Build My LED

[Riddler05]

I have been looking at a lot of LEDs lately and I am extremely interested in BuildMyLEDs. I have seen them on a tank and really like the 12K look. The problem is that on all these forums I very rarely see anybody talk about them. I was wondering if anyone has had success growing SPS with them and more importantly why more people are not using them.

I know one major drawback is not being able to control each channel independently but is that what is keeping most people from purchasing them?

Just wanted to hear some peoples thoughts.

 

[Squishie89]

I have them. Back when I had corals (long story) I did have some SPS. I had them a few inches from the surface of the water, and the lights were just another 2 inches above that. I had glass lids at the time which I figured out cut out a TON of the light from getting into the tank. But my SPS were super happy in my tank. Let me know if you have any other questions about the BML lights I would be more than happy to try and help you out.

 

[ReefLEDLights]

LEDs "are like a box of chocolates" in a lot of cases you don't know what your getting.

Ask what their PAR is at 24" or even 12" as you can interpolate.

400-600 PAR at 24" is a 400 watt MH using a quality reflector.

A quality fixture should give you at least the PAR of a 250 Watt MH

I like to see 200-300 PAR on the sand bed as this is most recommended for clams and carpet anemones.

Corals adapt to a lower PAR but Higher PAR brings out their colours.

Bill

 

[that Reef Guy]

I have them. Back when I had corals (long story) I did have some SPS. I had them a few inches from the surface of the water, and the lights were just another 2 inches above that. I had glass lids at the time which I figured out cut out a TON of the light from getting into the tank. But my SPS were super happy in my tank. Let me know if you have any other questions about the BML lights I would be more than happy to try and help you out.

I am thinking about getting them too.

What size tank do you have?

How many Build My LED Lights did you have over that Tank?

 

[Squishie89]

I am thinking about getting them too.

What size tank do you have?

How many Build My LED Lights did you have over that Tank?

90g (4 feet long). I have 2 fixtures, 1 14k reef spectrum and 1 super atinic . I like them. I may end up upgrading to some of their newer stuff as mine are already a year old at this point. What I really like about these lights is they do not have to be hung or really mounted, they have little rubber feet to sit on your tank rim. Back when I was looking for lights for a 4' tank there were not a ton of options for tank mounted led lights (now some companies have them).

 

[that Reef Guy]

90g (4 feet long). I have 2 fixtures, 1 14k reef spectrum and 1 super atinic . I like them. I may end up upgrading to some of their newer stuff as mine are already a year old at this point. What I really like about these lights is they do not have to be hung or really mounted, they have little rubber feet to sit on your tank rim. Back when I was looking for lights for a 4' tank there were not a ton of options for tank mounted led lights (now some companies have them).

Wow! you only had 2 of those light on a Tank 18" Deep?

I thought you would need like 4 to 6 of them.

Do you think I could get away with One of them on a 12" Deep Tank?

I want to try them out but they are expensive so I do not want to have to buy more than one and realize I do not like them.

Likewise I do not want to buy One and like them just to realize that I need more of them.

I have the following tanks

55
29
20 Long
10

Would One Build My LED Light work for any or all of these?

I was thinking about getting One Super Actinic to see how it is.

Do you get a lot of Shimmer or No?

Do you get a lot of Shadows like you do with a Kessil or no?

 

[pjr]

I just purchased one for my SPS tank. It's been on the tank for 3 weeks.

I've been running my 6 foot x 18" by 24 tall tank with Sunbrite LED tubes for 5 1/2 years. Current configuration was 3 of their Gen 3 tubes (36x3 watt CREE) in each for a while now. The tank was totally awesome, overgrown with acros, but about 3 months ago, some of my long-established colonies began to suffer. Finally realized that the front Sunbrite was losing its PAR.

I purchased a 14k BML with 75* optics. . Right now I still have it higher than normal (on top if the canopy's edges) and it is ramping up and down nicely with my Apex controller. I eventually plan to lower it further. But acros lower in my tank (Red Planet, Rainbow acro, and tri-color) have very quickly colored back up nicely -- showing some color on the rainbow that I've never seen to date -- and have significant new growth.

I have this light supporting the front half of the tank's 18" footprint. A pair of Sunbrite tubes (one 440nm actinic, and one a white/blue mix) support the back. The BML blends well with the Sunbrites, and I like it most when the actinic is on at the same time. When it comes time to replace the Sunbrites, I would want a strong mix of 440 nm blue with some nice strong whites. I kind wish I got the 12k instead of the 14k....

Hope that helps....

 

[Squishie89]

Wow! you only had 2 of those light on a Tank 18" Deep?

I thought you would need like 4 to 6 of them.

Do you think I could get away with One of them on a 12" Deep Tank?

I want to try them out but they are expensive so I do not want to have to buy more than one and realize I do not like them.

Likewise I do not want to buy One and like them just to realize that I need more of them.

I have the following tanks

55
29
20 Long
10

Would One Build My LED Light work for any or all of these?

I was thinking about getting One Super Actinic to see how it is.

Do you get a lot of Shimmer or No?

Do you get a lot of Shadows like you do with a Kessil or no?

I do have 75* optics on the fixtures which allows for more spread

Yes I think you can use just 1 on a 12" deep tank.

These lights come in different lengths, you can get as short as 12" up to 72"

You can ask on the forums they have about only using an actinic fixture, but I do not think that would be enough light for corals.

Not sure about shimmer, sorry.

Not sure about shadows either, I do have it kinds of dark-ish in the back because my lights do not cover the whole tank due to the 75* optics and I have the lights tilted more towards the front.