Novices need LED lighting questions answered.
- Thread starter Sk8r
- Start date
Ron Reefman
Active member
If you have any questions (specific or general) ask away. There is help here.
I'm building a 40 breeder frag tank for LPS and softies. Might go to sps later but I doubt it. Any suggestion for a light that will be well under $200? I'm thinking the Mars Aqua 300w is my only choice or if I can find 2x used Chinese black boxes. Is there anything else out there that I haven't seen? I would definitely like to stay Led too. Thanks!
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Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Ron Reefman
Active member
There aren't a lot of choices for a 4' tank that are led and come in at under $200. The MarsAqua should be a good light for your needs though.
Tank is a year old. I've had it two months. I'm assuming that along with it being a new tank the movie love it kick some things up and probably destabilized the tank to a degree. I'm just running the lights at 25%. More Blues than whites, right lower the lights to their 529 inch height above the tank with a should be for a 90 degree optic lens I just don't know how low I can turn these LEDs down if it's going to hurt the coral and not that type of stuff. Water parameters are fine except nitrates.
Salinity 1.026
pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Alk 8
Phosphorus 0
Cal 520
40 gallon breeder with a maxspect 130. Only running under halfway
Feed once a week now, was heavy handed when I got the tank.
Inhabitants are
6 line wrasse
Two snowflake clowns
Full sized engineer goby,so I was told.
Blue Dotty
Serpent star
One green carpet anemone
2 small btas bringing them back from the dead I think?
Few mushrooms
Two types of star polyps
Couple hermits and snail.
Used chemiclean two weeks ago but here I am again.
I did turn off one power head. Thought this maxspect gyre would be plenty. I can definitely dark out the tank. Thanks.
Ron Reefman
Active member
IMHO, the more flow you can have in your tank the better. Obviously, at some point the flow starts to disturb certain corals or the sand bed, but if everybody is currently OK with the flow, consider adding more. The new wavemaker pumps with adjustable speed and flow patterns really make this a lot easier than it use to be... back in the days of no waves and single speed pumps.
Good luck.
Turned off the light. Just running blues at 40 % to keep them happy. Cyano is already starting to peel off. I'll be siphoning what I can when I can. But for the first 24 I'm impressed. Have a great picture to post but my silly self can't figure it out at this time. Thanks. I'll be back
Ron Reefman
Active member
It may be due to not having enough posts yet or just that you are new to the system. I expect a moderator will let you know now that you've asked. There is also a forum where you can ask such questions about how RC works.
Elricsfate
New member
This is a great thread, and of interest to me as I am in the beginning stage of setting up my 180. Starting off FOWLR, and intending to add some corals somewhere down the road. My plan currently was to buy 2-3 Aquatic Life Halo MX80's to light the tank.
Money is not a big issue, though obviously I'm not trying to waste it unnecessarily.
The tank is 72x24x24. Any thoughts on this light selection?
Thanks in advance.
Money is not a big issue, though obviously I'm not trying to waste it unnecessarily.
The tank is 72x24x24. Any thoughts on this light selection?
Thanks in advance.
Ron Reefman
Active member
I'd never seen this fixture before you asked about it, so I'm not even close to an expert on this one.
I like the design, In fact I like it a lot! I think the led color choices are very good and a good ratio of blue to white. BTW Premium Aquatics has the deluxe version on sale for $275 and free shipping? It does make me wonder why? Is there an new or improved model coming?
The down side comments are few. Looking at several sites I never saw anybody talk about the footprint of the fixture in a 24" deep tank. It's a pretty small fixture with 80 degree optics so I'm guessing 2'x2' at the upper limit. Which means you'll need 3 for coral, less for a FOWLR. They also don't do any red or green leds. It's funny, in a cheap... I mean inexpensive Chinese fixture where the leds are all spread out, I'd rather not have red or green leds as they add to the disco or colored shadow lines. But in a fixture like this, red and green leds would blend with everything else and there should be virtually no disco or shadow line issues.
Mixed feelings... you'll pay a healthy premium for the basic fixture compared to OceanRevive, MarsAqua, Reef Breeders and other basic Chinese fixtures. You'll be a lot closer to even up if you go for the premium fixture compared to Reef Breeders Photon V2, which I think is the best of the inexpensive full control fixtures. And the Aqua Life is just a 2 channel system where the RB Photon V2 is a 6 channel system.
My final review, it's very good looking and has good led spectrum IMHO, but it's a bit expensive compared to some of the competition. So it's a matter of what you are willing to pay for.
I like the design, In fact I like it a lot! I think the led color choices are very good and a good ratio of blue to white. BTW Premium Aquatics has the deluxe version on sale for $275 and free shipping? It does make me wonder why? Is there an new or improved model coming?
The down side comments are few. Looking at several sites I never saw anybody talk about the footprint of the fixture in a 24" deep tank. It's a pretty small fixture with 80 degree optics so I'm guessing 2'x2' at the upper limit. Which means you'll need 3 for coral, less for a FOWLR. They also don't do any red or green leds. It's funny, in a cheap... I mean inexpensive Chinese fixture where the leds are all spread out, I'd rather not have red or green leds as they add to the disco or colored shadow lines. But in a fixture like this, red and green leds would blend with everything else and there should be virtually no disco or shadow line issues.
Mixed feelings... you'll pay a healthy premium for the basic fixture compared to OceanRevive, MarsAqua, Reef Breeders and other basic Chinese fixtures. You'll be a lot closer to even up if you go for the premium fixture compared to Reef Breeders Photon V2, which I think is the best of the inexpensive full control fixtures. And the Aqua Life is just a 2 channel system where the RB Photon V2 is a 6 channel system.
My final review, it's very good looking and has good led spectrum IMHO, but it's a bit expensive compared to some of the competition. So it's a matter of what you are willing to pay for.
Elricsfate
New member
Thank you Ron. I am new around here, but I have read quite a few of your posts with great interest.
I looked up the RB Photon V2. Unfortunately, it appears the largest one the sell is the 50, which is "ideal for tanks up to 60 inches". My tank is 72". That's one of the reasons I have given a lot of consideration to the pendant style lighting.
In your opinion would the absence of red or green negatively impact that inhabitants, or is it simple an aesthetic thing pertaining to how the tank looks from the outside?
With regard to cost, that is not a primary concern. I am blessed to be able to afford to purchase whatever I need. But I don't want to pay extra for nothing. So my concern is first and foremost, what equipment will best provide for the needs of my tank's inhabitants. If two pieces of equipment are equally able to fill this requirement, then I will opt for the less expensive one. But price is not my primary concern when selecting equipment.
I appreciate you, and all the others, being willing to help people make these tough decisions. When I first got into this 15 years ago it was a lot of reading books, guessing, and talking to the guys at the monthly club meeting. I did not have access to experienced reefers, in a timely manner, with the patience and willingness to entertain all of my newbie questions.
I feel like I am much more likely to be successful with this new endeavor, because I can get advice from folks like you.
Cheers
I looked up the RB Photon V2. Unfortunately, it appears the largest one the sell is the 50, which is "ideal for tanks up to 60 inches". My tank is 72". That's one of the reasons I have given a lot of consideration to the pendant style lighting.
In your opinion would the absence of red or green negatively impact that inhabitants, or is it simple an aesthetic thing pertaining to how the tank looks from the outside?
With regard to cost, that is not a primary concern. I am blessed to be able to afford to purchase whatever I need. But I don't want to pay extra for nothing. So my concern is first and foremost, what equipment will best provide for the needs of my tank's inhabitants. If two pieces of equipment are equally able to fill this requirement, then I will opt for the less expensive one. But price is not my primary concern when selecting equipment.
I appreciate you, and all the others, being willing to help people make these tough decisions. When I first got into this 15 years ago it was a lot of reading books, guessing, and talking to the guys at the monthly club meeting. I did not have access to experienced reefers, in a timely manner, with the patience and willingness to entertain all of my newbie questions.
I feel like I am much more likely to be successful with this new endeavor, because I can get advice from folks like you.
Cheers
Ron Reefman
Active member
The absence of red and green leds isn't a big deal IMHO. Over my reef (mostly sps and some lps) I have them turned off and with my old leds, where I couldn't turn them off, I covered them with black electrical tape! I never had any issues. There is more than enough red and green spectrum in the white leds.
On the other hand, over my display refugium, I run 100% on the red and green leds as they do help with the photosynthesis of algae.
One of the biggest complaints I hear about leds is the 'disco' effect or red and green edging along shadows. Fixtures that spread out the leds have this issue. Fixtures that pack them into small spaces, like the Aquatic Life fixture, can have red and geer leds and because they are more of a single point light source, they don't have the shadow line issues. The fact that Aquatic Life left them out isn't anything I'd be concerned about.
On the other hand, over my display refugium, I run 100% on the red and green leds as they do help with the photosynthesis of algae.
One of the biggest complaints I hear about leds is the 'disco' effect or red and green edging along shadows. Fixtures that spread out the leds have this issue. Fixtures that pack them into small spaces, like the Aquatic Life fixture, can have red and geer leds and because they are more of a single point light source, they don't have the shadow line issues. The fact that Aquatic Life left them out isn't anything I'd be concerned about.
Elricsfate
New member
Thanks again.
I've been watching the BRS "52 Weeks of Reefing" series on Youtube. Last night was all the episodes about light. After everything I heard and saw I have to admit I am now thinking about a T5/LED hybrid.
Lots of things to consider... But, I'll muck through it in time.
I've been watching the BRS "52 Weeks of Reefing" series on Youtube. Last night was all the episodes about light. After everything I heard and saw I have to admit I am now thinking about a T5/LED hybrid.
Lots of things to consider... But, I'll muck through it in time.
Thesaltysplash
New member
Fluval wifi application
Fluval wifi application
Hello reefers,
I have a marine Reef Fluval 2.0 light and the Fluval Wi-Fi adapter.
I'm having problems getting the scheduling set on the application. It seems which ever light i adjust last (blue or white) becomes the running light day and night.
I made sure it was set to red before beginning. Anyone got experience with these?
Fluval wifi application
Hello reefers,
I have a marine Reef Fluval 2.0 light and the Fluval Wi-Fi adapter.
I'm having problems getting the scheduling set on the application. It seems which ever light i adjust last (blue or white) becomes the running light day and night.
I made sure it was set to red before beginning. Anyone got experience with these?
I'm just getting back into the hobby. My prior experience and equipment are all "pre-LED". My old setup that I'm using is 4 65w PCs on a 55g and I'm considering switching to LEDs. I don't what a DIY unit. My preference would be a plug and play unit that would fit under a wooden canopy. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Hi everyone, I just kind of wanted to double check that my lights will be able to handle (for the most part) most corals...assuming I get to the point of trying my hand at SPS for example.
I have two of these lights, over my standard rectangle 90 gal. If I remember right, they said that they could handle some of them but I was looking at so many different things that I don't really remember anymore.
I have two of these lights, over my standard rectangle 90 gal. If I remember right, they said that they could handle some of them but I was looking at so many different things that I don't really remember anymore.
Ron Reefman
Active member
Google MarsAqua, or OceanRevive if you are looking for good basic led fixtures.
Ron Reefman
Active member
Very iffy for some LPS and most SPS, IMHO. Most good led fixtures use 3 watt leds and then run them at 2 or 2.2 watts so they run cool. And you'd need 2 standard 16" fixtures with 55 leds in each (110 leds at 2.2 watts = 242 watts). Your fixture has over 100 leds and runs at 24 watts (2 fixtures = 48 watts). That's less than 0.25 watts each. They will light up and look bright to your eyes, but at 12 to 18" deep in the water they will be very weak. The fact that you have 2 may help some, but not the double you would like to think. If they don't have much punch (0.24 watts), 2 is hardly better than 1 at about 12" or deeper.
Sorry.
