How much should I expect to pay for an LED fixture?

Florida reefer · Jul 7, 2014

Ok, I've convinced myself to try LEDs for the first time ever. I don't know much about them and I'm not a lighting expert.
What I need to know is, how do you you calculate lighting per gallon?
How much do manufactured fixtures usually cost?
Is there anything else I should be aware of?
Is there anything I need to make you aware of?
I have no tank as of yet. I'm trying to get a plan together first, then I'll start buying what I need instead of trying to add a new component each month to a reef that's trying to get a foothold.

ReefLEDLights · Jul 7, 2014

Florida reefer said:
Ok, I've convinced myself to try LEDs for the first time ever. I don't know much about them and I'm not a lighting expert.
What I need to know is, how do you you calculate lighting per gallon?
How much do manufactured fixtures usually cost?
Is there anything else I should be aware of?
Is there anything I need to make you aware of?
I have no tank as of yet. I'm trying to get a plan together first, then I'll start buying what I need instead of trying to add a new component each month to a reef that's trying to get a foothold.

Never calculate watts per gallon. Depending on the fixture some 118 watt fixtures are twice the PAR of 136 watt Imports.

Spectrum Matters. You see a lot of happy reefers using Cree LED Fixtures as their Cool White is very close to Full Spectrum.

Up to a point, you more often than not get what what you Pay For. Disposable EBay Fixtures are a good value compared to MH. The question you have to ask is how often do you want to replace a failed driver or fixture.

Lots of opinions on fixtures. Personally I prefer a Cree Fixture with a decent controller for sunrise and sunset simulation and a max PAR equivalent to a 400 watt MH.

Bill

Florida reefer · Jul 7, 2014

Thanks, I appreciate that. I like the bluish white look. Is that what I'd get with the Cree? Is that color a good growth spectrum, in your experience? Also how much can I expect to pay say, for a 20 long display? Thanks again. It's difficult to get good, unbiased info on the internet.

Jc_ellis · Jul 7, 2014

For a 20 long, I'm using a single radion pro and am very happy with it. But, the price tag is $749.

Cree does make some of the best LEDs. From my research and experience, I would go with a full spectrum fixture that has more than just cool white and royal blue LEDs. I'd go with one that has violets/uv, royal blue, blue, and turquoise/cyan in the blue part of the spectrum and a yellow/orange and deep red in the red part of the spectrum and ute it all together with cool whites to blend the light for our eyes and round out the spectrum. Green LEDs only increase how we perceive the brightness and color of the tank and does not help coral grow.

ReefLEDLights · Jul 7, 2014

Florida reefer said:
Thanks, I appreciate that. I like the bluish white look. Is that what I'd get with the Cree? Is that color a good growth spectrum, in your experience? Also how much can I expect to pay say, for a 20 long display? Thanks again. It's difficult to get good, unbiased info on the internet.

To be honest I'm a bit biased towards our lights.

The Cree Cool White already has plenty of turquoise/cyan and yellow/orange.

For Growth all you need is 420-460nm Then add the rest for personal taste. PFO back in the day had a 2:1 Royal Blue Cool White fixture that worked very well despite its cost. Later AI Came out with a Royal Blue Cool White but it was hit or miss on looks as they did not bin their Cree LEDs for Spectrum.

Traditional Cree Royal Blue, Blue and Cool White Fixtures grow coral exceptionally well as the right mix and binning replicates the light the coral receive at 10-20 meters. AKA Radium 20K.

Adding the extra colours is personal preference. Some like more Red others like more Blue. Adding too much tertiary colours like Red may help nuisance algae as they are mostly found at shallower depths.

Bill

Ryan2428 · Jul 7, 2014

Ty for that info reefled

neddog · Jul 10, 2014

I have the panorama pro 4 strips with dimmers and my friend has the maxspect razor. We trade frags and the frags look way better in his tank, way, way better. The maxspect isn't all that expensive either. Some people complain that they are too purple but I think they look great.

Florida reefer · Jul 10, 2014

$749 is kind of pricey, but if you dont have to replace bulbs every 10 months it's worth it. Thanks for the info.

neddog · Jul 11, 2014

The 20 inch one is $419 at foster and smith no tax no shipping. I'm not sure If there is anything else to buy or not I'll ask him when I see him for you. I know he can change the settings on the lights with his phone really cool. I payed more than that for the whole panorama pro setup. If it is indeed the 20 inch display you want

Florida reefer · Jul 11, 2014

Yeah neddog, I'm gonna try to keep it simple and inexpensive this time around. I appreciate you looking into it for me.

NanaReefer · Jul 11, 2014

Check out Reef Radiance. Awesome LED's that wont break the bank. I'm a first time user too and a happy one

Bad Company · Jul 11, 2014

A LOT of people including myself are very happy with reef radiance lights. I have a DM-155e over my 30X30 cub an I love it! I has full spectrum lighting, dimmable blue and white channels, and I'm running it at about 50% intensity. It has 55 3W bridgelux LEDS, and active cooling. It is not programmable, but two timers from home depot turn on the blue and white channels separately. Best point? $170!!! And compared to the Kessil A350 I had over my tank, I like it better.

MaD_ReefeR · Jul 11, 2014

Bad Company said:
A LOT of people including myself are very happy with reef radiance lights. I have a DM-155e over my 30X30 cub an I love it! I has full spectrum lighting, dimmable blue and white channels, and I'm running it at about 50% intensity. It has 55 3W bridgelux LEDS, and active cooling. It is not programmable, but two timers from home depot turn on the blue and white channels separately. Best point? $170!!! And compared to the Kessil A350 I had over my tank, I like it better.

This! Thank you
I have a 30x30 cube 90g rimless and I've been looking at lighting options. The kessil being the last one I've looked at. Nothing in my tank yet but trying to get a fixture that I won't have to upgrade one I do start putting coral in... Going with mostly LPS

chrisfraser05 · Jul 11, 2014

I just can't see past the maxspect razor still.

There are cheaper lights, there are more programable lights but there are none that look as cool over the tank.

They are great all round, they have a decent spectrum, decent programmability, plenty power, efficient under driven Cree's and come in at a good price.

oldGuest · Jul 11, 2014

Hi guys,

just want to know if anyone of you has had experience with chinese led lights like one below:

Evergrow IT2060 Programmable LED Aquarium - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IT2060-Programmable-LED-Aquarium-Light-Remote-Control-Coral-Reef-Marine-/281093882555?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item41728042bb

Would be nice to hear your opinion. Thanks.

chrisfraser05 · Jul 11, 2014

A mate of mine bought them, it 2040s iirc. Didn't last a year.
I opened them up and they are really poorly constructed (I'm an electronic engineer).

They drive the led's heavily compared to better units meaning less par per watt, and generate more heat.
They also look cheap in my opinion.

BUT that being said allot of people on the Facebook fish pages use them and swear by them.
I don't know how long these people stay in the hobby mind, and have never seen any tank of the months using them.

As a cheap light, if they last years they have prob paid themselves off so they prob have a place the market.

Daniel@R2R · Jul 11, 2014

I've used chinese LEDs for 3 years, and just upgraded to radions (gen1) I did fine with the chinese LEDs...they'll grow coral and keep a reef just fine (and they're easy on the wallet), but there's really no comparison to the look of the radions...and I was a skeptic for a long time about expensive LEDs...but they really do seem to be WAY better fixtures. That being said, go with the best you can afford, but don't feel pressured to do more than you can go comfortably.