Modern lighting confusion... Sigh

[Mfannan]

I'm going to end up doing a DIY rig of some sort, and I think it is going to be a MH and T5 combo as of now, I may add 4 multichips to it as well, but I'm not sure on that yet. My major issues around LED fixtures, and DIY is that unless you are building it from the ground up, including a DIY heatsink, the kits don't save you any money, it's like this industry is trying to punish those of us who like to go our own way. What really chaps me is that the individual components aren't that expensive to build a LED rig, so part if the reason I'm doing what I'm doing, is kind of a mini protest, i am going to build an amazing rig, give all the part numbers, costs, and step by step instructions that anyone can follow; itll be better than LED alone, and cheaper than what you can buy a black box for.

Sorry, end of rant.

 

[Mfannan]

So far, here is my cost per fixture:

150w ballast 10.00
150w de bulb 20.00
15x7x5 reflector and glass 30.00
150w de tombstones 8.00
5v pwm to 0-10v analog DAC 2.50
12ga stranded copper wire 5.00

So that's 75 bucks per fixture, there are other items, but I need to go pick them up these are finishing pieces.

Also, you can source most everything in this list cheaper, this is usually worst case except the bulb, which is going to vary on preference...

 

[oreo54]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Evergrow-F.../362236496986?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c1

165W of directional LEd's w/ WIFI control....


$124..$49 difference..
Includes shipping..

Your "real" number is going to be close..
go for it..

 

[Mfannan]

I've actually got two of those over my 90 gallon, I've already torn into them twice to replace some burned out leds... that's why I started this thread, it's a what should I do, and why should I do it. My biggest problem is that I don't like to constantly tear into something to fix it... maybe it was just my luck on the fixtures I got.

Plus I want 4 fixtures over my 150, per fixture the savings may not me much, but on the whole....

 

[Scubadoo4u]

Depends on what you want to grow. None of those current LEDs (including the loop) will be sufficient for higher demanding corals to THRIVE. Emphasis there. Yeah they may cling to life and not die but again, it all depends on your expectations. Do you expect dramatic color and growth you can see by the week or even days? Or do you like to fiddle with knobs and faders and simply want things to not die. Serious questions I’m not being sarcastic. Because this is a situation where you absolutely cannot have your cake and eat it too unless you’re an electrician and a programmer. You can get LEDs that will allow sps corals to thrive...along with full control and effects (which are pointless btw and you’ll tire of that inside of a week), but you’ll pay for it. It will not be cheap.

The options that allow full control and automation, at a rock bottom price point are going to immediately sacrifice power and cooling to keep the price point low. The ones that keep the price point low but have tons of power will sacrifice programming and controllability. The ones that have power AND controllability AND a cheaper price point will largely fall in the DIY area which requires a bit of skill not all of us have. May not look clean and concise though.

There will be a give and take. If you want LEDs to work as well as your old metal halides did. You need higher power diodes (3-5 watt per diode area), the correct spectrum, hang them high, set your intensity, and just leave them alone. Don’t muck with random cloud cover, lightening effects, random changes of settings to show off to your friends or just for the heck of it. The best led grown tanks are the ones that literally treat the LEDs like they’re a single bulb. Don’t adjust them. On. Off, and be done with it

What do you recommend for a program on Radion G3 or in addition...no problem for growth but don't have bounce effect of rays that access all area of corals.

 

[Bpb]

What do you recommend for a program on Radion G3 or in addition...no problem for growth but don't have bounce effect of rays that access all area of corals.

Do some searching on the “AB+” program. It was created to mimic closely the spectral output ratios of the Radium and Phoenix MH bulbs (also the ratio of 8 blue+, 2 ab special bulbs on a 10 bulb t5ho arrangement). Ideally you’d hang it as high as you can and run the program at 100%, and use distance to target a par or 300-500 for your sps, but some people can’t do that so they have to run the same ratios at a lower output

 

[oreo54]

I've actually got two of those over my 90 gallon, I've already torn into them twice to replace some burned out leds... that's why I started this thread, it's a what should I do, and why should I do it. My biggest problem is that I don't like to constantly tear into something to fix it... maybe it was just my luck on the fixtures I got.

Plus I want 4 fixtures over my 150, per fixture the savings may not me much, but on the whole....

4 pieces w/ wired controller (not WIFI)
$400................
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-6PCS-Aqua-Dimmable-165W-LED-Aquarium-Light-Full-Spectrum-Reef-Coral-Marine/332329639775?_trkparms=aid=555019&algo=PL.BANDIT&ao=1&asc=20150817211709&meid=2f43789e0ad74e68a746bff5bc14c573&pid=100506&rk=1&rkt=1&&itm=332329639775&_trksid=p2045573.c100506.m3226

$100 total difference...

now this is NOT a judgement regarding quality ect..
Tried to piece together a "quality "LED "bulb" (emitters only) for a "decent" price.. That's not happening..
$140 is probably a low end 'bulb" w/ quality emitters inc. high priced and quality violets.

Stick w/ Royal blue and whites and go Rebel shopping on eek bay ..you could do it..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/45W-LUXEON...567829?hash=item3d11702755:g:FXYAAOSwXshWtI~T
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-PHIL...312182&hash=item35e2782ca6:g:8-EAAOSw6aVUnR5R

All JUST food for thought..

 

[mcarroll]

I can light a 150 with a build similar to my low light SPS tank for around $200 and no soldering is involved...but there's no kit to buy either.

Yeah I could spend $400 or $1600 if you wanted me to....

Either inexpensive is a goal or it's not – no shame either way. But if it is, you have more options out there.