Marineland reef capable info

Smitty_13 · Feb 6, 2014

So I was out this past weekend doing my usual rounds at Essex (Greatest store known to man!) looking for random things and I came across a Marineland reef capable led light. It is the 18" to 24" model with built in timer. I got it for 30 dollars, because it had no power cable, and no possible way to tell if it worked. Well i hunted up a power supply and it didn't work. So i took this thing apart to see if I could save it. Turns out one of the resisters blew out on the timer circuit board. I am in the process of rewiring this thing with 2 mounted rocker toggle switches and by-passing the timer so I can still control both sets of lights. If anyone has attempted this any insight would be greatly appreciated.

This is going on my oceanic 30 gallon cube build, not a bio cube. Finished cycling a about 3 weeks ago. Currently has 2" sand bed, 2 clowns, 15 drawft blue legged hermits, and 15 lbs of live rock.

My question is will this light give me the options to keep softies and possibly some LPS ( with higher placement)

I know most people will tell me to get a different light or don't waste my money on this little 1W Led fixture.... well I have already committed the crime of buying it and a few hours of tinkering on it so I am past the point of no return. I am hoping for only 30 dollars this thing will keep me satisfied for a little while.

Geschke2000 · Feb 6, 2014

Yea that's all I have heard that the 1W LEDS are no good but I have has my marineland reef capable lights on my 125 gallon tank when it came out. Now I have sps corals growing as well as some lps corals with anemones and clams pretty much anything you can think of. Now I have tested the par reading on it and as it doesn't stack up to the ecotech radions they have more then enough lighting for the most depending sps corals. Having said that I do have the ecotech vortex mp40s at 95% reef crust mode, so I do have the more expensive power heads so I have a ton of water movement. I believe that more wave movement and a higher quality of water is more important then lighting and I have has great results with this strategy

Reefing Madness · Feb 6, 2014

1w LEDs will be fine if you get the coral up a bit. There are quite a few reef tanks out there being run with 1Watters. No worries.

Smitty_13 · Feb 6, 2014

Alright, well i got it all wired back together with 2 small toggle switches mounted on the side. One running the blue and the other running the white. Been on for about 30 minutes and not smoke for burning smell...... fingers crossed. Should be picked up a few zoa frags this weekend to give it a go.

Reefing Madness · Feb 6, 2014

NanaReefer · Feb 7, 2014

Sweet! one of our LFS uses the MarineLand LED's units on all their tanks. Their corals look great!

sanchezkk · Feb 14, 2014

I was running a 36-48 inch unit for over a year and it went out the other day. So, I called United Pet Group (Marineland) to check if it was within the warranty (which I had a feeling that it wasn't), and while I was talking to the Customer Service Rep about my lighting and the fact that I had corals, then she immediately asked me for my shipping address and sent a replacement 2 day shipping at no cost and shipping whatsoever. I received the unit yesterday and as I was tinkering with the old unit it came back on to much of my surprise. God knows I was not making a false claim, and they didn't ask me to return the older model.Now the nice thing is that they sent me the upgraded version with the timers. I have both of them on my tank and its incredible how much light I have bathing my corals and fish. I know I need better LEDs to get more output but for now I am content. Any feedback is encouraged. Thanks all! Happy Reefing!