Lighting Suggestions

[BayouBeard]

I have a 75 gallon that has been up and running now for 4 months. Try not to laugh, but I'm still running the stock single T8 bulb that came with it (sad...I know). Needless to say, I'm desperately wanting to upgrade my lighting so I can jump on the coral train. I want to start out with LPS and softies, then eventually work my way up to some SPS (baby steps). I've looked into T5HO lighting as well as LED, but I'm not sure which one would work out the best. The one thing I do know is my budget, and that's right around $350...if possible. Whichever option I go with, a built in programmable timer is a must. So I figured I'd ask the experts for some input as I have no experience with reef lighting. Thanks in advance...

 

[beaslbob]

even just some 4' 2 tube shop lights would help.

 

[TrishW]

If you could get in on a group buy you could get an Evergrow IT2080 for about that, maybe as much $400. I have three of the 2040s over my tank and I am very pleased with them so far.

My 90 had a 48" 6 bulb Teklight and I could grow anything, but never got into the higher end SPS corals. The kicker was having to replace the bulbs so often but that is the case with any T5.

You could save a bunch and just buy somebody's use MHs and use timers on them. H@rry had some posted a few days ago.

 

[inurocker]

$350.00 would get you a typhon controller and a good start on a DIY LED set that could be added on to as need and money allowed. Also watch the hard goods for sale here on R2R I have seen some smoking hot deals on lighting.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

even just some 4' 2 tube shop lights would help.

Beaslbob is right actually for keeping softies. One of NARC members, Mariner, ran his 75G softies tank successfully with 6 T12 bulbs using a shop light fixture for a long time. He had actinic and regular (not VHO) daylight bulbs and everything looked beautiful. You can try that or buy Harry's metal halide fixtures until you save up enough for an Evergrow or another LED fixture. One big advantage of LED's is the fact that you don't have the bulb replacement cost for many years.

 

[BayouBeard]

Im very interested in the Evergrow IT2080 32" fixture. Would that work over a standard (48×18×21) 75 gallon tank with a center brace? Im worried the brace would block too much light and that there wouldn't be enough coverage on the ends?

 

[Tomoko Schum]

It should be fine even with a center brace. It may block a small amount of light, but it should not matter much. If you are worried about the brace blocking the light, you can look up a way to cut the center brace and replace it with a clear acrylic piece (center brace removal - Do It Yourself - WAMAS Forums). You could buy two smaller LED units instead. If you are not set on a certain look like I am, you may be okay with Reef Radiance Lumentek. You can actually have Lumentek Pro customized to look like IT-2040 by taking the ratios of various colored LED's on IT-2040 and applying the ratios to Lumentek LED's. DM-132e, Reef Radiance LED fixture without the programmable timers, has more warm white LED's than cool white LED's resulting in warmer, more reddish/purplish colors whereas Evergrow has cooler bluish appearance because of the higher number of cooler white LED's.

 

[Tphill]

I have an OR IT2080 over a standard 75 gallon and it does fine. The way I have my aquascaping, one end is not as bright, but that's where my discosoma live.

 

[BayouBeard]

If I were to go with the DM-132E lights from Reef Radiance...what would you use for the timer?

 

[TrishW]

I used wall timers from Walmart for almost three years with my T5S.

 

[redtop03]

If I were to go with the DM-132E lights from Reef Radiance...what would you use for the timer?

I use a reef controller with mine but like Trish said, a simple light timer from Lowes or Wal-Mart will work just fine

 

[aslmx]

I use ocean revive arctic so26s and just control blues and whites with timers. $317 shipped. Got them in 5 days

 

[TrishW]

Be sure to get timers that will accomodate a 3 prong plug. I have a half dozen or so timers floating around here that I never used because I didn't pay attention when I purchased them. One day I am gonna have a YARD SALE.

 

[BayouBeard]

Trish...I checked ReefRadiance.com and saw the Lumentek Pro 240 for $400. It's a 31.5" fixture with 80 LEDs, how do you think this would work out. I'm concerned with lack of coverage on the ends. I by no means want an SPS dominant tank, but would like to have a few here and there. Would some LPS/softies such as ricordea/zoas do good on the ends?

 

[mcarroll]

If DIY is a valid consideration for you, check out GU10 bulbs on ebaMzonAliGate.

One bub and one socket will cost about $6, maybe less. ($1 or less per socket. About $5 or less per bulb. There is a very wide selection of bulbs.) This gives you mounting, AC/DC power conversion, heat-sink and lenses (everything you need, in other words) in a perfectly modular package. You'd need either one or two rows of 23 bulbs depending on the particulars of your installation and what critters you plan to keep.

So you can figure on spending $138 per row, maybe less (maybe even a lot less) depending on the bulbs/vendor you ultimately select. For example: base-level all-blue bulbs and all-cool white bulbs with standard (30º) lenses can be had for around $3/each without shopping too hard. If you want to integrate blue and white on the same bulb for a little better blending (or other customizations), expect to pay about $5/each.

This is a lengthy thread that shows one good idea for a DIY GU10 fixture in the first post - they're easy to install just about anywhere. If it sounds interesting, I'd suggest at least digesting the first post where all the pics are. There are many other example fixtures throughout the thread as well.

I've built three of these for myself so far and I'm currently using one single-row "fixture" of mixed blue-white bulbs to light a 36x12x18H" tank. My "fixture" in this case is a 40" section of 1x2" stock screwed into a shelf bracket....really hi-fi!! LOL.

Hope this helps!

-Matt

P.S...
Here are some searches for the bulbs to give you an idea what's out there:

• AliExpress seems good for bulk buys.
• eBay has the most selection and is where I've bought all mine from so far. IME most vendors that specialize in LED's are willing to do custom bulbs. Language is the only hangup, if anything.
• DHgate has a selection as well.

I haven't found a good source for sockets outside of eBay, which generally has a great selection. Looks like $0.47/ea is the current low price.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Trish...I checked ReefRadiance.com and saw the Lumentek Pro 240 for $400. It's a 31.5" fixture with 80 LEDs, how do you think this would work out. I'm concerned with lack of coverage on the ends. I by no means want an SPS dominant tank, but would like to have a few here and there. Would some LPS/softies such as ricordea/zoas do good on the ends?

Trish and I suspect that lumentek pro has the same warm appearance as DM-132e. You might like that appearance but she and I prefer the bluish color of Evergrow. If you would like to see the difference, you can stop by my place sometime. Seeing is believing in this case.

 

[BayouBeard]

Thanks Tomoko...I'll take you up on that offer some time. It should definitely help in the decision making.

 

[beaslbob]

does anyworry about Tomoko? .:squigglemouth:

After all agreeing with beaslbob? What about her reputation. :wink:

 

[TrishW]

does anyworry about Tomoko? .:squigglemouth:

After all agreeing with beaslbob? What about her reputation. :wink:

I have heard so much about beaslbob. You must be quite the controversial fellow (or gal). But what made me comment was the link to AIM. I didn't know that still existed.

 

[Kidreef]

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