Whats the best budget led fixture for growing sps?

[ReefNoob86]

Hi guys, whats the best led's for growing sps? I have a budget because of my wife lol £500

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[Johnyman]

I use chinese LED Ocean Revive and I´m very happy with them.

 

[dkeller_nc]

ReefNoob86 -

Ideally, you want to actually peruse the build threads on the SPS forum rather than simply ask the question. It will take some of your time, but you'll get a lot better idea of results and preferences.

But things folks will need to know to give you any relevant advice would be your tank's size (length, width, depth) and what you wish to grow (mixed reef or SPS dominated) in addition to your budget.

Keep in mind that there are downsides to all lighting systems. It just isn't the case that Technology 1>>Technology 2, either from the usability, growth results nor expense.

As an example, I can pretty much guarantee that you will have a higher cost of ownership for LED units than a simple T5HO fixture over a 4 to 5 year period. For most of us, we want something different during that time period, so you may not want to reject T5HO on bulb cost concerns.

 

[ReefNoob86]

Its a 5x2x2 an ideally id like an sps dominant reef, of course i know that the lights dont solely grow the corals.... firstly i was thinking of getting an Ati 8x54 dimmable fixture but then burning in new bulbs over an established reef seemed like an headache, so i thought why not try led.... its more im coming to the end of my budget, the tank cost £1700 alone

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[ReefNoob86]

ReefNoob86 -

Ideally, you want to actually peruse the build threads on the SPS forum rather than simply ask the question. It will take some of your time, but you'll get a lot better idea of results and preferences.

But things folks will need to know to give you any relevant advice would be your tank's size (length, width, depth) and what you wish to grow (mixed reef or SPS dominated) in addition to your budget.

Keep in mind that there are downsides to all lighting systems. It just isn't the case that Technology 1>>Technology 2, either from the usability, growth results nor expense.

As an example, I can pretty much guarantee that you will have a higher cost of ownership for LED units than a simple T5HO fixture over a 4 to 5 year period. For most of us, we want something different during that time period, so you may not want to reject T5HO on bulb cost concerns.

I answered your questions pal

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[dkeller_nc]

Given your budget, and keep in mind that a lot of us don't have a good handle on what items cost in the UK, I'd suggest that your original thinking is optimal, though an 80w T5HO ATI would fit your tank better instead of the 8 bulb 54w.

That said, the 80w fixtures aren't dimmable, so if that's important to you, then the 54w may be the way to go with your aquascape ending 6" from either end of the tank.

With respect to LED fixtures, I suspect that most would tell you that 4 Hydra 26HDs, 4 Ecotech XR15ws or 3 Ecotech XR30ws would be the minimum to light the entire tank, which considerably exceeds your budget.

In the US, inexpensive chinese "black box" fixtures would be cheaper, but not by a huge amount. As an example, the Reefbreeders Photon 16-V2 is $379 USD each, and you'd need three of them. With straight currency conversion and no VAT, that would come to 850 GBP. Moreover, these fixtures lack sub 420 nm lighting, which can be problematic for SPS.

 

[ReefNoob86]

Thanks mate t5ho it is then

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[happyhourhero]

I would look at SB Reef Lights for a solid, budget friendly LED.