I have a 75 gallon that i want to introduce corals into. I currently have the LED lights the tank came with. MarineLand ml90614 with just day and night settings. Any suggestions for a good lighting arrangement? I want to stay with LED if possible for energy savings. Current setup attached. I'm new to saltwater lighting, thanks.
Best LED lighting options
- Thread starter Richard498
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nervousmonkey
LPS Lover, SPS Enabler
Well for a couple hundred that limits you a bit on the best light to get, but check out Reefbreeders. You will probably need to spend more than a couple hundred. Just save up to get what you need. The light you have won't really support coral, you could try it but you won't see the coloration of the coral so you'll be disappointed.
spacetime
Active Member
Before you go and purchase a light I have a few questions. What salinity is your tank at? Also what is your tanks levels of NO3 and PO4.? Then CA, MG, and DKH? Do you have a sump? How do you plan on exporting nutrients?
I ask these questions because without knowing if the water is suitable for coral before you invest in new equipment I think you are just asking for a headache and a hurt wallet not to mention an algae outbreak when you start upping the light.
Personally, if you have a limited budget you could go with reefbreeders and other budget fixtures but I think you would be better off with T5 as you can't go wrong with an ATI Fixture.
I ask these questions because without knowing if the water is suitable for coral before you invest in new equipment I think you are just asking for a headache and a hurt wallet not to mention an algae outbreak when you start upping the light.
Personally, if you have a limited budget you could go with reefbreeders and other budget fixtures but I think you would be better off with T5 as you can't go wrong with an ATI Fixture.
The ocean revive Arctic t247 works great for me. They are designed well and hardly give off any heat and are quite. But I will always suggest a kessils because I love the shimmer and small size. I am currently running the t247 though and I love them!
Richard498
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Kessil is definitely out of my price range. That Arctic t247 looks nice. I have to buy quick because my first Coral arrived today. I placed it high in the tank, hopefully it will survive until i get the light. Are LED's as good as T5's? I really like the energy savings with LED.
RobinsonReef
Active Member
If you can't afford a higher end led like kessil it's almost pointless to invest in led. If you are on budget for coral lighting I would go with a good T5 fixture. Then you can mix and match different spectrum bulbs. Low end LEDs use cheaper led drivers and chips so the color spectrum suffers greatly.
RobinsonReef
Active Member
Also remember to look at dispersion and coverage area, not sure one t247 would cover the width of your tank end to end appropriately.
48in leds in that budget are tough. a 2 tube t5 (fixture super cheap used) would compliment that led strip quite well until you upgrade.(we always do
)
the reef breeders and SB reef lights are nice and getting good reviews. good price too.
)the reef breeders and SB reef lights are nice and getting good reviews. good price too.
Dont forget to acclimate you corals!!!!!!!!!! a couple pieces of paper under the fixture is fine to lower the intensity at first.
geez. I sound like a dad.
geez. I sound like a dad.
cocochanelno1
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Hey Ricard! I myself have been debating over lighting , Kessil's are a goal,not sure if I should just wait to get them or purchase the T5's, living in The Phoenix area heat is a major concern. Anyhow I have been surfing the web like crazy trying to find proper lighting so please share any information that can help guide me as what and wear to buy, Tanks
Welcome to reef2reef!
Lighting really is about budget and personal astetics. even some of the very relatively inexpensive will do a good job.
The chinese "black boxes" are really powerful, but lack a bit in spectrum. However some of the US manufacturers are really edging them out.(hoorray!!)
This is a link to a current thread, my friend mccarol has laid out some pretty good recommendations for lighting a rectangle with kessel, radion & AI style leds.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lighting-upgrade-on-100-gal-cadlights.235741/#post-2749131
Black boxes are similar but being wider have better spread. Larger source, larger spread. fewer units, thus to go to of t5 for spread.
Unfortunately for most(me) the 48" all in ones are still spendy right now.
Look at he mars aqua in ebay*(chineese) and reefbreeders also SBreeflights. Both of these are my current pics. Great power, good spectrum, and affordable, and even better, affordable perks like dimming raping and programming.
cocochanelno1
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Hi salty,
Money can be saved, as I am stuck on buy the Kessil AP700. I currently have a 48" with two HQI's that are 250 watts each and two more pen darts at 150 watts each. I have had them in storage since my move from Texas and hopping to sell them. I know a lot of people prefer halogen so it shouldn't be to hard. Will check out the provided link. Thanks
Money can be saved, as I am stuck on buy the Kessil AP700. I currently have a 48" with two HQI's that are 250 watts each and two more pen darts at 150 watts each. I have had them in storage since my move from Texas and hopping to sell them. I know a lot of people prefer halogen so it shouldn't be to hard. Will check out the provided link. Thanks
RobinsonReef
Active Member
Highly recommend kessil. I had cheaper Chinese leds then went to current marine pro and now I'm putting kessils on my new 90 build. No comparison to the other leds I've had in brightness and color spectrum range. If you can afford or wait and save its so worth it.
djbetterly
Well-Known Member
Also, take a second to watch the BRS Videos on LED and T5. You don't need to buy their products, but the videos will educate you.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBaMLrfToJyybUT18OE3fMomFb9XU0ffC
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBaMLrfToJyybUT18OE3fMomFb9XU0ffC
Richard498
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Small update and maybe advisory.. I finally went with the LEDs. $109 on amazon, 165 watt. I will get another for the left side of my tank. But i have to say, I'm very surprised my tank survived with the lights that came with the tank. I built a hanging fixture, attached the new LED and an hour after plugging it in and turning it on, my green star polyps came out and my entire living room is illuminated! I didn't expect it to be so bright (it lights up part of my kitchen). But now i know i was WAY underlighting my aquarium. The attached picture shows the stock led that came with the tank moved to the left and the Galaxyhydro from Amazon at 50% on the right. Just have to figure out the right color spectrum to keep it at, but i can't wait to confidently buy some new corals!
