Reasonablly Priced LEDs for 180g Build?

SloppyJ · May 3, 2013

Does anyone have any suggestions? I've been doing some research on my current options and have been overwhelmed with all of the products on the market. I started off dead set on radions but I just can't justify the price point compared to other fixtures. Controllability and multiple channels are a must. So far the ones I liked the most were the Reef Breeders. Looking at 2-32" or 3-16". I have the standard sized 6'x2'x2' tank with two cross braces. Thank you!

Diver86 · May 3, 2013

i dont know about reasonably priced but i love my ai vegas...

twiddledog · May 3, 2013

I have the same size tank as you and I have 3 vegas with T5 suplementation and I am pleased wit my set up. Why are you stuck on LEDs? You could find great deals on MH right now. I switched from MH and T5s and in some ways regret switching over. The only thing I gained was some cool effects and less money in my bank account. I did not save on energy costs as I had hoped.

Diver86 · May 3, 2013

twiddledog said:
I have the same size tank as you and I have 3 vegas with T5 suplementation and I am pleased wit my set up. Why are you stuck on LEDs? You could find great deals on MH right now. I switched from MH and T5s and in some ways regret switching over. The only thing I gained was some cool effects and less money in my bank account. I did not save on energy costs as I had hoped.

I could agree with that as well. I do love my vegas but i am not getting as much growth as i was with my mh.

SloppyJ · May 3, 2013

How is there no energy savings? I expected that to be pretty substantial. My friend has a nice 6' light he's selling. 3-150MH, 8-39w T5's and LED moonlights made by current. I thought about that but he required a chiller on his tank. With the light, new bulbs and a chiller, I'm around the same price as new Reef Breeders.

mfinn · May 3, 2013

If price is a major factor, then you can't beat Reef Breeders.

I'd go with 3 of the 16" fixtures.

SloppyJ · May 3, 2013

I could save for more expensive LEDs but I can't honestly believe that radions will be twice as good as the reef breeders as the price suggests.

ruppertb · May 3, 2013

I just ordered 2 of the 32in reef breeders for over my 2 by 2 by 6 180g

Sent from my LGL75C using Reef2Reef Aquarium Forum mobile app

mfinn · May 3, 2013

SloppyJ said:
I could save for more expensive LEDs but I can't honestly believe that radions will be twice as good as the reef breeders as the price suggests.

I can't say one way or the other if the leds themselves are any better, but after I won a gen 1 Radion in a lfs raffle and used it for a month, I bought 3 more for my 240.
The software is what convinced me.
The ability to be able to adjust or change anything and create different colors at any point in the day is awesome.

gar732 · May 3, 2013

Look into the maxspect razor. The Vegas and radions have cool feature that I'll never use so to me it's a waste of money. The razor seemed to have the features I'd use at a price point that is comparable to RB. I plan on picking up a razor within the next few weeks.

SloppyJ · May 3, 2013

I agree. The adjustments were the factor that led me to the radions, that and I like all of my ecotech products. But the same effect can be completed on the reef breeders as well, in 30min increments with the built in timer.

SloppyJ · May 3, 2013

What made you go with the maxspect over RB?

SloppyJ · May 5, 2013

anyone else?

gar732 · May 5, 2013

I bought a RB value fixture and thought is was way too red for my taste. People love them they are just not for me. I maybe wrong but as far as I know the ones with the built in controller will not bring the light up and down gradually but rather from one preset to the next. The razor ramps up and down gradually which is the only feature I really cared about. The maxspect uses Cree over bridgelux LEDs and the razor fixture is just a better looking fixture. And again the razor isn't that much more over the RB.

Badfish83 · May 5, 2013

I'm in the process of building a 200g sps tank and I'm gonna wait for the RB's supernova.

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Reefing Madness · May 5, 2013

Dimmable LED Aquarium Light 120W with Lens 55X3WATT Bridgelux Coral Reef Fixture | eBay

mike007 · May 5, 2013

Look into the Orphec Atlantis leds. I have the pr156s and love them.

Mcreefer · May 5, 2013

Reefing Madness said:
Dimmable LED Aquarium Light 120W with Lens 55X3WATT Bridgelux Coral Reef Fixture | eBay

Wow.... That just took away all my desire to finish my light.

ReefLEDLights · May 5, 2013

Caveat Emptor

The Reliability and Efficiency of Inexpensive Chinese Imports are not the best.

Look at LEDs like a car, you will pay more for a BMW than a Yugo. Will both get you from A to B...Yes, Will one fail sooner...Yes, Does one have more Horse Power...Yes

You really pay for what you get. Before purchasing an inexpensive import research the vendor as it will fail sooner and you want one with a reputation for good service. Hopefully it wont catch fire...I read a post about LED Fixture Catching Fire. Although this is a different fixture there are more examples.

My experience with Chinese Fixtures is they grow coral, they are inefficient and their drivers fail prematurely.

Bill

Mcreefer · May 5, 2013

I would never buy a fixture. But I can get 8 10w LEDs for 15.00 shipped. I would buy a nicer LED if Cree or any other name brands made 10 and 20W LEDs in the colors you would use on a tank.