Switching out T5's for Ebay LED's

[Pdandy]

I am switching out my 8 bulb (60w each) t5 that I have had on my 265 gallon for the last few years. I have been spending close to $200 per year to change bulbs. So when I saw the deal for three of the 165w dimmable Marsaqua lights on ebay for $290 I had to say, "Why not?". My t5 is only 5 feet long and my tank is 7 feet, so the ends of the tank have always been kind of dark. I am hoping that these will help spread the light out a little better. I have a friend who swears by the things. I just built some custom hanging brackets. The lights should be here on Monday.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I love my Mars Aqua! Same deal with me....$130 for six four foot T5s. Mine has already paid for itself.

 

[mcarroll]

I think on a 7 foot tank you'll be lacking coverage – these things do not spread the light well, they're designed as spotlights. Some folks recommend as many as one per foot of tank.....usually it seems at least one every 18 inches. That's either 4 or 5 units depending how you play it.

 

[jlear3]

Not sure how comparable the Chinese gberic boxes are to the ocean revive (another BB led) but I hang mine about 15-18" above a 40br (3 foot) and it lights the whole thing pretty well.

 

[Jason mack]

I believe you can swap the lenses out 120* too get better spread

 

[redfishbluefish]

I pulled the lenses off mine.....my tank is not that deep.

 

[McMullen]

I have OR and generic eBay BB. The eBay BB is better! I have 4 over my 4ft tank and absolutely recommend the one per foot of length. Keep in mind you'll likely have these turned way down thus limiting spread even further. I too hang my lights high, the middle two are easily 15in, probably higher.

 

[Tokash23]

Not sure how comparable the Chinese gberic boxes are to the ocean revive (another BB led) but I hang mine about 15-18" above a 40br (3 foot) and it lights the whole thing pretty well.

What are you keeping in your tank, do you like the light? Only reason i ask is because im setting up my own 40br and am back n forth on lights.

 

[Pdandy]

I think on a 7 foot tank you'll be lacking coverage – these things do not spread the light well, they're designed as spotlights. Some folks recommend as many as one per foot of tank.....usually it seems at least one every 18 inches. That's either 4 or 5 units depending how you play it.

You called it sir. I put the three marsaquas on the 265 and it was nowhere near enough coverage.

I'll be staying with the t5 on the 265. I'm going to be putting all three of the marsaqua leds on a new 75 gallon tank I'm building

 

[Bknip]

You'd probably need three more to fill the gaps. You could also throw a t5 retro fit kit the hood to help fill the dark spots.

 

[Homestead_Dad]

I think you can remove the lenses. I'm not positive about mars aqua but some of the BB leds have 120deg lenses under the 90deg lense.

 

[redfishbluefish]

A standard LED bead (with no lenses) is 120 degrees. And, yes, Mars Aqua lenses come off very easily....I took mine off.

The middle fixture is the Mars Aqua without lenses:

 

[Peter Blue Reef]

I have a similar LED system. Two Galaxyhydro 165w. I don't like the red diodes so I'm going to replace them with 20,000K and 10 of the blues with 420nm. Otherwise I love these lights.