New led selection help

reefbroao

reefbroao

New member
currently I have a reef breeder 24" on my 56g column tank.

30L 25H 18W are the dimensions

I am deciding it might be best for me to just spend the money on a more expensive fixture so I would like your opinions on:

possibly kessil's but their par isnt that good for my tank depth

Radion

AI52

I would love to stick with one fixture for this tank.
 
Help us try to help you. Answer these questions so we have a better idea what you are looking for:

What is it about the ReefBreeder fixture that you don't like?

What is it that you'll get from a Radion, AI52 or Kessil fixture that you think you need?

They may be 'better' fixtures, but do you really need the 'gadgets' they offer given they cost so much more?
 
I really do like my fixture now but the problem is the size. I don't have the room to put another fixture so there are dead spots to the sides. it is 120W so I just would like to have a little bit more plus I would like to add fixtures eventually when I upgrade.

I have though of many ways to add supplemental light but the fixture just takes up too much of the overhead to add anything else besides a kessil or goose neck but the par wont be high enough the depth of my tank.
 
I'd like some brand recommendations too. I don't need wifi or remote controls. I just want good light but at a price I won't have to sell my soul for.
 
I'm using a single Radion Pro on a 30 deep, 36 w (discounting bow) 32 long-sides, bowfront. There are some lesser light areas down deep to the sides, but bubble corals, etc will do fine there. lps is quite happy at about 15" down. I do like the daily parade of colors on its first (and most popular) preset program. I don't have a separate control unit: I keep the USB plugged in and the cord trailing, and when I want to adjust it I just plug it into my laptop---a phone could probably do the same. When I needed to acclimate, I just linked in, toggled 'acclimate', one button, and it immediately adjusted my program to do that and come up to 'normal' after several days. I really like this unit. It's the only one I know that easily handles a 30" deep.
 
The Kessil A360NE (not WE) series would be fine for your tank depth. It has more penetration but a smaller spread.

The thing about LEDs is if you want to stick to one fixture, that's going to be difficult with your footprint without raising the lights so high you lose PAR and light up the entire room with the light spill. :| Fixtures with more spread use multiple pucks/more LEDs so they start getting expensive.
 
reefbroao said:
kessil AP700 looks amazing but the price is painful
Click to expand...

Is there anything about this hobby that isn't painful? :D

The AP700 is supposed to do a better job about shadowing, I think. I've been running A360NEs on my tank for a year but the shadowing is really bad and I'm adding T5s now. The difference is pretty amazing.
 
reefbroao said:
im at the same place. shadowing is just so bad on my tank now.
Click to expand...

Yup - I have SPS that range from very pale or white to completely bare and dead underneath where it's shadowed. The stuff where the light actually hits is great. I'm going to miss the clean look of just the Kessils over the tank. :)
 
I bought the AP700 :bounce3:

bye bye $900 hope my girlfriend doesnt look up the price she might leave me.

I got to check it out at my lfs and the shadow elimination us unmatched.
 
reefbroao said:
I bought the AP700 :bounce3:

bye bye $900 hope my girlfriend doesnt look up the price she might leave me.

I got to check it out at my lfs and the shadow elimination us unmatched.
Click to expand...

Woot! Congrats! My boyfriend knows to just not ask... :)
 
Okay, quick question. I've noticed a difference between the really thin LEDs and the larger ones with the fans. Are the thin ones inadequate? If not, what brands work? Thanks
 
I am waiting for it to arrive. But from what I saw at the LFS It is the best on the market.
It was covering every inch of the tank. They even had one set up on a 4X2 and the single fixture hit all of it. The coloring was fantastic and it gave a very unique shimmer. Although I think pricing lights that high is totally ridiculous I am willing to shell it out because of the fact that I wont have to buy more than one unit.

The built in wireless is so much easier. But we will see when it gets here and I can upload a video. I got mine on ebay which included the mounting legs, everywhere else is sold out.

But yes my reef breeders hits all my corals but leaves HUGE dead spots around every corner of my tank.
 
reefbroao said:
I am waiting for it to arrive. But from what I saw at the LFS It is the best on the market.
It was covering every inch of the tank. They even had one set up on a 4X2 and the single fixture hit all of it. The coloring was fantastic and it gave a very unique shimmer. Although I think pricing lights that high is totally ridiculous I am willing to shell it out because of the fact that I wont have to buy more than one unit.

The built in wireless is so much easier. But we will see when it gets here and I can upload a video. I got mine on ebay which included the mounting legs, everywhere else is sold out.

But yes my reef breeders hits all my corals but leaves HUGE dead spots around every corner of my tank.
Click to expand...

Which LFS? I know Berrier is all chinese box now.
 
If i were to go LED i would also go AP700. I was playing with it at my LFS the other day. The colors were great although it was a bit of a pita to program. Anyhow it looks like a great light. Congrats on the purchase.
 
Im a little worried about the par but my lfs offered to have me bring it in to measure the par. hopefully I can add a bit of this info on RC to help others
 
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