Best led lights on a budget

[Oldsalt01]

If u have local reef societies "down under", check with them. People are always upgrading, esp lights and you can get some pretty good deals if you look around. I found a used Hydra 26 and a controller on a local reef forum for under $100, and it's working like a charm.

 

[Avner]

lumini aqua the prices are fair you can order them on aliexpress or similar sites i think that they are grate VFM

http://www.luminiaqua.com/

 

[John kennington]

I’m thinking this is the route I’m gonna go. How do the stand up with the radion XR30?

I'm told they are made by the same company. They are half the price. Totally adjustable and controllable with your phone. Really simple to use. Brs has a video comparing the two. I will be getting more for sure. My lfs is buying 56 of them to set up in his shop.

 

[RudyB]

I have a 4 foot 150 gal tank as well and I am running two WiFi controlled black box lights that I got on Amazon. They are super strong, I am using them a 60% max. You can adjust blue, white, green/red separate. Plus you can have dawn to dusk and moon light effects, also lightning and clouds. For about $150 each I have used them for the last two years with awesome success.

 

[RudyB]

My suggestion is to save up and get something reputable. Used is a great way to save a ton of money. I have 3 Hydra 52's over my 6 foot long 180 gallon and it's more than enough lighting - I run them at approximately 50%.

BRS has a very interesting video comparing the performance of the black box LEDs against the EcoTech Radions. Well worth watching.

I saw the video as well and it is the first time I disagree with them on the black box. They where using the cheapest of the cheapest black box with next to no control against much better lights as they said. I have two black box lights and the insides do not look like the one they used. I guess everyone's experience is different.

 

[action21]

No.

Why play around with stuff we know little about.
We do know that if we set the intensity correctly it will grow corals like crazy.
Just like t5 and mh.


I answer more threads on how to mix the right colors it's nuts.

So with all the quotes “ just like t5 and mh “. What’s the benefit really of going led? The difference in prices appear to cancel out any savings. Why not just stick with mh which I can find cheap?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So with all the quotes “ just like t5 and mh “. What’s the benefit really of going led? The difference in prices appear to cancel out any savings. Why not just stick with mh which I can find cheap?

Well, you can now buy enough led to light a 48" tank for $160 on the Bey low end and grow hilight coral. And never Change a bulb.
Or use a mh fixture and only use it 6hrs a day, but still enjoy the tank for 14 hrs at a lower par on both ends of the day with the super blue moon pop.
So it can be one or the other or or the best of both worlds.

For me, it just gets too hot here , and my electric bill is stupid high in California even before tanks.

 

[RudyB]

So with all the quotes “ just like t5 and mh “. What’s the benefit really of going led? The difference in prices appear to cancel out any savings. Why not just stick with mh which I can find cheap?

The main point is heat. The mh lights produce so much heat that you have add equipment to keep the water and lights cool. LED lights do the job with next to no heat plus you can control colors.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The main point is heat. The mh lights produce so much heat that you have add equipment to keep the water and lights cool. LED lights do the job with next to no heat plus you can control colors.

Counter point.
Mh for some don't add a measurable amount of heat to cause a problem or warrant any additional gear.
With led , most don't know enough about color to set them correctly.

 

[roberts5327]

Mars aqua LED’s are very good.

 

[atticus]

I have a 4 foot 150 gal tank as well and I am running two WiFi controlled black box lights that I got on Amazon. They are super strong, I am using them a 60% max. You can adjust blue, white, green/red separate. Plus you can have dawn to dusk and moon light effects, also lightning and clouds. For about $150 each I have used them for the last two years with awesome success.

What brand do you have or have a link?

 

[Dburr1014]

Reefbreeders photon v2 works well for me on a 48x24x16

+1

 

[Susan Edwards]

For me, it just gets too hot here , and my electric bill is stupid high in California even before tanks.

I agree. For my new tank, I want LED to save on AC bill, plus I don't have a chiller. Managed this year with fans. 600 plus in the summer and early fall are killers

 

[Susan Edwards]

Here’s a couple shots of a previous tank with 2 SB reef lights. 32” about 300+ Watts each.

Any link to this ebay person to check out the lights?

 

[Shep]

@Reef Breeders makes great lights that are affordable and have lots of features

 

[mucky1957]

I am aware that the majority of people on this forum are from the US and that many people have an issue with black boxes from China. The number of times I have seen comments that these units are 'not safe' or not for use in America. I have a 48" black box that was posted from China. It cost me £240 to be delivered ( incl taxes ) to my home. There are 3 channels and 24 seperate time settings. The unit doesn't have any fans because it never gets hot. Cheap to run, simple to set up runs on an app on my phone. I have had this unit for 3 1/2 yrs and works as well today as it did from day 1.

 

[AcanSkywalker]

Mars aqua LED’s are very good.

Check out Green Elements, I've used them successfully for 3 years now