LED experience for under $2

[Aquattro]

Jeff says the radiums are out due to mercury content or some such thing. Might try the Geismanns next.

[Milad]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Agreed I'd really like to see one first. And I can't see myself just buying one to test either as it's still a lot of money.

After reading that RC thread I do get the feeling that these things are not quite as good par-wise as an actual fixture with 3w LEDs.

True, you cant look at the wattage and compare LEDs. 50w of CREE XM LEDs will be much brighter than the 50w cannon.

I think we read the same thread on RC, they didnt get good reviews.

[whatcaneyedo]

Originally Posted by Milad

The spread is all about the optics. Most LEDs come with 125 degree lens on them. Most users of tanks that big put something like 60 degree optics on the LEDs to focus the light on the area. To get an output of a 250W MH you can do about 36 XP series LEDs or 28 XP/XM mix. I would think coverage is more of an issue of a single point light than a bunch of smaller spread out LEDs. For instance my penisula casts shadows because of how my rock work, under a standard MH fixture. With LEDs, you can spread them out with the correct optics and you can get more coverage, or tighten them up and do spotlight effects.

Here is some info on picking the right optic but it will give you an idea how the coverage works depending on which optics you choose and how high you hang the light. http://www.ledgroupbuy.com/pages/Cho...ght-optic.html

So to get what I need I'd have to build it myself? Ouch... I haven't even completed my current trade.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Jeff says the radiums are out due to mercury content or some such thing. Might try the Geismanns next.

Apparently they won't supply the proper paperwork declaring the mercury levels. I'm guessing that means the reef world is a super tiny slice of their market and they can't be bothered... OR these bulbs are loaded with mercury and they gave up. Either way it stinks.

[Milad]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

So to get what I need I'd have to build it myself? Ouch... I haven't even completed my current trade.

Yes but just hold out for couple more months and ill have a kit for you that basically is plug and play. No soldering, no drilling, no tapping. Just pick the colors and plug in the power.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

Remember the PFO Solaris fixtures? Does anyone still own one or did they all break down as PFO went out of business? I'll wait for the industry to mature some more.

haha, they were using old old LEDs, not anywhere near the power of the current ones.

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

I'm also concerned about the spread. A single 250W MH in a good reflector can light a 3'x3' area quite well. What would a person need to achieve the same goal with LED?

3x3 from a single MH is not a good even output and is realy streatching the light out. yes it can light this amount but at a lower par. 2x2 is the effective max for MH.

Steve