Lighting Help

Airplanes · Oct 31, 2012

Hello,
I dont post much and generally just lurk. (thinking this will change soon)

I've been into reef keeping for almost 20 years but never much in the way of FOWLR, and thats what I'm setting up.
So here's the plan. I just aquired a New tank a 72x 30 WIDE!!! x 22 high. Didnt plan on this but found a real good deal and couldnt pass up. The front is starfire glass.

So I have a idea of a fish list and getting this all set up, but I want to do this one time and do it right. I plan on putting this tank in my wall like I have my 150 reef.

My plans for the tank is buying a few juvi fish and maybe having some very easy softies in there just for movement. Mushrooms, Leathers, GSP. You get the idea.

Now to my main question. I need to light this thing and I'm looking for big picture here. I.E cost to run plus bulb replacement. T5's dont seem right because of the width I'd need several $25 bulbs and theyed need replacement quite often. Metal halides are cheap and easy to start up but cost of running them and bulb replacement every 6 months. That brings me to the new exciting world of LED's. My question is I've seen some fixtures that I like for $200 per. I'd need 3. (600$) Not knowing much about the leds Ive read a ton and have had tons of mixed reviews. I've looked into the DYI and just buying them. Ive found bout the same. Is $600 too much to spend on this kind of system? One time buy. Is there enough info about them? I keep hearing the standard 7 year life? Now too sure on this.. I work for Delta Airlines as a mechanic and I find myself chainging the leds out of the reading lights in the cabin ever week. Due to being "burned out". Am I comparing apples to oranges?

Sorry for the long post but as I've said I want to do this right and right from the get go.

So I'm looking for suggestions on this setup from the light guru's. Thanks so much and I'm sure I will have a bunch more questions and dissucison and tie progresses.

Thanks

cdrewferd · Oct 31, 2012

For a FOWLR you don't need a ton of light. You could just get some stunner strips or some reef brights and be good.

Dumnorix · Oct 31, 2012

You could go T5, or even those marineland LED fixtures.

Airplanes · Oct 31, 2012

cdrewferd said:
For a FOWLR you don't need a ton of light. You could just get some stunner strips or some reef brights and be good.

I've looked into this, and by the time its all said and done I dont think they will cost that much less. I also love a bright tank.. Reef brights are nice but that are not that much cheaper than buying led fixtures..

Airplanes · Oct 31, 2012

Seen the marineland lights in person and was'nt that impressed with them. And the T5 bulb replacement at $25 x 8? every 6-8 months is around 400$ a year. I like to replace them in my reef that often due to alage purposes. so that doesnt seem practical as well. Thanks for the thoughts guys. I will keep listing..

cdrewferd · Oct 31, 2012

You could do 3-4 120w Chinese LED panels. They run around $200 each. Would give you lots of light and you could tune the light with the dimmers to get what you wanted.

KoleTang · Oct 31, 2012

Airplanes said:
I've looked into this, and by the time its all said and done I dont think they will cost that much less. I also love a bright tank.. Reef brights are nice but that are not that much cheaper than buying led fixtures..

Airplanes said:
Seen the marineland lights in person and was'nt that impressed with them.

I agree 100% with you. I am working on a fish only and having the same problem. Right now I am looking into the maxspect razor.

If the razor does not work out, then I will most likely go Chinese led.