Will this led light be enough
- Thread starter sbye10
- Start date
dkeller_nc
New member
Considering that this is an all white/blue LED fixture with very little in the way of violet spectrum, it may be OK for a FOWLR tank, and possibly even some undemanding soft corals like zoas and mushrooms.
Perhaps even some LPS might do OK, but that's iffy. SPS like acropora, unlikely.
Perhaps even some LPS might do OK, but that's iffy. SPS like acropora, unlikely.
I was thinking of running 2 supplement t5s uv and something else
dkeller_nc
New member
There is no UV in that fixture. Manufacturers often re-label "420 nm" diodes as "UV" because it helps their sales. But 420nm is well outside the UV spectrum. Moreover, the particular fixture in question has 4 420nm diodes out of a total of 99 diodes. Considering that diodes in the sub 450nm range are very inefficient with respect to their ratio of input power to radiometric output, I'd suggest that the 4 420nm diodes are there just for show.
Bottom line, the inexpensive way to light your tank is with T5HO. Functional LED units, even off-brand "black box" units, are considerably more expensive than the "tried and true".
Bottom line, the inexpensive way to light your tank is with T5HO. Functional LED units, even off-brand "black box" units, are considerably more expensive than the "tried and true".
civics14
Member
I'm not sure if I agree with you about inexpensive way to go is T5HO, for mixed reef tank he's probably going to have to go with something with 6 bulbs at a 48" length. A decent fixture is going to cost him $300+, then $25-$30 per bulb, so that's another $150+, so you're looking at an easy $450 right there. Then add the annual bulb replacement of another $150+ each year.
Black boxes are tried and true - not going to argue this, but just look at the tanks out there that is lit with them. I don't use them myself, but they work as I seen in numerous times. So, he could go with those $100 black boxes, get 3 units to get the coverage he needs and be better off in the long run.
just my 2 cents...
Black boxes are tried and true - not going to argue this, but just look at the tanks out there that is lit with them. I don't use them myself, but they work as I seen in numerous times. So, he could go with those $100 black boxes, get 3 units to get the coverage he needs and be better off in the long run.
just my 2 cents...
dkeller_nc
New member
Perhaps, but $450 + $150/year will look pretty inexpensive once the person determines that he/she's going to need to replace said $300+ in light fixtures with utterly inadequate sub 430nm spectrum. Or they figure it out after having lost a few hundred to a couple of thousand in SPS colonies.
That said, just about any light source of sufficient intensity will work perfectly well to keep unchallenging genera/species such as the lower light softies and some LPS now matter what the spectrum. But I wouldn't try it with a bunch of pricey acans and scolymias.
That said, just about any light source of sufficient intensity will work perfectly well to keep unchallenging genera/species such as the lower light softies and some LPS now matter what the spectrum. But I wouldn't try it with a bunch of pricey acans and scolymias.
drummerboyevil
New member
If you're buying cheap LED fixtures, go with mars aqua. If you want a better chinese LED, go with reefbreeders.
No clue personally but I would guess that light fixture is only about 32 inches in length. Which will not be enough coverage. You could get 2 - 165Watt Mars Aqua's and have great coverage on a 4ft tank since each 165watt covers a 24x24 area. It really depends on what you want to grow and what features you can live without. There is no Timers , No Ramping, No Wifi on the Mars Aqua. You can always buy timers also to control the 2 channels of lighting.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-MarsAq...soffType=SaleAndClearence&_trksid=p5731.m3795
If Ramping the light fixture * being able to simulate sunrise and sunset* and Wifi is important to you. Then I would say 2 of these would do great.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/391394461859?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Also it looks like the lights you were looking at has ramping ability. I would how ever go with 2 of those like this...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/iPower-165w...5115430&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=161138675975
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