LED advice

[bkelly]

Hi
I am looking into a LED fixture for my tank. Our electricity bill has really gone up so this decision may help significantly. Am I on the right track thinking my current fixture ( six T5s and Two 250 MHs) with a PFO magnetic ballast , plus running a chiller (1/2 hp with a 1200 GPH pump) would be using lots of power and what would you think by putting a LED fixture that could support my tank full of SPS. tank dimensions 4feetx3feet x2 feet. What sort of fixture do you suggest . Is this a direction that would really lower my electricity needs?

- Guess I need to know if Id be able to stop running my chiller and is LED efficient on electricity over T5/MH plus what type to buy.
Thanks for any help.
Brent

[Milad]

Originally Posted by bkelly

Hi
I am looking into a LED fixture for my tank. Our electricity bill has really gone up so this decision may help significantly. Am I on the right track thinking my current fixture ( six T5s and Two 250 MHs) with a PFO magnetic ballast , plus running a chiller (1/2 hp with a 1200 GPH pump) would be using lots of power and what would you think by putting a LED fixture that could support my tank full of SPS. tank dimensions 4feetx3feet x2 feet. What sort of fixture do you suggest . Is this a direction that would really lower my electricity needs?

- Guess I need to know if Id be able to stop running my chiller and is LED efficient on electricity over T5/MH plus what type to buy.
Thanks for any help.
Brent

Ive switched to DIY LEDs and didnt run the chiller this year. There was about 7 days where the temp went above 82degrees in my tank. I had about 800w of lighting before and now im down to (300ish) and probably have twice the light/growth.

[sphelps]

What's your budget? Not many fixtures that can spread 3 feet to cover front to back of your tank so might be looking at doubling up.

[Aquattro]

I run a 1/2HP chiller and with MH it ran much of the 12 hours my lights were on. Now with LED it's rarely comes on, but does once in a while. In BC the cost of power isn't huge, especially in short term when you look at the cost of covering your tank. With my lights, (AI Sol), you'd probably need 9 of them @ $400 each. Most single fixtures won't cover the width, so pendants would be needed, or 2 fixtures. The cost can be all over the place though, depending on what you go with for brand and design.

[sphelps]

9 brad? I was thinking more like 6.

[sphelps]

A couple fixtures to consider

6 x Sols or Vegas -> $2400-$3000 -> 432W-570W
2 x Sunbrite F-Series -> $2200 -> 480W
4 x Radions -> ~$2600+ -> 560W
2 x GHL Mitras -> $2400 -> 380W (might need three but two has enough spread)
2 x Vertex 260 -> $4800 -> 640W
2 x Vertex 360 -> $5800 -> 680W

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by sphelps

9 brad? I was thinking more like 6.

Sorry, you're right. I was thinking 6' long, not 4. 6 units would do it.

[bkelly]

heres my tank now with the Vertex fixture, corals still adjusting the way my rock work is as towers with my 4x closed loop hidden inside from the base creates some darker areas but im finding good for specific corals