SPS Lighting: Vertex, HQI + led or other led fixture?

[maomig]

Hi everybody from Italy. This is my first post here but I've been reading your competent, informative and interesting comments for a long time.

I have a little trouble and I need some help from you to help me decide for the best.

I own a 70x60x50(h) cm tank (27,56 x 23,52 x 19,69 (h) inches). So far I used an Elos E-Power 250w (fc2) to light it. As a reminder, this is the fixture:

Now, I was thinking to enhance/change it in order to:

a) have more lighting options, such as dawn/sunset offset, as well as more light blending effects, adding some blu to the HQI or changing the fixture with a led one;

b) have a fixture allowing me to keep only SPS, enhancing growth and colors (which are the animals I actually keep but I am not too satisfied with colors).

Now the options I've identified are:


Option 1)

keeping my fixture and adding it 2 led bars of blue/royal blue leds. I identified an Hong Kong producer who can produce 2 nice-looking bars, 27w each equipped with 3w leds (not CREE). I can customize the bars with different leds of different wavelenghts. Cost: 150$ shipped.

PROS: low cost, benefit of all the pros of MH lights adding some blue

CONS: limited light control, high power consumption (304w overall), high heat (I have a refrigerator+vents, this imply even higher power consumption)


Option 2)

getting a Vertex Illumina 600-200 (used for 4 months but almost new). The model is the one already sporting CREE XP-E leds. Cost: 1020$ before shipping (shipping ranges from 20 to 150 dollars within Italy).

PROS: probably best light control options on the market, lower power consumption (160 w), low heat produced (lower energy to cool the tank)

CONS: higher price, as far as I know lower light penetration and narrower light spectrum (MH are capable to range better, including reds and UVs that leds do not have)


Option 3)

getting a Aqualiving (is an italian mad fixture, here's the site www.acqualiving.it (used for a little over than 1 year). Some pictures of fixture are below here:

It has 78 CREE 3 watts leds (54 white, 24 blue) spread on the fixture surface (fixture has almost the same dimension of tank: 27,56 x 19,69 inches) with 90 degrees lenses. Cost: 800$ shipped.

PROS: italian made, so eventual customer service could be quicker, lower cost than Vertex, if is a pro better light are coverage probably, higher power (230w, equivalent to 400w MH, they say), low heat produced (lower energy to cool the tank)

CONS: used for one year (some led lifespan is already gone), low percentage of blue leds (I'd have preferred 1:1 with white), lower light control than Vertex (it has a built in PLC with which controlling everything, including time function, dimmer and even final color temperature), no hanging kit (I am going to hang it so I must do some DIY work on it to have it operational), wattage consumption closer to HQI.


I cannot make my mind up on which option is best for me (I've been thinking about it for the last 2 weeks to have no clue in the end). On one hand, I'd like to keep my HQI adding 2 led bars, with almost no expense, and have more or less what I am looking for (blending my HQI with some blue and having a rough dawn/sunrise effect).

On the other hand I am tempted by leds and the possibilities they give, but I am scared to have sps that do not respond to these light sources as I wish and to have a fixture that in a few years is worn out (no-one knows effectively how long these leds could last and which will be their residual light efficiency over the years) and have no residual value. And for me spending around 1000$ for an aquarium fixture is quite an investment and, if I do it, want to be sure to have decided for the best.

So, what is your educated opinion? Any suggestion?

Thank you for the patience (and sorry for being too long).

 

[maomig]

ANother question: would the 160w of the Vertex be sufficient for my tank? Or is better anyway to have some more power to eventually adjust the light by dimmering it?

 

[Banjo]

Hi,

It's really up to you. Whether you think spending the money is a good investment for your aquarium or not.

Like you said, your current 250w MH is adequate and if all you wanted was a dusk/dawn effect along with a slight blue tint then the Cree strips are the way to go. It's much cheaper and you will keep the lighting system that you know works. I would just be wary of how you mount the LEDs. That MH can overheat and quickly destroy them if not put in the proper place.

I have never personally owned a Vertex, but I've heard they're fantastic units. There are many positive reviews out there for that model. That fixture will be more than sufficient light for your aquarium. You will probably have to end up dimming it. It's just up to you if you think spending the money is worth upgrading at this point.

I have never heard of the Aqualiving fixture, so I will refrain from comment on that option.

 

[ptr13]

this is an 18 inch by 8.46 fixture with 60 LEDs,cost for 700 with Cree LEDs with XPGs for a high noon blast,diy via soderless fixture.

 

[WingoLED]

I think local warranty(or manufactured) is one of the most important factor in choosing a light fixture if you are not a DIYer.

 

[maomig]

Hi,

It's really up to you. Whether you think spending the money is a good investment for your aquarium or not.

Like you said, your current 250w MH is adequate and if all you wanted was a dusk/dawn effect along with a slight blue tint then the Cree strips are the way to go. It's much cheaper and you will keep the lighting system that you know works. I would just be wary of how you mount the LEDs. That MH can overheat and quickly destroy them if not put in the proper place.

I have never personally owned a Vertex, but I've heard they're fantastic units. There are many positive reviews out there for that model. That fixture will be more than sufficient light for your aquarium. You will probably have to end up dimming it. It's just up to you if you think spending the money is worth upgrading at this point.

I have never heard of the Aqualiving fixture, so I will refrain from comment on that option.

Thank you. On second thoughts, another thing I don't like about my MH is the single light source. So led bars would have been all white, in order to add multiple light sources and avoid the awful look of corals well-lit on one side and dark on the opposite one. And.....I got contaminated with the led fever so I will give it a try. I think I will lean for the Vertex...

 

[maomig]

I think local warranty(or manufactured) is one of the most important factor in choosing a light fixture if you are not a DIYer.

True, that's why I am thinking to vertex :frog: vertex is a proper industry, is based in Austria and, by EU law, must provide a 2 years warranty within EU. It also has official importers and distributors on the italian territory alnd with some of them I already spoke.

Acqualiving is also a very new factory originated by a single enthusiast who started this business. Is always very hard to get in touch with him. So, vertex is the way to go also for this aspect.