My new RSM 250 - LED recommendations

[alabella1]

Hey all! Just joined the forum. I recently inherited a RSM 250 from my office as they decided they no longer wanted to pay for the upkeep. So last weekend we moved it into my house and so far it's doing great. Got everything I need for the care, kept all the original water and life in tact post move. Added some new fish. But now onto my issue. Only 2 T5s were on so I bought 6 replacement bulbs so I could get going on a replacement schedule. Come to find out, only 2 fixtures actually work. So it could be ballasts, could be something else. I don't know. All that said, I've heard from some fellow enthusiasts to look into LEDs. So I've been doing that and boy there's a lot out there. I've narrowed it down to a handful of options, but I don't really know what to do. Here is what I found in other forums and through researching.

Ideally I want something I can just drop into the current hood with little or no modifications save removing the current T5s and dropping something new in there.


Steve's LEDs - RED SEA MAX 250/C250 LED UPGRADE - PLUG AND PLAY - $799 but you know I'm gonna throw the add ons to make it $875

Reefbreeders - Photon 32-V2+ - $589 - look decent but not sure about the controls on them.

Aqua Illumination AI Hydra 32HD LED -$366 x 2

Noopsyche K7 PRO II LED Light - $155 x 2 and controller for $57

and finally... the cheapo option but might just be worth a try...

DSunY T75 Reef Led Aquarium Light - $185



Any help, recommendations, reviews would be so helpful as I'm driving myself insane trying to make the right/easiest decision here.

 

[Spare time]

I'm wondering if reefbrites would be handy for you. They can be mounted at the surface and are bar lights. My only concern with having the LED's you mentioned being placed in the hood is that they will be right off the top of the water and thus create strong hotspots directly underneath with drastically lower par elsewhere.

 

[alabella1]

I'm wondering if reefbrites would be handy for you. They can be mounted at the surface and are bar lights. My only concern with having the LED's you mentioned being placed in the hood is that they will be right off the top of the water and thus create strong hotspots directly underneath with drastically lower par elsewhere.

My hope is when properly mounted in my hood they will sit 6-8" above the water level.

 

[Spare time]

My hope is when properly mounted in my hood they will sit 6-8" above the water level.

Have you checked out the BRS videos on some of the lights you are thinking of? This can give you an estimate of par levels at various heights on lights such as the hydra and the reefbreeders.

Kessils and Red Sea Reef LED are both able to work well at 8 inch mounting height. I prefer the kessill due to a wider spectrum but both of those lights would work well for you. I think that you should seriously consider a light from those two companies for your situation.

 

[dedragon]

I would use Orphek Or3 bars or Reef delight nicobars and mount them right where the t5s were, there is a fan for ventilation in the hood right?

 

[alabella1]

I would use Orphek Or3 bars or Reef delight nicobars and mount them right where the t5s were, there is a fan for ventilation in the hood right?

Yes, there are fans on either side of the T5 area. How many bars do you think would make sense in that fixture? It's roughly 33 x 6.75.

 

[alabella1]

Have you checked out the BRS videos on some of the lights you are thinking of? This can give you an estimate of par levels at various heights on lights such as the hydra and the reefbreeders.

Kessils and Red Sea Reef LED are both able to work well at 8 inch mounting height. I prefer the kessill due to a wider spectrum but both of those lights would work well for you. I think that you should seriously consider a light from those two companies for your situation.

Which models specifically by those 2 companies and how many of each. The inside is roughly 33 x 6.75

 

[dedragon]

3-4 or either would work I would stagger the 24" 2 blue, and 1 or 2 white or reef color ones I would think. Nicobars are new but people seem to like them and also have a dimmable version if you are into that. Honestly I would go Orphek because they are better known and ik they state splash protection on their light (i think ip67 rated) and I would just use a smart outlet for like $20 to control when each light strip comes on at what time or apex if you have it

 

[dedragon]

And I would also just bolt the lights directly where the t5 bulbs currently are, i think that should give you enough space for the light to spread before it contacts the water

 

[piranhaman00]

I had the same tank, you cant mount puck leds without removing the hood completely. Reef brite was a good suggestion as they could fit into the t5 area and behind the splash shield.

FWIW I would replace ballast and use t5

 

[dedragon]

If you contact orphek they can tell you exactly which ones to get and if they would work for your situation, I havent seen the UV spectrum ones in person before though

 

[alabella1]

I had the same tank, you cant mount puck leds without removing the hood completely. Reef brite was a good suggestion as they could fit into the t5 area and behind the splash shield.

FWIW I would replace ballast and use t5

I've thought about it, but i'm not 100% the issue is in fact the ballasts. Many have said if I'm going to take the whole thing apart anyway, grab some LEDs to throw in there and that will save me money in the long run not spending $150 a year on bulbs and/or ballasts at $55 a pop as needed.

 

[alabella1]

just found a pretty amazing deal on a kessil AP700, thoughts?

 

[dedragon]

You will need to most likely remove the top hood if you get these. They also have a terrible reputation for wifi reliability but look fantastic when they do work. I would personally look for the narrow lens kit as well because par is just so so. Personally I love kessil leds shimmer but like the visual spectrum of a radion much better for getting colors out of corals.

 

[alabella1]

Have you checked out the BRS videos on some of the lights you are thinking of? This can give you an estimate of par levels at various heights on lights such as the hydra and the reefbreeders.

Kessils and Red Sea Reef LED are both able to work well at 8 inch mounting height. I prefer the kessill due to a wider spectrum but both of those lights would work well for you. I think that you should seriously consider a light from those two companies for your situation.

I just found a Kessil AP700 for $550. About to jump on it.

 

[Spare time]

I just found a Kessil AP700 for $550. About to jump on it.

Do it

 

[alabella1]

Well, after much research, discussion and deliberation I took the plunge and I'm going to try the Steves LEDs retrofit kit. Seemed like the easiest and best install option as it's made custom for my hood. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes and post some pix when done. Thanks for all your input and fingers crossed this all goes well.

Red Sea Max 250

www.stevesleds.com

 

[dedragon]

if you havent pulled the trigger i do suggest looking into disco ball effect on those leds. I used diy leds in the past and it was bad.

 

[alabella1]

****. I did already pull the trigger. I guess we are going to have to see how it goes.

 

[ChadmRoman]

I have a RSR250 over a SPS dominate tank, did three primes using AB+ settings. This gave plenty of coverage and opportunity to add an aquatic life hybrid after 1.5 years to help with shading.