LED lighting advice.

[Jvjabour]

So after a ten year hiatus, I'm coming back for more punishment. Just can't quite kick the bug....
Any way, this time around in pretty set on going with LEDs because of the ridiculously low operating costs. I'm setting up a 40 breeder with the intent of keeping clams. I'd like to keep my start up cost as low as possible, and keep my lighting budget at $200. Are there lights anyone could recommend?
My plan was to start with a Current USA Orbit, and then add a second one later.
Thoughts...
Thanks,
John

 

[G.T]

current usa orbit.. Total junk, not powerful enough for inverts.

 

[Platehead]

There are used AI Sols out there.

 

[dz6t]

eBay Marsaqua is an option. You can buy two and still within budge.

 

[Jvjabour]

Oh those Marsaqua look like they would be great. Dz6t, do have these? Or does anyone have experience with them?

 

[dz6t]

I used to have the MarsAqua but I no longer use them.
I use primary AI Hydra 52/26 right now because I can control all of them via one controller and I like the sunrise and sunset effect. When the whole fish room goes in Sunrise and Sunset, they are the most beautiful times of the day.

 

[dz6t]

For LED light, you got what you paid for. There are several area that cheap eBay LED fall shorts:
1. Efficiency of LED chips: Marsaqua is about 30% less bright than AI Sol and draw 30% more power.
2. Quality of material: Marsaqua rust quickly, but I never see a rusty AI sol in the past 5 years.
3. The fans of Marsaqua get noisy in months if you are unlucky.
4. The optics on Marsaqua do not do much except blocking light output. So normally just remove the optics and you actually get better light output and coverage.
5. Not controllable.

But they are cheap and you need two to cover a 40B tank.

 

[Jvjabour]

So what I'm hearing is bite the bullet and something like two AI Primes are the way to go?

 

[Coalminer]

So after a ten year hiatus, I'm coming back for more punishment. Just can't quite kick the bug....
Any way, this time around in pretty set on going with LEDs because of the ridiculously low operating costs. I'm setting up a 40 breeder with the intent of keeping clams. I'd like to keep my start up cost as low as possible, and keep my lighting budget at $200. Are there lights anyone could recommend?
My plan was to start with a Current USA Orbit, and then add a second one later.
Thoughts...
Thanks,
John

I went to pick up one of the Current Marine Orbit PROs at Jay's in Salem, and actually found out that he uses them on his tanks. I didn't buy it because he uses them, just thought it boded well for the product.

The reason that I was interested in that model is that I don't have room for two pendants over my tank, but needed more than one. So a bar design seemed to give better light coverage. I also liked that for $230, I also got a programmable ramp controller that ramps up from nothing to max lighting over the course of an hour, and then back down at the end of the day. For something like a Kessil I think that you have to add an additional item to control the light. The AI primes were controllable, but then you're back to the spotlight vs. bar look.

I started my Orbit PRO out at 50% on both blue and white channels intending to work up to a higher intensity, but nothing seems to be insufficiently lit so I haven't gotten around to it yet. Also note that the PRO is supposed to be better than the first version that retails for about $140.

As a caveat, this is my first saltwater tank, for what that's worth. Also, I only have softies and LPS, no SPS at this time. I honestly wouldn't even try any SPS until I work the light up to a higher intensity and get some measurements with a par meter. Or just wait until I can have a real-size tank and go with something better.

 

[Jvjabour]

He has pro's for 230? What length?

 

[Coalminer]

He has pro's for 230? What length?

The 18-24" bar. Like $237 I think.

 

[Coalminer]

Not sure how much weight to give this, but this link has some approximations of par at different depths for the pro:

http://premiumaquatics.com/products/4860-orbit-marine-pro-led.html?gclid=CK_e6OTO98kCFYI_aQodn9EODA

 

[Jvjabour]

Ahh yeah I've only been looking at 36" lights.

 

[RMc]

Personally I am a fan of the kessils - they're the only LED on the market that can replicate the shimmer and shadows you get from a metal Halide.

 

[dz6t]

I went to pick up one of the Current Marine Orbit PROs at Jay's in Salem, and actually found out that he uses them on his tanks. I didn't buy it because he uses them, just thought it boded well for the product.

Why is that?

 

[aresangel]

I just pared my two led lights, 24" bar reefbrite
2" 200
6" 120
11" 65
18" 50
Sand bed -22" 30

My fluval marine and sea pro
2"- 220
6"- 120
11"- 70
18"- 60
22"- 55

Better depth penetration but it is a whiter light.

Hope this helps!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Coalminer]

Why is that?

Maybe that didn't make sense the way I worded it. What I meant to say was that I didn't buy them because someone uses them in their store. Just that they happened to mention that they use them while I was buying them.

 

[Jvjabour]

Thanks for the heads up about the under powered lights. I'm looking into other options(kessils and primes) . So much for budgets...
RMc, what Kessils do have? 10k, 15k..?

 

[dz6t]

Fish stores have different needs for lighting then hobbyists.
In fish stores, they don't need to grow coral especially with a fast-turn-around business model. All they need are LED to keep coral colorful and survive two to three weeks.
It is entirely different ball game if long term health and grow rate of coral become important.

 

[dz6t]

Thanks for the heads up about the under powered lights. I'm looking into other options(kessils and primes) . So much for budgets...
RMc, what Kessils do have? 10k, 15k..?

For your setup, these may work well:
Option 1: One single Hydra 52 HD, cost is $599
Option 2. Two AI Prime, cost is $399
Option 3. Two Kessil A160we and a controller, $580 with controller
Option 4: Two MarsAqua $180, not controllable.
Option 5: One 36 inch ATI 6 bulb fixture with bulbs $620 (which beats the other option by miles in terms of light quality)