks.
They have other fixtures on sale also if a programmer or dimming or even moonlights are a must.

 

[Lateralus]

What's your opinion on leds

Well they are strictly moon lights. They look pretty good for night time viewing.