Non-fancy LED Lights?

DracoKat · Sep 1, 2016

I may bite the bullet and do a big upgrade on my lights to LED as many seem to suggest..

however, I do not need the fancy smanchy bluetooth phone options. I do not need to go crazy with color adjustments, nor the other fancy gizmos things. I just want one that you can plug into a timer and be done with it.

can't hang the lights, so something on brackets is preferred.
of course, the more par output, the better. I want clams and nems.

Suggestions please? (not looking to spend more than $500 if possible)
48" tank (75 gals)

EDIT: my LFS has Satellite + Pro for sale.. was looking at the Orbit Marine to supplement with the T5's

mcarroll · Sep 1, 2016

The Orbit Marine Pro is the one you want if you're aiming for a brighter tank for clams.....they need a lot more light than corals. You'll need about 30,000 lux+ at the water surface. (Corals seem happy with 10,000-15,000+.)

What else does the LFS carry, and will they special order something for you?

DracoKat · Sep 1, 2016

LFS said they will special order something for me if I ask, they can try at least.

They carry Radions, Marine Land, Fluval and Satellite. may be others but these are what he showed me earlier

mcarroll · Sep 2, 2016

Any of those "can work", alone (in multiple) or in a combination with each other.....but you'd need at minimum two of any of those. Four would be better for the puck lights (Radeons, AI's and most china boxes too) since their emitters aren't spread out by default. I think I'd lean to the Orbit Pro as a single-fixture solution.

You could build one of these if you want to start with DIY:

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/267432-gu10-led-build-thread-chinese-ebay-lights/

Check out the YouTube and some of the build links in the first post...it's a long thread. Ignore the three or four dead pics.

Holler if you have any questions about it!

Alanc425 · Sep 2, 2016

I've used reefbreeders on my last two tank and they were great. Good par, come with a remote, and have the legs ur looking for. More info here

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-v2/

And a selfish plug in, I was about to sell that light if you're interested. Just got my Radion G4

DracoKat · Sep 2, 2016

thank you both!! A little more research for reviews and I'll probably get myself an LED light for my birthday, lol

dragon99 · Sep 2, 2016

I'd suggest this one, if the photon above is too much of a stretch.
https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-reef-lights/4-sbox-pro-32-timer.html

Well within your budget and will do everything you want.

DracoKat · Sep 2, 2016

that is one ugly light, lol. I forgot to mention, no canopy. it'll be sitting on my rims.

I am considering Sbreeflights or Orbit Marine Pro. Those are my toss ups..

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=31126

if I do Orbit.. would the dual be an overkill? I do have an 18" front to back and reviews says one would be enough. but just to recheck, lol

Mandrew · Sep 2, 2016

I'm going with Sbreef lights with my new build.

dragon99 · Sep 2, 2016

Even the dual is less than ~1/2 the power of the SBReef which is going to limit what you can put in the tank. I'm not sure clams would be possible with a single Orbit.

SBReef is definitely not the prettiest light though.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 2, 2016

DracoKat said:
was looking at the Orbit Marine to supplement with the T5's

best choice.

DracoKat said:
if I do Orbit.. would the dual be an overkill? I do have an 18" front to back and reviews says one would be enough. but just to recheck, lol

no not over kill, and you can set the intensity.

And personally I wouldn't do a 32 sb for 48. I love mine but. You be better w 2 16in, and even then id pull lenses(im really into that) my cube is 18d and 20 wide. at the stock height w legs it just didnt cover as well.
maybe im really picky.

fwiw the programming on the orbit was a bit easier. The sb I havent got the hang of. Yet. I like the light from the SB better. the sb has a basic too or one with built in timer. I got the ramp not wifi. Not sure the specs on the orbit for par, the SB will cook a fish its so powerful. (get a lux meter

). Even with most of the lenses out im running 40,000 lux with the fixture 10in above the tank and im at 80%.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 2, 2016

dragon99 said:
SBReef is definitely not the prettiest light though.

too pink?

pdt7361 · Sep 2, 2016

Check out the Reef Breeders Pro LED strips. I added a 36" strip to my T5s for more color and couldn't be happier. Great customer service, fast shipping, and a great LED strip light.

DracoKat · Sep 2, 2016

So confusing, so many options, lol.

I am still toying with a single Orbit Marine Pro to add with my T5's, get the best of both worlds. What do you guys think?

DracoKat · Sep 2, 2016

RE SBreeflights..

Timer vs Ramp.. does the ramp provide any additional benefits to the corals?

Reef Breeders · Sep 2, 2016

DracoKat said:
that is one ugly light, lol. I forgot to mention, no canopy. it'll be sitting on my rims.

I am considering Sbreeflights or Orbit Marine Pro. Those are my toss ups..

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=31126

if I do Orbit.. would the dual be an overkill? I do have an 18" front to back and reviews says one would be enough. but just to recheck, lol

If you want a good looking light, the Photon 48-V2 would work great, simple to program, and a step up from the ugly black box lights for sure. They are also on sale for $584.99 (normally $649.99), and will work with your tank out of the box.

In the past we have had trouble with customers getting good coverage with a 32" light on a 48" tank, which is why we offer the 48 (43" long).

We also sell wholesale, so if you would like to order through your LFS, have them email us and we an set them up the same day with an account.

If you have any questions just let me know!

dragon99 · Sep 2, 2016

DracoKat said:
RE SBreeflights..

Timer vs Ramp.. does the ramp provide any additional benefits to the corals?

I don't think we've quite gotten into discussing our coral's feelings, so I don't want to rule out that they might like ramping, but I'm not aware of any growth benefits. It is a cool aesthetic option though.

T5 + LED would be a great option.

Mandrew · Sep 2, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
best choice.

no not over kill, and you can set the intensity.

And personally I wouldn't do a 32 sb for 48. I love mine but. You be better w 2 16in, and even then id pull lenses(im really into that) my cube is 18d and 20 wide. at the stock height w legs it just didnt cover as well.
maybe im really picky.

fwiw the programming on the orbit was a bit easier. The sb I havent got the hang of. Yet. I like the light from the SB better. the sb has a basic too or one with built in timer. I got the ramp not wifi. Not sure the specs on the orbit for par, the SB will cook a fish its so powerful. (get a lux meter). Even with most of the lenses out im running 40,000 lux with the fixture 10in above the tank and im at 80%.

Do you have pictures of your 32 SB reef light? I was going to get that one for my 75g but you said it didn't have good coverage?

DracoKat · Sep 2, 2016

OK, decided to add to my T5's with Orbit Marine Pro.

Should I get.. (2) 24", or (1) 48"? I feel like two smaller ones is better?
Slightly more wattage if you add the 2 24" together, same amount of bulbs in both.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 2, 2016

Mandrew said:
Do you have pictures of your 32 SB reef light? I was going to get that one for my 75g but you said it didn't have good coverage?

I got a 16 for my 20x 18 cube. I went with 3 12in AI sol for the 48. My fear was good coverage. on my cube the stock sb lenses didnt spread the light as evenly as I wanted and didn't hit all the sides without having it up pretty high.

The best possible coverage for a tank is a t5 array or MH with large reflectors, right?. So (as im in lighting professionally) how is a 32in fixture going to cover 48in. it would have to be up really high. (think flash light) move the flash light away from the subject the beam is wider and covers more area. a lamp with lenses focuses the beam even more. so farther away.
By pulling lenses it makes the beam wider so it can be closer BUT, its still a 32in fixture on a 48 area . Buy using 2 16 in fixtures you have a wider gap between them to cover more area.
I like the approach of the Photon V2 in this respect or the big Maxspects. . And I do wish SB would do something similar. and yea 3 16in fixtures would be perfect But...... $$$

If you look at a good radion array this is the same approach.
heres one that validated my approach after I had done it.
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/dr-joshi’s-500-gallon-sps-dominated-mixed-reef.2/
hes using all wide lenses and has multiple arrays to cover and overlap the light. this reduces hotspots AND shadowing by hitting corals from every angle. (keep in mind this one is HUGE)
And hes a legend in reefing.

the way I added it up the 32 was as much as 2 16 any way. On the 48in tank a got a SWEET DEAL on the 3 ai sol's. so thats what sealed it for me. ($3000 in used lights for less than one new sb? hmmmm...Ok!) and I still pulled half the lenses so I could use my canopy. I hate seeing the light in my face. (i do that at work

)

People love thier tanks and their lights. Do google image searches and youll see what I mean about coverage. IE The Single Kessil look.