Time for LEDs?

[Blue Ram]

So after reading all the replies so far,

DIY is out of the question - I am female with limited techie skills which is why I am looking for "simplicity and function"

The reason I'd rather not invest in bulbs and a new ballast for the Infiniti is because of the electricity costs to run it. I will put it up for sale if I invest in LEDs

Not interested in a canopy - would rather be able to hang it

I'm pleased to see a consensus of two fixtures - makes the choice a little easier. Given that I'm not running a super high end tank (ie SPS heavy) - which of the two fixtures would you suggest? I keep quite a large variety of livestock - clams, anemones, lots of softies, duncans and SPS.

[sphelps]

Well just keep in mind with the LEDs is you're not going to save a ton, realistically you'll be saving 400W max and that's if you downgrade. 400W is about $100 per year for electricity on a typical light schedule. The bulbs will save you more but it'll take a few years to pay off the investment.

Next consider effect, the tank will be dimmer and the effect you get from your T5s will be lost. Essentially two Radions will be similar to to just the two halides running in terms of appearance although the LEDs will offer a more actinic feel not all colors will be improved.

Between the radions and the AIs I think the AI sols are a better bang for the buck. While a single radion tends to be compared to 2 AI sols in terms of wattage keep in mind a good chunk of the radion wattage is given to green and red LEDs which will run very low if at all. The sol blues have a good ratio of what's actually needed and would be a better choice over the sol white. The AIs also come with a mounting rack and hanging kit when purchased as a set.

Vertex is also nice and worth considering, better looking than the two above options as well.

[Nano]

Originally Posted by Blue Ram

So after reading all the replies so far,

DIY is out of the question - I am female with limited techie skills which is why I am looking for "simplicity and function"

The reason I'd rather not invest in bulbs and a new ballast for the Infiniti is because of the electricity costs to run it. I will put it up for sale if I invest in LEDs

Not interested in a canopy - would rather be able to hang it

I'm pleased to see a consensus of two fixtures - makes the choice a little easier. Given that I'm not running a super high end tank (ie SPS heavy) - which of the two fixtures would you suggest? I keep quite a large variety of livestock - clams, anemones, lots of softies, duncans and SPS.

You should contact Martin at modularled.ca one of our site sponsors here. He has DIY leds that basically just snap together, and he sells complete fixtures like ai sol and radion as well. He's very helpful it would be worth shooting him an email.

[MMAX]

Originally Posted by Blue Ram

So after reading all the replies so far,

DIY is out of the question - I am female with limited techie skills which is why I am looking for "simplicity and function"

The reason I'd rather not invest in bulbs and a new ballast for the Infiniti is because of the electricity costs to run it. I will put it up for sale if I invest in LEDs

Not interested in a canopy - would rather be able to hang it

I'm pleased to see a consensus of two fixtures - makes the choice a little easier. Given that I'm not running a super high end tank (ie SPS heavy) - which of the two fixtures would you suggest? I keep quite a large variety of livestock - clams, anemones, lots of softies, duncans and SPS.

You don't need "techie" skills with Martin's DIY stuff. Very easy to do, it's all plug and play.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by Blue Ram

I am female with limited techie skills which is why I am looking for "simplicity and function"

There are a ton of handy women on the boards btw... gender seems irrelevant =)

Although I am not an LED user based on what I've read and recently seeing both the AI and Radions next to each other I'd choose the AI. Seems to be a tremendous value there.