New lighting - LED?

[Bill S]

My tank has been FOWLR for a few years - I do have a couple of rose anemones I've had for about 15 years (lots of clones from them).We aren't around as much, so we made things less complicated and got rid of the SPS.

Lighting has been a pair of 72" VHO bulbs, which has been just fine (one actinic). But it's time to buy new bulbs, and they run off of a 660W ballast. Seems to me there might be a better solution? They consume about $30 in electricity a month, and the bulbs, by the time I get them, is about $100.

Is there a decent, inexpensive LED fixture/fixtures that would be a good replacement? I don't care about timers, sunsets, or any of that stuff. Just a simple on/off switch is fine.

Thanks for any advice!

[alton]

Bill I can't offer a whole light of advice on the perfect cheap led but you might want to get the Par Meter from me so you can match what Par levels you have now so not to shock your anemones when you add your new lighting. On the cheaper leds I have tried there light levels dropped off a bunch when you get outside of the frame of the fixture unless you can hang them 2' off the top of your tank or more. I have not liked the color from most, here on MAAST some have changed a few of the leds out to get the look and performance they want. Too bad Build My Led decided to stop making aquarium lighting, I love mine.

[Bill S]

Thanks for the reply, Alton. This one was recommended to me by someone else:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EVO-Quad-72-Timer-LED-Aquarium-Light-Marine-Coral-Reef-Cichlid-96x-3W-180-cm-/111318716570?hash=item19eb1cd09a

[Zack]

Have you looked into the marine land led fixtures? I see them pretty regularly on sale on the big box pet stores and if you're looking for just on/off they're definitely not bad.

[Bill S]

Have you looked into the marine land led fixtures? I see them pretty regularly on sale on the big box pet stores and if you're looking for just on/off they're definitely not bad.

I think I'm quickly becoming a tiny bit less than the moron I was 24 hours ago on LEDs. I almost ordered them about 6 years ago when my 215 was a reef tank.

I believe that due to the 28" depth of my tank, and the anemones, I need some high wattage LEDs to get penetration. But heck, I'm not sure.

[Mike]

Bill, I think the 140g is 28" deep too and we had to turn our LEDs down as it was too much light for the corals. We, like Alton got ours from Build My Leds so that doesn't help much since they no longer make aquarium lights. Still, much less heat and power, so LEDs are the way to go.

[Zack]

I think I'm quickly becoming a tiny bit less than the moron I was 24 hours ago on LEDs. I almost ordered them about 6 years ago when my 215 was a reef tank.

I believe that due to the 28" depth of my tank, and the anemones, I need some high wattage LEDs to get penetration. But heck, I'm not sure.

Ah yeah the par isn't super great on that unit.

Alton, wasn't there a Chinese black box unit you reccomended us last year?

[alton]

I have tried reefbreeders, great service, I did not like the color, nor the big box design. I also have a cheap Mars Aqua fixture. I use it right now on my liverock 100 gallon tub. Last year my brother used it to grow tomatoes in his green house in the winter. I am not a big fan of just having blue and white leds. You need to have a few warm whites and UV in the mix. The only thing I regret while they made them was a true actinic from BML that was similar to the VHO true actinic at 403 nm. I am sure Bill remembers the days of the Philips 03 actinic made in Europe T12. Two cool whites and one of those and you where good to go!

[Bill S]

OK, let me be specific on this: No SPS. No LPS. I have angelfish that love softies. I'm running just 2 VHOs right now, and one is actinic. Budget? $3-400. I'm not THAT picky on colors, as I have no stony corals.

Yes, I do remember the Philips 03 - in fact, I still use an Actinic 403! Drs F & S have them. My other issue is the ballast is about 10-12 years old now...

[Bill S]

Bill, I think the 140g is 28" deep too and we had to turn our LEDs down as it was too much light for the corals. We, like Alton got ours from Build My Leds so that doesn't help much since they no longer make aquarium lights. Still, much less heat and power, so LEDs are the way to go.

Mike/Kristy -

Do you know how many watts yours is? And how many watts the LEDs are each?

[Mike]

No, sorry Bill. I even went back and found our old email confirmation from them and our invoice doesn't say it.

[alton]

OK, let me be specific on this: No SPS. No LPS. I have angelfish that love softies. I'm running just 2 VHOs right now, and one is actinic. Budget? $3-400. I'm not THAT picky on colors, as I have no stony corals.

Yes, I do remember the Philips 03 - in fact, I still use an Actinic 403! Drs F & S have them. My other issue is the ballast is about 10-12 years old now...

Buy one and see if you like it, you will need three minimum. But you will end up with 6 cords, and three fans to listen to.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/165W-MarsAqua-Dimmable-LED-Aquarium-Light-Full-Spectrum-Coral-Reef-Tank-Marine-/370857093101

Or go back to old school for $400
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/t5-ho-miro-4-retrofit-kit-let-lighting.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/t5-ati-true-actinic-03.html

[Bill S]

Dang, Alton. Those look pretty good, and have great reviews.

[alton]

Well when you have a 72" tank and want LED's it is hard to mention cheap when trying to light it. Most Leds would run you $700 minimum to make it work out. My 180 has 2 14K BML's that are 3 years old and I ran with my MH, and then added two 20K to replace my 3 x 250w MH.
The ocean revive may be better but not sure 2 fixtures would be enough? And with three you have now moved up to $600
http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=21

[Bill S]

Remember, I'm just looking for lighting - not growing SPS. I'd love to do stony corals, but we are gone a LOT.

So, I'm thinking either the Mars unit:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/165W-MarsAqua-Dimmable-LED-Aquarium-Light-Full-Spectrum-Coral-Reef-Tank-Marine-/370857093101?hash=item5658ce27ed:g:mJIAAOSw4DJYhyy f

Or spend a few extra $$ and get a wifi light like:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WIFI-165W-LED-Aquarium-Light-Full-Spectrum-Dimmable-Fish-Tank-Reef-Coral-Lamp-/201332405274

I'm going to be dimming the heck out of these. Might try 2 to start, and put them up higher.

[alton]

Looking at it there is a big discount for buying two at a time