LED Light options opinions please

Sgolden · Jun 16, 2017

I am in the early stages of assembling my aquarium. I purchased a Craigslist 5ftx2ftx2 plexiglass w/ nearly everything needed.
There is a custom hood with 3 250 Hamilton 14k and 2 t12 actinic presently.
Because I'm new to the hobby, I set this up in a garage ( Oregon).
I am at 60 days, dry rock still going through the motions. I recently started cycling the existing lighting. Am running a chiller, which keeps up easily. However I am looking ahead at replacement , marginal utility bill increase and heat being the big issue.
I've read through most recent discussions regarding led in general. It seems that I could get away with stand alone led units but a combination of additional t5 is the best.
The leaders I see at this point considering effectiveness #1, looks #2, initial cost #3, longevity #4.
I can go a lot of directions, willing to change opinions. However I built a home computer for $2500.00 when I could have done it for much less. Same w/ lighting.

Please add as you see fit .

1) 3 hydra26 2nd w/ 1 or 2 ati t5 on each side.

2) 3 geismann verve w/ 1or2 ati t5 each side. (Gulp). Maybe try stand alone at first to deflect initial cost.

3) 3 radio gen 4 pro w/1 or 2 ati t5.

4) 2 kessil ap700. Interestingly enough, the kessil sizing chart picked 4 a160we for the 5 ft tank as one option.

5) whole bank of t5 lights. Not as interested, but probably the most effectiveness.

All of the above would be installed 10" off water in a cabinet style hood presently housing the existing lights. Would attempt to at a single t5 at each side first.

Realizing there are other fixtures . The above offers a variety of quality and cost I would certain entertain. I'm hedging on the top 3 at the moment for different reasons.

Thanks

ReefLEDLights · Jun 17, 2017

The proper mix of LEDs makes the use of T5 redundant as each generates a spectrum of light and can be replicated by either.

That said spectrum matters and to be honest as the owner of reefledlights I'm curious why you did not list our Sirius XTC in your options. It's close to twice the PAR of the Radion and we incorporated a controller that offers 9 channels of control based on manual or seasonal sunrise and sunset. In addition the controller offers a Thermal Watch which displays the fixture temp 24/7. Fans in a salt environment are always the weak link...

I started SPS Reef Keeping with MH&VHO...A good option if you can afford the heat and the wasted electricity via air conditioning and chiller. Here is my 2 cents

-1) Weak not enough for SPS
-2) Good but expensive...Look at three Sirius XTCs instead and skip the T5
-3) Will work well given your tank is only 24" deep...Deeper tanks would require more.
-4) Will work well also but limited control on spectrum.
-5) Seen lots of successful SPS tanks with this but expensive and you need to continue a religious bulb replacement plan. Also T5s are toxic, as an environmentalist and Pro Earth...T5s have a lot of heavy metals and other things you do not want to wind up in a landfill and eventually groundwater...MH to a lesser extent.

Two more options
-6) Two maybe Three Sirius XTC
-7) Two maybe Three Sirius XTC DIY Kits..Nothing more frustrating than spending $300 on a Chinese Black Box and having a driver fail that you cannot replace...If you can build a computer you can do this easier as there are no jumpers...

My overall recommendation is to keep the PAR at least 200 on the sand bed of a SPS tank and choose what's best for your budget and the environment...A ton of T5s in a landfill is not good...

Bill

Velcro · Jun 17, 2017

Reefbreeders photon v2

Sgolden · Jun 17, 2017

Both above,

Thanks for the reply. The ideas I came up are from my limited exposure in the hobby. Local shops and forums. By no means do I think there is a best of all or even a top 5 or 10. Just proximity.
The t5 addition may be redundant. Local suppliers have reiterated that. However a t5 additional would give a better ambient light source in addition to the led directional light source.

ReefLEDLights · Jun 17, 2017

There is nothing wrong with adding T5 other than the extra cost and environmental disposal concerns of used bulbs...

If you're new to the hobby beware as it's addictive...Growing a vibrant reef life and or maintaining a reef ecosystem in a home environment only one generation was unheard of...Now it's more than possible...Our Home Reef has donated captive grown corals to the Chicago Shedd Aquarium. It's a win when you can grow...Especially the hard stuff.

The first thing is to determine what type of reef...SPS...LPS...Softie...

Be careful on your choice as each has its own issues and given aiptasia and its control I can no longer add some LPS to my system as the aiptasia control also finds LPS yummy...

Each has its own issues...Do lots of homework.

Don't Skimp on Live Rock, Soft Large Flow, Skimming or Lights.

Look into Steve Tyrees trizonal method of filtration...Hard to do with a small system but if you have a large sump or a fish room it's worth looking into.

Cheers

Bill

BlackLabelCorals · Jun 17, 2017

I'd go with radions if your budget allows for it. I run (2) XR30 G4 Pros over my 40"L X 21"D X 20"H tank. Will consider adding another once things are fully grown out and if shadowing becomes and issue.

Personally, I think you should buy a 8 bulb ATI sunpower fixture. Basic, cheapish & PROVEN results. Plus you can mess up lighting spectrums like you can with LED's. Just turn it on for 8-10 hours a day and your golden. I've ran both LED's and T5's on SPS tanks.

I feel a beginner should start with T5's or halides. Something you can adjust or mess with. Allowing you to pay more attention to water chemistry and more important things.

Centerline · Jun 17, 2017

Really Man, you probably do not need to dump 2400 bucks in Radion Pros or some other crazy expensive light setup until you know what you are doing. And it may take a while to get a feel for things. Maybe just start out with t5s (plug and play) and move to LEDs when you have a feel for the hobby. This is coming from someone who runs MH, Gen4 radion pros, Hydra 52 HDs and I recently scored a ATI 8 bulb fixture. I'm a light agnostic ☺. If your set on LEDs go with something like the Sirius. Not going go break the bank and plenty of successful tanks around here running them.

Velcro · Jun 17, 2017

I recently switched from an 8 bulb t5 to The photon v2 hung 24" above the waterline and my alk demand has gone up.

K100286 · Jun 17, 2017

One of my aquariums has 2 ap700's and the other has 1 ap700 and 1 Kessil 350n and 1 Kessil 360w. Both tanks are 60in. The one with the 2 ap700's is a mixed Reef tank and the other tank is mostly soft and lps corals. Coverage on both is very good. However, with the ap700's start them out at 30% intensity and work up slowly. I burned a lot of corals in the mixed Reef tank. BRS has a good video of the most common led's and when they set up,their 160gal display they used 2 ap700's and 4 t5's.

FLSharkvictim · Sep 4, 2017

A question, would you go with 3 radion gen 4 pro or 3 AI Hydra 26's HD's on a 150-gallon tank specs being the following 60'' x 24'' x 24''..

ReefLEDLights · Sep 4, 2017

Have you considered two Sirius XTC. Their output is over Twice the AI26

Bill

Mike.kel · Sep 10, 2017

Sgolden said:
I am in the early stages of assembling my aquarium. I purchased a Craigslist 5ftx2ftx2 plexiglass w/ nearly everything needed.
There is a custom hood with 3 250 Hamilton 14k and 2 t12 actinic presently.
Because I'm new to the hobby, I set this up in a garage ( Oregon).
I am at 60 days, dry rock still going through the motions. I recently started cycling the existing lighting. Am running a chiller, which keeps up easily. However I am looking ahead at replacement , marginal utility bill increase and heat being the big issue.
I've read through most recent discussions regarding led in general. It seems that I could get away with stand alone led units but a combination of additional t5 is the best.
The leaders I see at this point considering effectiveness #1, looks #2, initial cost #3, longevity #4.
I can go a lot of directions, willing to change opinions. However I built a home computer for $2500.00 when I could have done it for much less. Same w/ lighting.

Please add as you see fit .

1) 3 hydra26 2nd w/ 1 or 2 ati t5 on each side.

2) 3 geismann verve w/ 1or2 ati t5 each side. (Gulp). Maybe try stand alone at first to deflect initial cost.

3) 3 radio gen 4 pro w/1 or 2 ati t5.

4) 2 kessil ap700. Interestingly enough, the kessil sizing chart picked 4 a160we for the 5 ft tank as one option.

5) whole bank of t5 lights. Not as interested, but probably the most effectiveness.

All of the above would be installed 10" off water in a cabinet style hood presently housing the existing lights. Would attempt to at a single t5 at each side first.

Realizing there are other fixtures . The above offers a variety of quality and cost I would certain entertain. I'm hedging on the top 3 at the moment for different reasons.

Thanks

I have the same size tank. Love it. Also have run t5s, plazmas and various LEDs. My current set up and be far my favorite is 3 Kessil pendants. I have them organized like this: a350n-a350w-a350n all running at just under 50% power. Plenty of PAR. Lots of shimmer that wife loves. Corals grow like crazy. No bad shaded areas.

NOT this blue in real life. iPhone camera really changes the color.