Switching to LED's - Suggestions?
- Thread starter Jmunk
- Start date
ElementalJ
New member
Kessil for me, without a doubt.
GoVols
Cobb Webb - 1989
My suggestion is to fully read and understand what your getting into to get LED perfection
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2615392
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2615392
GoVols
Cobb Webb - 1989
After that read: If I went full blown LED today. It would be these and (plenty of them) to get the perfect spread.
https://www.aquariumcomputer.com/products/ghl-illumination/mitras-lx-7000-series/
https://www.aquariumcomputer.com/products/ghl-illumination/mitras-lx-7000-series/
ElementalJ
New member
I use the ALC on my reefkeeper and it's turned out great. There's virtually no heat.
I'd also suggest the Mitras by Profilux as well. They're godawful expensive but totally worth it.
ComforablyNumb
New member
A couple of Kessil a360's would light that tank well...and with their spectral controller ($100)..you get programmable control with an easy interface.
Ron Reefman
Active member
I posted this at your other post in the Reef Discussion section:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24878621&postcount=2
Wow! What a wide open question.
You want shimmer? That rules out quite a few led fixtures.
What's your budget? A 4' long tank can use 2 smaller fixtures that run from a $90 MarsAqua ($180 total) to a $700+ EcoTech Radion ($1500+ total). Or you can go for a variety of longer fixture that are 32" or 48" long. You really only need the 32" in my opinion, but a lot of people do go for the 48" although they rarely have more leds. More often than not they are just stretched out 32" fixtures. So pay attention to the details.
Do you want to hang them, use a back of the tank gooseneck solid mount or use legs that come with the fixture? Some only offer one option, some offer 2 and very few offer all 3.
Do you want simple manual dimmers and use external timers? Or would you like built-in timers and digital dimming? Or maybe 2 channels with sunrise/sunset/moonlight controls? Or the ultimate of 6 or 7 channels of control and full sunrise/sunset ability as well? The more options you go for, the more the fixture(s) will cost. The $90 MarsAqua will grow coral just as good, IMHO, as the $750+ Radion. You are basically paying all the extra for control of the light that your corals could hardly care less about. But if you are really fussy about the way your tank looks (i.e. the color of the light in the tank) or are obsessed with the need for cool toys or control of fine details, then the high end stuff is for you.
I use Reef Breeders Photon V2 that is 50" long over my 60" tank and I paid just over $600 on sale. You could use either their 32" V2 which is $575. They are very slim and modern looking. They have 6 channels of color control and full sunrise/sunset/moonlight control. If I had gone for EcoTech Radions I would have paid well over $2000 and they wouldn't even have built-in legs!
Here is what my new Photon V2 fixtures look like and you can see the color control ability.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24878621&postcount=2
Wow! What a wide open question.
You want shimmer? That rules out quite a few led fixtures.
What's your budget? A 4' long tank can use 2 smaller fixtures that run from a $90 MarsAqua ($180 total) to a $700+ EcoTech Radion ($1500+ total). Or you can go for a variety of longer fixture that are 32" or 48" long. You really only need the 32" in my opinion, but a lot of people do go for the 48" although they rarely have more leds. More often than not they are just stretched out 32" fixtures. So pay attention to the details.
Do you want to hang them, use a back of the tank gooseneck solid mount or use legs that come with the fixture? Some only offer one option, some offer 2 and very few offer all 3.
Do you want simple manual dimmers and use external timers? Or would you like built-in timers and digital dimming? Or maybe 2 channels with sunrise/sunset/moonlight controls? Or the ultimate of 6 or 7 channels of control and full sunrise/sunset ability as well? The more options you go for, the more the fixture(s) will cost. The $90 MarsAqua will grow coral just as good, IMHO, as the $750+ Radion. You are basically paying all the extra for control of the light that your corals could hardly care less about. But if you are really fussy about the way your tank looks (i.e. the color of the light in the tank) or are obsessed with the need for cool toys or control of fine details, then the high end stuff is for you.
I use Reef Breeders Photon V2 that is 50" long over my 60" tank and I paid just over $600 on sale. You could use either their 32" V2 which is $575. They are very slim and modern looking. They have 6 channels of color control and full sunrise/sunset/moonlight control. If I had gone for EcoTech Radions I would have paid well over $2000 and they wouldn't even have built-in legs!
Here is what my new Photon V2 fixtures look like and you can see the color control ability.
My 'rules' for all LED lighting (useful for cheap Chinese pumps also):
1. Get a pair of hype-filtering ear plugs before engaging in any discussions.
2. Dimming claims almost always exaggerated
3. Coverage also exaggerated; in other words you'll need more fixtures than you had planned for.
4. LED are much more powerful than they seem; go very carefully.
Otherwise, highly recommended
1. Get a pair of hype-filtering ear plugs before engaging in any discussions.
2. Dimming claims almost always exaggerated
3. Coverage also exaggerated; in other words you'll need more fixtures than you had planned for.
4. LED are much more powerful than they seem; go very carefully.
Otherwise, highly recommended
Haha, gotcha.My 'rules' for all LED lighting (useful for cheap Chinese pumps also):
1. Get a pair of hype-filtering ear plugs before engaging in any discussions.
2. Dimming claims almost always exaggerated
3. Coverage also exaggerated; in other words you'll need more fixtures than you had planned for.
4. LED are much more powerful than they seem; go very carefully.
Otherwise, highly recommended
Yeah my tank isn't very demanding at all. It's a "mixed" reef, but wayy over to the side of sofites.
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