Ditching my T5's!

[jaytizzle]

I run a 120 Tech tank with a 8-bulb Tek T5 fixture.

Look what will be in my hands on Friday:

That is a 120W LED fixture (actually 119 individual 1w diodes). I have two of them coming to cover a 4'x2'x2' tank.

Once they get here I am going to try to get my hands on a PAR meter to test the output from the Tek and then test the output from these LED fixtures. I replaced a 150W MH + 36W T5 actinics on my nano with a 90W LED fixture and bleached a few corals so I want to try not to do that this time. Plus it will be good to know what the output is really running!

More info to come once they are actually in my hands!

 

[Troylee]

nice..... are those the one's luke is selling?????

 

[jaytizzle]

nice..... are those the one's luke is selling?????

Negative. They are similar but his are the 3w LEDs and these are the 1w LEDs.

 

[650-IS350]

baller..... LOL

 

[inactive]

You may need more LED for that size of a tank, I knew a few people running these LED setups and they are not as bright as a lot of them out there.

 

[jaytizzle]

I've got the same style in a 90w fixture and it has worked marvelously on my 24g. I have no doubt that 2 x 120w will work on the 120. I am going to put a PAR meter on the Tek before I remove it and then take readings after I install these to see where corals need to be placed and possibly modify my photoperiod so that I don't bleach anything.

You may need more LED for that size of a tank, I knew a few people running these LED setups and they are not as bright as a lot of them out there.

 

[inactive]

1 x 90w/24g compared to 2 x 120w over a tank 6 times the size is a rough comparison.

 

[luke33]

I had one of these and it should work fine. I would suggest keeping your sps in the top 2/3 of your tank as i was hitting around 120ish par wise at 24" with that fixture. Having a good par value is important but there are many other things that are just as important. If you have a higher par value then less light duration is needed, lower par value can be made up with a longer light duration. Also flow is very important as well as feedings. Many corals, sps included can handle lower light intensity and make up by heavier feedings. Some people have long light duration, intense feedings and lots of flow : ) Personally i like moderate feedings, medium light intensity (200-800 Par) and lots of flow. Many ways to roll in this hobby that work : ) Thats what i love about the hobby.

 

[inactive]

I would rock 4 of those.

 

[Breakin Newz]

I have tested this same exact fixture out, 2 over a 48" tank will be fine, if you need more id add 1 more but 4 would be overkill... Just my opinion

 

[inactive]

I have tested this same exact fixture out, 2 over a 48" tank will be fine, if you need more id add 1 more but 4 would be overkill... Just my opinion

Define 48 inch tank, I have a 48 inch tank that is a 55g... his is a 120g

 

[jaytizzle]

Kray, I fear you're getting sucked into the water volume issue. The mitigating factor with light in this scenario is depth, not the volume of water that you are trying to light up. The LEDs get great light penetration so they are going to get better PAR as you go deeper as compared to other light sources. And we all know that the whole 5-10 watt/gallon rule is a farce at best and a disaster at worst. I am growing SPS on the sandbed of my 24g and this is 19" from the light. That will be a bit different than the 24" depth of my 120 but I don't have any SPS in the bottom 8" of that tank anyway.

 

[inactive]

I never said anything about a gallon per watt rule, I'm going by what I know about LEDs, depth and output.

 

[Breakin Newz]

I never said anything about a gallon per watt rule, I'm going by what I know about LEDs, depth and output.

Don't you have a single reefbrite over your frag tank?

 

[inactive]

Don't you have a single reefbrite over your frag tank?

You seem to be leaving out vital information that would really power the argument you are about to discover

 

[Breakin Newz]

You seem to be leaving out vital information that would really power the argument you are about to discover

Dude, im just asking do you have a single reefbrite over your frag tank or not? Just wondering because seems like it on your videos... If not then coo...

 

[inactive]

Oh, haha. Single 50/50 on a 15" tall tank... I'm only really growing chalice, acans and zoas.

 

[luke33]

Hey guys, i think we need the light pro on this one :xd: (not me btw just every other forum pro in here)

One thing on the light intensity and led's. These fixture's are mostly 120 degree optics so penetration isn't there strong suit. The 1w led's are actually driven at .78w for longevity. So intensity is good for around 16-18" and then starts to fall off. If you were to use 60 degree optics penetration would be better but spread would be less. Its give or take with led's. But imo you'll be fine with those lights if you keep your sps in the top 2/3 of your tank like you stated already.

 

[kungfujoe]

im running a similar fixture called the illuminariums.. its the 120 version and so far its kicking my halides butt.. the halide im running is a lumen max elite 175 watt with a hamilton 14k bulb.

 

[jaytizzle]

Ok... please excuse my terrible photography! Here are some photos that I took this morning of the new LED fixtures.