pnkrcklives Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I will be starting a new tank build. Once I pick it up Sunday. It is a 18x18x18 cube. My question is what type of lighting would be good. I want it capable of keeping anything. I am thinking 150w Halide pendant. But what about actinics. I have seen the reef brites Halide Hybrids but dont know if I want to sink $400 plus into a fixture. Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 The new LED fixtures would be sweet! Or you could stick with a 150w Sunpod. You can check the LEDS out at Garretts on Sunday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I've got one of the ebay LED lights over my 18x18x16 frag tank and its great!! Can't beat 165 shipped. I have been tremendously surprised by how great this light is. The question is will it last the 3-5 years its supposed to? I'm hoping so, but not holding my breath. The cool thing is that I can then use the enclosure and make my own LED fixture when that happens and still be cheaper than buying one of the LED fixtures marketed for our tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 Both great Ideas. I will be checking with Garret Sunday. I forgot he was selling some led fixtures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 http://www.ebay.com/itm/18-Metal-Halide-Aquarium-Light-Hood-Nano-Saltwater-150-/110699332667?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c631c43b#ht_1928wt_952 Seems like a cheap knock off? But I like the options. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=k2+viper&_sacat=46314&LH_ItemCondition=1000&LH_Price=..300%40c&_odkw=&_osacat=46314&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313 See good reviews on these lights(will be using the 150W). I kinda like the adjust ability. http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUNPOD-Current-Reef-Light-LED-Lunar-Lights-HQI-/140615261126?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20bd529bc6#ht_500wt_1202 I also like these lights. But they are all 20". Would that be a problem on a 18" cube? What do you guys/gals think? All these choices makes my head spin guess I should get the tank in place and plumbed before anything but wanna get my build plan going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 I think most any of those would work. You would just have to work out how to mount them. This is what I got for my frag tank, and plan to use over my 18" cube in the future http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-Coral-Reef-Tank-balck-Blue-LED-Grow-Light-120W-/160637678287?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2566c072cf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 I think most any of those would work. You would just have to work out how to mount them. This is what I got for my frag tank, and plan to use over my 18" cube in the future http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-Coral-Reef-Tank-balck-Blue-LED-Grow-Light-120W-/160637678287?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2566c072cf Are you seeing good coral growth and color with that light? If so for the price I may have to try one. I would think mounting in a hood would be out of the question. Because I am assuming cheaper units have less heat sink material. But fans can always be added to the hood(not totally set on the hood yet). I am slowly being talked into trying LED. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelsz3 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 I'm thinking the same thing, they look just like the ones at the lfs but are only in one combo. impur could you post some pics of your tank with the leds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramy Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 that light has three fans built in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Yah it has 3 fans they blow A LOT of air. I am getting GREAT growth under that light, truely i am blown away. My chalices look better than ever and are growing the fastest. I have browned out SPS that haven't grown in a year and are regaining color as well as growing in just 2 months under this light. I imagine the ones such as Garrett sells or the other well known brands can only be better. The biggest downside to this light is that the LEDs are all on one sheet of material, so if 1 LED goes out they all go out. Has a 2 year warranty, but its from China so your mileage may vary there. 20k 250w Radium MH on right, LED fixture on left. And the wall behind them is painted blue, they aren't making it that blue (laugh) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Those were taken the day i installed the light over my frag tank, and the frag tank is new too, hence the diatoms. Let me know if you'd like me to get some updated pics I'll try to get some new pics to show the growth on my sps and that OME chalice too this week for ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReefStar Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 There are many led lights out there that looks similar but has many different parts or lack there of. The main thing is the heatsink. Some of the cheaper ones will not have the heatsink, in order to keep the price down. This is decrease the life of the led. Other factor to consider is the brand of driver, led brand, type of coating on the casing, how many cords and switches, fans, controllable, par tested, and the quality of the manufacturing. Some are just better made. Also the number of led and the configuration of the led. The more led you have, the better color blending you are going to have when mixing blues and whites. For example of the 120w units out there, it cost more to manufacture 119 1w led unit than a 55 3w led unit. This is to give different factors in picking a led unit. If you have any other questions pm me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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