LED experience for under $2

Ryan7 · #1 07-06-2011, 05:06 AM

I just set two of these 100w led spotlights over a 220G 2 months ago, with dimable ballasts.

http://www.ecoxotic.com/catalog/prod.../89/image/393/

http://www.ecoxotic.com/aquarium-led...-pendants.html

-easily spreads the tank
-12" above the water and may be too bright (testing stage, currently dimmed to 75%)
-costs about $250 more then what I would have spend on MH
-way less heat transfer
-brings out corals colours better then any light I have seen

cannot comment on coral growth as of yet with these

Nothing wrong with MH, but so far these are proving to be better IMO.

Aquattro · #2 07-06-2011, 05:24 AM

Ryan, with spots like that, depending on color, I could see these replacing MH. As long as growth is good long term. Keep us posted.

lastlight · #3 07-06-2011, 05:35 AM

Those could be potentially game-changing...

I've read these high-powered canons are not nearly as energy efficient as the lower wattage LEDs but it sounds like 3 or 4 of these 100w versions would light a 400g nicely...

So their 50w versions are not dimmable by the looks of things?

lastlight · #4 07-06-2011, 05:40 AM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2019873

There is a guy with 3 of the 100w 12ks over a 500 and he loves them. Here goes my evening/early morning ugghhh....

lastlight · #5 07-06-2011, 05:49 AM

Looks like I'd need a controller to use the dimming however. I don't think you can program those drivers. They connect to a controller. Also... since these things are a single color (12k or the bluer one) you'd have to mix them if you didn't want a really blue or a 12k look. By the time you spread these over a tank and start mixing I imagine you'd see the 12k/blue banding in the tank.

Aquattro · #6 07-06-2011, 05:50 AM

Brett, agreed. But I'd have to see the 12k, it might look ok, or you could add a T5 tube for blue (somehow)

lastlight · #7 07-06-2011, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Brett, agreed. But I'd have to see the 12k, it might look ok, or you could add a T5 tube for blue (somehow)

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.