mynewbaby Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Hello, I am about to move from a 34 gallon to 125 gallon tank and am thinking of going to LEDs. The tank is 60'X18'X24'. I'm guessing I will need two light fixtures to cover the length of the tank. I have mostly softies but am planning on getting a clam and maybe some Montipora. Since I will probably need to buy two, cost is a concern as well. Any suggestions? Link to comment
Halo_003 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I was going to say a custom 48" Nanobox before I got to cost is a concern. What kinda general budget do you have for it? Link to comment
rone_kevin66 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 If price is a factor look at eBay for some d120 but you will want 3 for full coverage. Link to comment
Matteo Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 ebay or aliexpress has decent chinese led lights for aroun 120 each that max out at 150something watts each. People don't like them because they are off brand but if you open them up they have legit led chips and legit wiring. Most lfs that have many frag tanks use them. http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20150525223901&SearchText=reef+led Link to comment
mynewbaby Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 I was hoping to stay under $650 total for lighting if possible. I might even consider going T5 Link to comment
disaster999 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 A tank this size its pretty hard to keep it under $650 with reputable hardware. I was going to suggest 2 Maxspect Razor 180W, but that will cost around $1000. you can probably get away with a 48" T5HO like the ATI SunPower 6x54W. AT $500 for the fixture and $132 for the bulbs, you are still under your $650 range. It would be plenty enough light to grow anything you want with your tank only 18" tall. But the only down side is replacement bulbs. You would have to replace your bulbs at least once each year and thats $132 each time. Link to comment
rone_kevin66 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I was hoping to stay under $650 total for lighting if possible. I might even consider going T5 Look into t5 hybrid if that's the route you want. I don't like all t5 bc the bulbs will get expensive changing them out every 6 to 8 months Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Yeah t-5s get REAL expensive! If you crunch the numbers and are hoping to have the tank for a whiles, LED or LED/T-5 hybrid is the best option. Check out the new NanoBox hybrid fixture! Link to comment
Bill Nye Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I think savings on bulbs is way overrated. As stated above if you want to buy a name brand fixture you are looking at minimum 1000 dollars but if you were to go radions or something like that it would be even more. So lets just take 1000 dolllars and compare it to an ATI 6 bulb sunpower. $500 dollars for the fixture plus 130 for the bulbs assuming you don't buy them every black friday like most people do. It would take 3 years of replacing bulbs before you break even. Most people don't even keep the same LED fixtures for 3 years. Plus at the end of the day you have a Sunpower. One of the best coral growers out there. Link to comment
rone_kevin66 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 You can get a very good led set for well under 1k Link to comment
mynewbaby Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 I do really like the NanoBox hybrid fixture, but my boyfriend is already making comments about what I'm spending on the tank, movers for the tank, and a new chiller. I think a $1000+ lighting system my send him over the edge.LOL Link to comment
bdevillier19 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 here ya go, lots of people use them and have good luck with them. the new light has the wifi capabilities and comes in under budget. it will grow anything you want. https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-w/ Link to comment
rone_kevin66 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 here ya go, lots of people use them and have good luck with them. the new light has the wifi capabilities and comes in under budget. it will grow anything you want. https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-w/ The 48 is to small but the 60 would definitely work. Link to comment
bdevillier19 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 A 48" fixture on a 60" tank is way more than enough light. There's no real benefit to having a 60" light on a 60" tank unless you want to spend an extra $60 just for the hell of it. Maybe if the tank was going to be wall to wall sps then I could see it, but mostly softies with a clam and montis is far from a high demand sps tank. Link to comment
rone_kevin66 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 In the grand scheme if it what's an external 60 to have full coverage. Also down the road you no everyone will try sps and knowing your light is powerful enough is one less thing to worry about Link to comment
bdevillier19 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 True, but again, a 48" light leaves 6" on either side. With the spread of the optics that is far from lacking coverage. I run a 36" light on a 48" tank and I can grow sps any where in my tank I choose. The OP is on a budget and when you're on a budget, any savings is a good thing. Besides, anyone who is doing a full blown sps reef probably won't be looking at a reefbreeders light anyways. Link to comment
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