Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > General > Product Review and Equipment Forum > Lighting Specific

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-29-2012, 04:43 AM
Blue Ram Blue Ram is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 78
Blue Ram is on a distinguished road
Default Time for LEDs?

My current light fixture is the Giesmann Infiniti with 2 250 MH and 4 HOT5s. One of the ballasts blew today and will have to be replaced. It is also time to replace all of the bulbs.
I spent some time reading through some of the posts on the LEDs and am seriously considering investing in them mostly because of the high electricity costs associated with the MHs.
I could research lights for days and probably still not be able to make a decision so I thought I might put it out for there for some suggestions from other members.
The tank is a 120 gal reef (48 x 24 x 24).
Looking for a LED setup under $2000 total. Does not have to have everything that LEDs can do as I do not keep a lot of SPS but do have some nice pieces currently. Simplicity and function are also important.
I would very much appreciate hearing from some of you folks on what you would suggest.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-29-2012, 04:50 AM
The Grizz's Avatar
The Grizz The Grizz is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: 15 min NE of Red Deer
Posts: 5,470
The Grizz will become famous soon enough
Default

Best bang for your buck is Modular Led DIY hands down, my whole setup was around $2200 retail ( I got in on some specials from Martin so it really cost me less then that). The thing I liked the best with going this way is you get to customize your light to your liking.

If you go with Modular LED you could get LED & a controller for probably less then $2k.
__________________
Feed the bear goodies, make a new friend, don't feed the bear...............

8' - 165gal Reef
DIY LED's Build
2012 Nano Contest Winner
Febuary 2013 POTM Winner
300 gal + 60 gal Complete DIY Build

Last edited by The Grizz; 01-29-2012 at 05:22 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-29-2012, 04:50 AM
toxic111 toxic111 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Lloydminster, SK
Posts: 237
toxic111 is on a distinguished road
Default

The AI SOL or the Radions would fall under that $2000 mark. I have the same size tank & I am going with 2 radions
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-29-2012, 05:01 AM
Nano's Avatar
Nano Nano is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Nano is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Grizz View Post
Best bang for your buck is Mudular Led DIY
Lol looks like you pulled a kenny.. I did that the other day lol
__________________
I'm not 'fallow' you must be talking about my tank!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-29-2012, 05:02 AM
The Grizz's Avatar
The Grizz The Grizz is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: 15 min NE of Red Deer
Posts: 5,470
The Grizz will become famous soon enough
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nanomano View Post
Lol looks like you pulled a kenny.. I did that the other day lol
AH SHYTE It's been a long day
__________________
Feed the bear goodies, make a new friend, don't feed the bear...............

8' - 165gal Reef
DIY LED's Build
2012 Nano Contest Winner
Febuary 2013 POTM Winner
300 gal + 60 gal Complete DIY Build
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-29-2012, 05:03 AM
Nano's Avatar
Nano Nano is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Nano is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Grizz View Post
AH SHYTE It's been a long day
lol yea I know man, get some Z's enough tinkering for one day perhaps?
__________________
I'm not 'fallow' you must be talking about my tank!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-29-2012, 05:11 AM
fishytime's Avatar
fishytime fishytime is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: E-town
Posts: 5,390
fishytime will become famous soon enough
Default

if you are handy, ie can do a DIY led system(I know they arent that difficult) and have a canopy, or can build one, then something like the modular LEDs will be the least expensive route.......if DIY is not your thing then the AI Sol and the Ecotech Radion are the popular choices right now..... the AI is like a Nissan Altima, has plenty of features and is mid-priced as far as LEDs go....the Radion is like the Infinity G37......just a few more features and is on the upper end of pricing......you would need two of either of the two for your tank...the AIs, with controller, would be around $1000....and the Radions would be closer to $1700
__________________
260g mixed reef, 105g sump, water blaster 7000 return, Bubble King SM 300 skimmer, Aqua Controller Jr, 4 radions, 3 Tunze 6055s,1 tunze 6065, 2 Vortech MP40s, Vortech MP20, Tunze ATO, GHL SA2 doser, 2 TLF reactors (1 carbon, 1 rowa). http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=50034 . Tank Video here http://www.vimeo.com/2304609 and here http://www.vimeo.com/16591694
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-29-2012, 05:36 AM
toxic111 toxic111 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Lloydminster, SK
Posts: 237
toxic111 is on a distinguished road
Default

I looked at the ai's as well but for a 4foot tank they were $200 more than the raidons, as you need 4 units plus the controller.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-29-2012, 05:44 AM
sphelps's Avatar
sphelps sphelps is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lyalta, East of Calgary
Posts: 4,777
sphelps is on a distinguished road
Default

If I had that fixture I'd either replace the ballast and bulbs and forget about LEDs or retrofit in some kind of DIY LED system within that fixture to replace the halides while keeping the T5s. The Infiniti looks real nice over a tank and so clean, be a shame to swap it with something less appealing. No offence to anyone but radions don't hang well and look best hidden in a canopy.

Last edited by Aquattro; 01-29-2012 at 06:00 AM. Reason: add "h"
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-29-2012, 06:01 AM
fishytime's Avatar
fishytime fishytime is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: E-town
Posts: 5,390
fishytime will become famous soon enough
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sphelps View Post
No offence to anyone but radions don't hang well and look best hidden in a canopy.
hanging isnt the only option.....heres what I did with mine.....this is just a temporary thing I did with a scrap piece of wood and some "Tek" legs ($70), but with just a coat or two or some black paint, it would look pretty good methinks.....






__________________
260g mixed reef, 105g sump, water blaster 7000 return, Bubble King SM 300 skimmer, Aqua Controller Jr, 4 radions, 3 Tunze 6055s,1 tunze 6065, 2 Vortech MP40s, Vortech MP20, Tunze ATO, GHL SA2 doser, 2 TLF reactors (1 carbon, 1 rowa). http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=50034 . Tank Video here http://www.vimeo.com/2304609 and here http://www.vimeo.com/16591694
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.