Budget minded LED lighting

[Onebadcat]

Hello folks, I am new here.. Really not new to the saltwater aquarium world though. I got out in about 2009, I was running a 90 gallon with 500 watts of MH lighting and other add on lighting to moon effect etc.. Well I have a 2 year old now and he is just amazed with the hobby. I went and bought a running 30 gallon tank with a clown and live rock etc.. but the thirst went back to a bigger tank, though the wife and I agree 90 was way to big for our tiny house so we settled on a 60 gallon. I see the lighting now days seems to have gone the way of led, which I think is great seeing how I used to burn so much water off with the MH.. So long winded as this is, what is a very budget friendly LED setup that will allow SPS to flourish and make the other tank creatures happy? Thanks in advance

 

[twilliard]

Welcome to R2R!
There are many options and opinions out here. Are you an electronics DIY person?

 

[Onebadcat]

Yeah, I am sure I can do someting like that.. I am an auto tech and have a hobby fixing arcade machines

 

[twilliard]

Yeah, I am sure I can do someting like that.. I am an auto tech and have a hobby fixing arcade machines

Nice!
There are several options for nice DIY lighting for the fraction of the cost from retail.
This is one I built: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-first-diy-build-thread-30-led-fixture.250755/

 

[Onebadcat]

that is super sweet

 

[Elementalj]

Check these guys out. I've got two of their light bars over my curing tank. They're pretty inexpensive and powerful in the same respect. http://www.21ledusa.com/Default.asp

 

[PaReeferJ]

SB Reef lights

 

[RamsReef]

Www.Reefll.com

 

[Onebadcat]

what should I shoot for wattage? is it a rule of thumb with at least 4 watts per gallon?

 

[RamsReef]

what should I shoot for wattage? is it a rule of thumb with at least 4 watts per gallon?

use the configure on ReefLL and order those, you have to build a canopy though.

 

[Onebadcat]

The calculation is like $550 for their recommend setup Ramasule...

 

[redfishbluefish]

I really like the Mars Aqua fixture.....can't beat the price. I think I paid $78 for the 165W fixture I have, but they've since creeped up to around $95. Still a great deal for the dollar.

 

[Onebadcat]

I really like the Mars Aqua fixture.....can't beat the price. I think I paid $78 for the 165W fixture I have, but they've since creeped up to around $95. Still a great deal for the dollar.

I saw these too, it worried me a little with the pricing, but a ton of good reviews... is the 165w(they say the are) enough to keep some sps happy?

 

[PaReeferJ]

Yes plenty of light for sps. I had 2 over my 40B. All did well. Since I've switched to SB Reef lights

 

[PaReeferJ]

https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-reef-lights/1-sbox-basic.html
These are the SB lights.
Little more expensive but you have the warranty and mounting legs.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I saw these too, it worried me a little with the pricing, but a ton of good reviews... is the 165w(they say the are) enough to keep some sps happy?

Without question you can keep SPS under these....I am! For a four foot 90 gallon tank, my preference would be two 165 W fixtures. They do sell a 300W model, but what I like about two is that you can separate them a bit more to get total coverage. Now they are called 165 W because they have 55, 3 W LEDs in them. However, they are only running at about 2.2 to 2.1 W per LED, so that puts them around 120W.....typical for any 3 W LED.

 

[Elementalj]

I really like the Mars Aqua fixture.....can't beat the price. I think I paid $78 for the 165W fixture I have, but they've since creeped up to around $95. Still a great deal for the dollar.

I've got one, boy is it ever bright!

 

[Onebadcat]

Yes plenty of light for sps. I had 2 over my 40B. All did well. Since I've switched to SB Reef lights

Feel like a newb...so you put two 156w Mars over your 40 gallon?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Feel like a newb...so you put two 156w Mars over your 40 gallon?

You are right. One of these over a 40 is more than enough light. I can only assume he had them turned way, way down.

 

[PaReeferJ]

Feel like a newb...so you put two 156w Mars over your 40 gallon?

Yes I put 2 over my 40 so I didn't have any shawdows on the edges. Also knew I was upgrading to a larger tank so I wanted to have the lights I needed.