LED lighting input needed!!

[skyedolphan]

OK so we are breaking down the 240 but have decided ( the kids have threatened me LOL ) that we will stay in the hobby later on on a smaller/ easier scale. I am thinking of going with a 24x24x31 tank I am no longer going to plumb to the basement just under stand sump, skimmer, heaters and what not. Looking into options on keeping the OM 4 way going or switching to tunze... what has me most stumped due to lack of knowledge is the lighting. I want to go with the more effiecent LEDs but not even sure where to look the units i seem to be finding are smaller and I know some of you Ronnie, Paul have the larger tanks what units are you using and what is your opinons?
Thanks for any and all input!!!

 

[DoctaQ]

if you want to go all out a single aquaillumination unit should cover the tank fine

 

[Ronnie]

Dawn, when you have some time stop by I will have you sold in a minute. This would be my recommendation.
1. Tank glass rimless
2. Skimmer mini Bubble King 160
3. AI SOL Blue 1 unit Got to have thunderstorms, cloudy days, and 29 day lunar cycle plus 12 timers.
4. return pump Tunze I would go Red Dragon to match
5. Vortech 10es
6. All the odds and ends but most of all you will be happy doing it right and not looking back. And Silent

 

[skyedolphan]

Ronnie LOl If I had your money I would do it in a heart beat
#1 Agreed
#2 down the road MAYBE
#3 thats what I am looking for
#4 will look into that
#5 ?
#6 odds and ends are the name of this game

 

[bossreef]

+1 to the AI SOL BLUE
+1 to the Vortechs. There are 2 MP10 ES W in my 34gal.

The single AI SOL BLUE is a bit soft on the edges of my 20x20x20 Solana cube. The LEDs are only at around 54%. I could raise the light, but I don't like all the excess light spillage. The SOL is 12" from the top.

The Vortechs were expensive, but they take up about half the space in the tank as the Tunze 6025 that I have in the back of the tank. One nice thing with Vortechs is that you can buy replacement parts. Not that the parts are cheap. The Vortech split into parts costs the same price as a new one.

 

[Tbeau]

I am sold on the lights, and the tank, a must see if you can go to Ronnie's, even if you are not buying, it is well worth the experience

 

[SteveDola]

Eric is selling his 58g tank(36x18x21) which is a nice size. its starfire and RR. check out the equipment forum. Sorry to hear about getting rid of the 240, it was a beaut in its day.

as for the LED lighting, the AI fixtures are really nice and the color is something remarkable. If I were starting a new tank I would definitely go AI however budget is an issue the maxspect units can be a suitable substitute especially for a 3" tank that not too deep (ie like a 58g).

What is nice about a smaller tank is that a single 250 will light the entire thing and wont kill you on heat/electricity either.

 

[SteveDola]

in regards to the vortech discussion, the 1 thing I can tell you is buy 1. I have a 2x2x2 cube and had 2 6045s and a 6025 in there for water movement...could NEVER get the right flow for my tank. I would move 1 and create a dead spot...move another and have too much direct flow. I bought a MP10 and sold my 6045s and because of the controllable flow, I get excellent random flow. Even if you get the tunzes used it will still cost you becuase you have to purchase 2 or 3 pumps where as you only NEED 1 vortech...so maybe going with the tunzes save you 50 but even then its not worth it. Just my advice and experience with dealing with flow in a smaller tank.