LED's for Me

[kgood1]

My stats:

Tank= 72"x18"x24"
Substrate= DBS
Overflow/Sump/Skimmer/Fuge= LifeReef LF1-150s,SVS2-24(in ump skimmer),Liferefugium 24"x12"x18" (LR & cheato)
No canopy

Livestock and corals planned:
Assorted BranchSinularia
Assorted zoanthids
Star polyps
mottled mushrooms
Xenias
Daisy pipe organ
And other assorted Lps
Hippo Tang
Naso
Percula (pair)
Chromes x4
Wrasse
Mower Blenny

Can anyone suggest a Led system for me? No DIY. I need DIFM (do it for me)


I welcome all feedback: (take it easy on me..neewbie)

[kgood1]

Bump.... I forgot about water flow 4x koralia 4

[ReeferRob]

Are you ready to drop a couple G's?

[kgood1]

Yup! (but i would like to know all my options)

[kgood1]

can anyone help me out?

[ReeferRob]

Okay, first choice if money is not an issue would be the AquaIlluminations LED modules. They are made in the USA, look amazing, and have plenty of controllability and PAR. Paired with the ProFilux controller you can simulate weather patterns included lightning storms. One of our sponsors here, Cherry Corals can get them for you.

Second choice would be the something by Pacificsunusa.com You can do the Black Python modules or the Phobos or Deimos fixtures. These fixtures are out of Poland and are getting great reviews. There is now a distribution and service center in New Jersey, for peace of mind. One thing I think is super cool is the software that comes with these units. Blue Tooth controllable with full weather patterns and more. Reef Solutions a sponsor here should be able to get you more info on them as well as the light.

For you size tank I would think 6 AI modules minimum would do the trick. If you don't mind the lights hanging 6 + inches from the service of the tank you could possibly get away with 4. The PacSun ones, well there are a bit more options depending on the aesthetic look your going for.

There is also the Maxspect out of China. Hesitant to suggest this one as to the questionable craftsmanship, location and again questionable 30 watt led's.

[evilc66]

Another option would be the Ecolamps KR92. It's a more traditional fixture design, rather than modules, and will have more than enough power for everything you are keeping an more. The AI units do have definite wow factor though, as well as much higher output levels.

[kgood1]

Okay, first choice if money is not an issue would be the AquaIlluminations LED modules. They are made in the USA, look amazing, and have plenty of controllability and PAR. Paired with the ProFilux controller you can simulate weather patterns included lightning storms. One of our sponsors here, Cherry Corals can get them for you.

Second choice would be the something by Pacificsunusa.com You can do the Black Python modules or the Phobos or Deimos fixtures. These fixtures are out of Poland and are getting great reviews. There is now a distribution and service center in New Jersey, for peace of mind. One thing I think is super cool is the software that comes with these units. Blue Tooth controllable with full weather patterns and more. Reef Solutions a sponsor here should be able to get you more info on them as well as the light.

For you size tank I would think 6 AI modules minimum would do the trick. If you don't mind the lights hanging 6 + inches from the service of the tank you could possibly get away with 4. The PacSun ones, well there are a bit more options depending on the aesthetic look your going for.

There is also the Maxspect out of China. Hesitant to suggest this one as to the questionable craftsmanship, location and again questionable 30 watt led's.

Thanks for the great info,I'll look into your first two suggestions.

[kgood1]

Another option would be the Ecolamps KR92. It's a more traditional fixture design, rather than modules, and will have more than enough power for everything you are keeping an more. The AI units do have definite wow factor though, as well as much higher output levels.

Thanks for your help. I'll look into the Ecolamps KR92

[pjr]

I have been using the Sun-bright LEDs for almost a year. SPS (including acros), brains and other LPS, and softies in the tank are all doing great.... better than under my halides! You're welcome to come by and check them out. I am the only person in MI with this setup exclusively over a full reef, but in Cali they are selling like mad. Can't keep up with demand.

Check out the link in my signature. Feel free to PM me as well...

[pjr]

P.S. Your tank is the exact same size as mine....

[kgood1]

I have been using the Sun-bright LEDs for almost a year. SPS (including acros), brains and other LPS, and softies in the tank are all doing great.... better than under my halides! You're welcome to come by and check them out. I am the only person in MI with this setup exclusively over a full reef, but in Cali they are selling like mad. Can't keep up with demand.

Check out the link in my signature. Feel free to PM me as well...

Thanks,I'll pm you

[kgood1]

@ evil, I look up the KR92 but could not find any specs. Do you have more info?:blackeye::confused:

[kgood1]

I went to Pjr's home and seen his set up yesterday. I was so impressed with the sun-brite lighting. It is one thing reading about them but to see them in person is awesome! I belive that these may be the LED's for me. Thank you so much Pat.

[Mike]

what they said ;)

[pjr]

Thanks for the kind words. The new bulbs are really sweet and perform really well. And for those of us who like plug-and-play and can only do dangerous things with a soldering iron, the tubes are an awesome option.

[kgood1]

Thanks for the kind words. The new bulbs are really sweet and perform really well. And for those of us who like plug-and-play and can only do dangerous things with a soldering iron, the tubes are an awesome option.

Please don't let me near tools. my health insurance suck.:jackhamer:

[evilc66]

Thanks for the kind words. The new bulbs are really sweet and perform really well. And for those of us who like plug-and-play and can only do dangerous things with a soldering iron, the tubes are an awesome option.

Pat, how many of the tubes are the new Gen3's now? I'm figuring out that spectrometer more and more, so it's almost time for another visit :)

[skuttduck]

I found a source from an electronics catalog for some 6500k LED's. I put one of the fixtures over my 20 gallon tank that has been running with just a power compact flourescent light.

I'm going to see how that works It was only about $50 for the fixture and the AC adapter.

I've calculated that I can run at least 3 of these fixtures off of one AC adapter. What is nice is that they can be drilled into your canopy directly. I'm hoping that 6500k is enough for all the corals, but as far as I can tell they will be.

[pjr]

Pat, how many of the tubes are the new Gen3's now? I'm figuring out that spectrometer more and more, so it's almost time for another visit :)

Evil, it HAS been a while!! I should be up to three soon. You are welcome to bring the Evil Mobile Lab over for another round of tests! :)

[evilc66]

I found a source from an electronics catalog for some 6500k LED's. I put one of the fixtures over my 20 gallon tank that has been running with just a power compact flourescent light.

I'm going to see how that works It was only about $50 for the fixture and the AC adapter.

I've calculated that I can run at least 3 of these fixtures off of one AC adapter. What is nice is that they can be drilled into your canopy directly. I'm hoping that 6500k is enough for all the corals, but as far as I can tell they will be.

From just a PAR perspective, 6500K works fine. It will look like crap though over a tank. Fine for freshwater, but for a reef it will look really yellow.

As for the amount of PAR that the light you have will produce, it probably won't be enough for anything but low light corals. I can tell that just by the price. Quality LED fixtures that are intended to support photosynthetic life cost a lot more than that.


Evil, it HAS been a while!! I should be up to three soon. You are welcome to bring the Evil Mobile Lab over for another round of tests! :)

I'll have to free up some time in the near future and make it down your way.

[skuttduck]

From just a PAR perspective, 6500K works fine. It will look like crap though over a tank. Fine for freshwater, but for a reef it will look really yellow.

As for the amount of PAR that the light you have will produce, it probably won't be enough for anything but low light corals. I can tell that just by the price. Quality LED fixtures that are intended to support photosynthetic life cost a lot more than that.


Well I got the 6500k from Aquailluminations tech specs. I also plan on putting some 470nm LED's along with this fixture I got to see how it looks. Now I need to figure out what materials I will need to build it.

As for the light output, it doesn't look bad at all, but if the corals do alright, I was thinking of maybe putting in about 3 - 6 of them for one side of my 75 gallon aquarium and see how that works. Maybe about $132 for 3 of them.

I have a ACTINIC Flourescent bulb already on the big tank. That might help with the yellow. I'm running 2 250k HQI metal halides with 15000k phoenix bulbs.

[evilc66]

6500K isn't the issue. Everyone uses that color temp white. The problem is drive current and output. I saw on another thread what you bought, and it's not going to cut it for a 75g. Even for a 20g it not going to be any better than a PC fixture. The LEDs are of an unknown brand, and the drive current is super low (240mA vs. the 700-1000mA that some arrays are driven to). I'm not trying to rag on the product, as I'm sure it's great for it's intended application. I just don't want to see you throw a ton of money at a product that is incapable of supporting marine life.

[skuttduck]

No I thank you for the input. What I have is about the same for the 20gallon aquarium as the PC and it is an experiment.

What I do wonder is if I get enough of these if they would be enough.
Like 8 of the 12 inch enclosures for each side?

The catalog also has some other LED's and I would be willing to build and solder the connections. I originally thought of using the OSRAM golden dragon plus ones.

[evilc66]

The number you would need for the 75g would be cost prohibitive, and still mediocre at best performance wise. With the drive current at only 240mA, PAR levels even at the water surface will be really low (lucky to hit 100 PAR). By the time you hit bottom, it will be unusable. For the money invested at that point, you could have built a higher power rig that can equal and best MH setups.

[skuttduck]

So I should be looking at PAR levels and not Lumens?

[evilc66]

Yes. It's a much more telling measurement of growth potential. It's not a measurement that manufacturers normally provide though.