LED Fixture Decision Help

[Mr Hughes]

I am looking to make the switch to LED and need help deciding on what fixture(s) would be best for my wants and needs. I currently have a 29 gallon mixed reef with a few birdsnests, stylos, a single acro, a few hammers, acans, favia, fivites, and zoas. My intention is to upgrade to a 75 in the somewhat near future as a local store sells the tanks for $99 routinely.

My main reason for wanting to switch to LED is to be able to adjust the spectrum so that the color on the corals show more pop. My wife hates when the tank looks blue, so I figure the adjustability of the fixture would allow me to find that balance easier than playing bulb roulette with T5. I don't have a controller so this adjustability would need to be a standalone function.

One or two fixtures? Would a single fixture like the Giesemann Vervve or Radion XR30 work for now, knowing I'd need another fixture once I get the 75, or should I do two AI Prime/XR15 now since they say the coverage is 24" each? I have two standalone peaks of rockwork if that would play a factor in your decision. Are there any other cheaper options that would provide the adjustments I need? I also want to minimize the disco ball effect as much as possible.

With a budget of around $800 for this round, what would you go with? If you can come in cheaper, that is always preferred.

Thanks for your help and insight.

 

[jsker]

You can not go wrong with one Giesemann or Radion for your system, then you can alway add another when you go to a 75gal tank. I went with the Hydra 26 hd's which also to a great job for a tad bit less.

 

[mcarroll]

My main reason for wanting to switch to LED is to be able to adjust the spectrum so that the color on the corals show more pop. My wife hates when the tank looks blue, so I figure the adjustability of the fixture would allow me to find that balance easier than playing bulb roulette with T5.

Two halves to this answer:

Lights
I suspect you would regret replacing your T5's with halide-like spotlights as the light and shadows are very different. Try to see some in person before spending that kind of money, IMO.

Instead, I would suggest looking at LED strips as they will look and act much more like T5 system. Something like GHL's Lightbar2 or Current USA's Orbit IC or Orbit Pro. (There are a ton of options.)

As far as upgrading, I wouldn't try to buy for both tanks right now. If you really want new lights for this tank, get em, but keep in mind you'll be selling them with the tank. Otherwise, just hold off on new lights for the new tank. IMO.

Coral Color
If the corals are bland, that's likely to be a nutrient issue...usually a lack of. If the tank lighting just looks too blue, it's not too hard to pick one different T5 tube that puts out a little less blue.....especially if that's all it takes to get you through to the tank upgrade.

Do you happen to have a thread open on the coral color issue? Link it or PM me if you wanna look at that.

If you'd rather DIY the troubleshooting, look over some of these threads:
paling (<-- That's a Reef2Reef search. Click it!)

 

[Mr Hughes]

Two halves to this answer:

Lights
I suspect you would regret replacing your T5's with halide-like spotlights as the light and shadows are very different. Try to see some in person before spending that kind of money, IMO.

Instead, I would suggest looking at LED strips as they will look and act much more like T5 system. Something like GHL's Lightbar2 or Current USA's Orbit IC or Orbit Pro. (There are a ton of options.)

Coral Color
If the corals are bland, that's likely to be a nutrient issue...usually a lack of. If the tank lighting just looks too blue, it's not too hard to pick one different T5 tube that puts out a little less blue.....especially if that's all it takes to get you through to the tank upgrade.

Thanks for your reply.

On the color issue, I wouldn't say it's a paling issue as much as I need to find the correct spectrum to make the reds more red and less rust colored if that makes any sense. Greens are great, pinks are great, and the one blue stylo I have looks pretty good too.

I currently am running a two bulb ho t5 fixture with ati coral plus and purple plus bulbs. I think my number one reason for wanting a controllable led fixture is to tweet the spectrum for the best viewing. Perhaps I just need to upgrade to a 4 bulb or get a cheap led strip and add some blue??

Your idea about going toward an led light strip was something I looked at but had trouble finding a fixture to easily adjust the spectrum so I will have to look at the ghl lightbar as that might be more up my alley.

As far as viewing a tank with the fixtures, the only store within 75 minutes only has the kessil ap700s but wasn't terribly impressed. I have also seen the kessil a360 and there is way too much discoball effect. I have seen worldwide corals' tanks and those look amazing with radions. Just a little darker than I want it to be but that's adjustable obviously. The only reason I was thinking of the giessmann was because it has enough coverage and didn't require any extra pieces to adjust the spectrum. So many options and not enough stores close by to assist visually in an informed decision unfortunately.

 

[Pmj]

Kessils dont have disco ball. Perhaps you are thinking of the shimmering & shadows it would cause (some people like that). In that price range, you can get the highest end fixture, like a Radion or Mitras for max controllability. Hydra 26 HD or 52 HD (don't know your tank length) would probably work well too for cheaper, or something like Photon V2s as well. Honestly, all of them would blow away a 2 bulb fixture imho, and you should acclimate slowly to not burn anything.

 

[Maacc]

You might want to look at photon v2 or sb reef lights.

 

[Zack K]

I think you would like a T5/LED combo. You would get the LED color pop but also get the growth and spread of a T5

 

[Reef man 89]

We're do u live to get a 75g for $99? My lfs sells them for like 300

 

[Marc.The.Shark]

You might want to look at photon v2 or sb reef lights.

I agree. I saw a fellow Reefers tank lit by Reefbreeders Photon V2's and was in awe of the way his tank looked. Nice crisp light with great coloration. Made me want to go buy one right there.

 

[Mr Hughes]

We're do u live to get a 75g for $99? My lfs sells them for like 300

Preuss Pets | 1127 N. Cedar St. | Lansing, MI 48906

They are the Deep Blue aquariums typically, so not the best of quality but a 75 nonetheless. Been on sale 3 out of 3 times when I've been there in the last year and a half. When I say local, this is one of the fish stores more than an hour away.

 

[Mr Hughes]

It sounds like the Photon V2 might be something to look into.

 

[peter fumo]

Radions give you great flexibility with color and light intensity I love my GEN 3 pros with reef link you can control colors and intensity with your phone while sitting on your couch with your wife

 

[Sm51498]

2 xr15s would be fantastic. Too much power for a 29 but just right for a 75. I have an ai prime. I adore it but it is really more of a nano light. Step up to the hydra 26s if you want something from AI. I really like the myai app it is super easy, I've heard unlovely things about the ecotec software but my experience has been fine.

 

[mcarroll]

I would stop looking at LED spotlights to replace your T5's.

I still think some of the color issues are probably husbandry related.

"Cheating" by coloring them up with green and red LED's is....well....cheating.

Not to mention that you'd hate all the shadowing generated vs your current setup.

Consider controllable LED strips like GHL's Lighhtbar2 or Current USA's Orbit Marine IC or Pro....but don't get them to color up your corals. That's your corals' job!