Lighting Options

[k4ndyk1ng]

hi all,
for a 40g long sps heavy reef 48"X12"X18" LXWXH what would be the best lighting option.

thanks

[pete33]

Dual 250 watt MH with 4 actinic T5HO. Of course waiting on the LED users to chime in right about now. :-). Sorry, have always used MH and not much experience with LED's.

[bid2ask]

depends on your budget, also the look your after... you can use 2-18" acan 104ac LED fixtures, you would be able to keep anything you ever wanted too. check the for sale threads, there is a set for sale cheap.

[rtparty]

A 4x54w ATI Sunpower. Choose your bulbs from the get go and have a proven technology that has worked for YEARS, not just ONE year like LEDs. (LED lovers can claim what they want but LEDs have only been mainstream for about a year now.)

I have been using LEDs for 10 months now and am done with them. The tank looks like crap and I blew a lot of money for ZERO growth and worse colors than before.

[k4ndyk1ng]

Originally Posted by bid2ask

depends on your budget, also the look your after... you can use 2-18" acan 104ac LED fixtures, you would be able to keep anything you ever wanted too. check the for sale threads, there is a set for sale cheap.

My budget isn't a lot so I'll just go with t5s

[tntdsol]

You cant go wrong with a good set of MH or T5s. Just remeber with both you get what you pay for. The ATI T5s would work great. Just like rtparty stated pick your bulbs from the get go.

[ironman187]

Originally Posted by rtparty

A 4x54w ATI Sunpower. Choose your bulbs from the get go and have a proven technology that has worked for YEARS, not just ONE year like LEDs. (LED lovers can claim what they want but LEDs have only been mainstream for about a year now.)

I have been using LEDs for 10 months now and am done with them. The tank looks like crap and I blew a lot of money for ZERO growth and worse colors than before.

Your experience with leds tells me you either bought a commercial fixture, or didn't use the right color combo/ dimming for your tank. Just because they have only been "mainstream" for a year does not mean they are unproven, plenty of people have been using them for several years with excellent results.

@op, if you are on a budget, and you are looking to replace a fixture, leds really are the way to go. The initial investment hurts, but in the long run, once you factor in the annual bulb changes as well as ballast replacement costs and electricity savings, the typical DIY led fixture will pay for itself in about three years. Add to that the benefit of much less heat transfer to your water, and it's a slam dunk.

[k4ndyk1ng]

Originally Posted by ironman187

Your experience with leds tells me you either bought a commercial fixture, or didn't use the right color combo/ dimming for your tank. Just because they have only been "mainstream" for a year does not mean they are unproven, plenty of people have been using them for several years with excellent results.

@op, if you are on a budget, and you are looking to replace a fixture, leds really are the way to go. The initial investment hurts, but in the long run, once you factor in the annual bulb changes as well as ballast replacement costs and electricity savings, the typical DIY led fixture will pay for itself in about three years. Add to that the benefit of much less heat transfer to your water, and it's a slam dunk.

i would do that but i havnt set up the tank yet and im just doing it slowly as i get money so i dont think i can get led

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by ironman187

Your experience with leds tells me you either bought a commercial fixture, or didn't use the right color combo/ dimming for your tank. Just because they have only been "mainstream" for a year does not mean they are unproven, plenty of people have been using them for several years with excellent results.

@op, if you are on a budget, and you are looking to replace a fixture, leds really are the way to go. The initial investment hurts, but in the long run, once you factor in the annual bulb changes as well as ballast replacement costs and electricity savings, the typical DIY led fixture will pay for itself in about three years. Add to that the benefit of much less heat transfer to your water, and it's a slam dunk.

Let's see, spectrum covered - check. Proper acclimation - check. LEDs are not for me - check.

My heater runs now more than ever before and I only saved about 20 watts in electricity by switching lights. Since my heater runs more, I am using more electricity now than I was before. Bulb replacements ran me about $50 a year. I am in the wrong hobby if $50/year can sway me.

Ballast replacement - 3 years in and this tank didn't need a ballast replacement. Most ballasts will last 7-10 years. I actually have a 6 year old fixture that still works fine but I don't have an everyday use for it right now. It still fires up every time I check it out or use it for a short period.

Seeming that the average hobbyist will only last 3 years in this hobby, most will never save any money going to LED. It is one of those marketing hypes that people fall for.

In 3 years time I believe that Plasma lighting will be at the fore front of this hobby so LEDs don't really intrigue me there as well. I think Plasma is a MUCH better technology for our use. We just need some companies to step in and help bring the technology into our playing field.

For about every person I see go to LEDs, I see another selling off their system and going back to T5 or MH. You can't tell me that DIY is the ONLY way to go to be successful using LEDs. If that is the case, they will have a very short life span in the hobby.

[ironman187]

Originally Posted by k4ndyk1ng

i would do that but i havnt set up the tank yet and im just doing it slowly as i get money so i dont think i can get led

So, if you go the t5 rout, you would probably want a 4 bulb fixture with individual reflectors, especially if you plan on doing mainly sps, in which case, a DIY led fixture would run you about the same price. Now, I would suggest doing a broader mix with each color on individual drivers. That's what I am doing on my 75. It's not finished yet, but I cab pm you the link to my build thread in my local club forum if you would like.

[ironman187]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Let's see, spectrum covered - check. Proper acclimation - check. LEDs are not for me - check.

My heater runs now more than ever before and I only saved about 20 watts in electricity by switching lights. Since my heater runs more, I am using more electricity now than I was before. Bulb replacements ran me about $50 a year. I am in the wrong hobby if $50/year can sway me.

Ballast replacement - 3 years in and this tank didn't need a ballast replacement. Most ballasts will last 7-10 years. I actually have a 6 year old fixture that still works fine but I don't have an everyday use for it right now. It still fires up every time I check it out or use it for a short period.

Seeming that the average hobbyist will only last 3 years in this hobby, most will never save any money going to LED. It is one of those marketing hypes that people fall for.

In 3 years time I believe that Plasma lighting will be at the fore front of this hobby so LEDs don't really intrigue me there as well. I think Plasma is a MUCH better technology for our use. We just need some companies to step in and help bring the technology into our playing field.

For about every person I see go to LEDs, I see another selling off their system and going back to T5 or MH. You can't tell me that DIY is the ONLY way to go to be successful using LEDs. If that is the case, they will have a very short life span in the hobby.

So, I guess I will start with your spectrum and acclimation. From what you have said, I would bet you have the non dimming (or you didn't dim enough) cool white/royal blue fixture in your tank. There are two problems with this. It can work, in your case, it obviously didn't, and here's why. You can acclimate your corals all you want, but if the light is too intense they will bleach or at least brown out, also if the spectrum is just blue and white, the corals will not look as colorful as they would under a full spectrum.

Per your signature, you have a 29g biocube, I'm guessing you don't have a sump, and as such no return pump, also, you don't need much for flow in that tank. People with larger tanks that have sumps with submersible pumps, will have more heat being introduced into their tank, your experience is not typical. Also, your bulb replacement was only $50.00 per year. The OP would have at least $80.00/year, add that to the start up cost of over $250, your experience, once again is useless in this case. I find your attitude over spending money to be both distasteful, and revolting. Saving money is a good thing no matter what you are doing.

People seem to be constantly replacing icecap ballasts and these are supposed to be the best of the best. even if you only had to replace/repair them once over the lifetime of a fixture, you are out at least ANOTHER $100.

Who cares about the "average hobbyist" That is a weak argument which holds no water due to it being purely anecdotal. "marketing hype" is only marketing hype if it isn't true. I did the math for my tank. My DIY LED fixture will pay for itself in 2 years and 7 months not counting electricity savings, and any ballast replacements should that have ever become a problem. the majority of people who are planning to buy a new fixture WILL save money if they choose LEDs over the other two options. If you are replacing a fixture because you just want leds, chances are, you will not save any money.

I highly doubt Plasma lighting will be mainstream in three years, and so far, LEDs are still the most energy efficient, even if plasma were to be a proven product for reef aquariums, that doesn't help anybody right now. The OP can't very well wait three years for a light fixture. Also, may I point out that if the OP is your "average hobbyist" he won't be in the hobby when plasmas are supposed to be the big thing.

As for your last point, you and I are seeing very different trends, I have seen a lot of people who didn't like LEDs, but many, many more that do, and are having great success with them.

Now, I get it, you spent a small fortune on an overpriced subpar fixture that didn't fit your needs, and you got burned, but if there is one thing I have learned in this hobby, it is that what works for one person, may not for others, so stop with the butthurt already.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by ironman187

So, I guess I will start with your spectrum and acclimation. From what you have said, I would bet you have the non dimming (or you didn't dim enough) cool white/royal blue fixture in your tank. There are two problems with this. It can work, in your case, it obviously didn't, and here's why. You can acclimate your corals all you want, but if the light is too intense they will bleach or at least brown out, also if the spectrum is just blue and white, the corals will not look as colorful as they would under a full spectrum.

Per your signature, you have a 29g biocube, I'm guessing you don't have a sump, and as such no return pump, also, you don't need much for flow in that tank. People with larger tanks that have sumps with submersible pumps, will have more heat being introduced into their tank, your experience is not typical. Also, your bulb replacement was only $50.00 per year. The OP would have at least $80.00/year, add that to the start up cost of over $250, your experience, once again is useless in this case. I find your attitude over spending money to be both distasteful, and revolting. Saving money is a good thing no matter what you are doing.

People seem to be constantly replacing icecap ballasts and these are supposed to be the best of the best. even if you only had to replace/repair them once over the lifetime of a fixture, you are out at least ANOTHER $100.

Who cares about the "average hobbyist" That is a weak argument which holds no water due to it being purely anecdotal. "marketing hype" is only marketing hype if it isn't true. I did the math for my tank. My DIY LED fixture will pay for itself in 2 years and 7 months not counting electricity savings, and any ballast replacements should that have ever become a problem. the majority of people who are planning to buy a new fixture WILL save money if they choose LEDs over the other two options. If you are replacing a fixture because you just want leds, chances are, you will not save any money.

I highly doubt Plasma lighting will be mainstream in three years, and so far, LEDs are still the most energy efficient, even if plasma were to be a proven product for reef aquariums, that doesn't help anybody right now. The OP can't very well wait three years for a light fixture. Also, may I point out that if the OP is your "average hobbyist" he won't be in the hobby when plasmas are supposed to be the big thing.

As for your last point, you and I are seeing very different trends, I have seen a lot of people who didn't like LEDs, but many, many more that do, and are having great success with them.

Now, I get it, you spent a small fortune on an overpriced subpar fixture that didn't fit your needs, and you got burned, but if there is one thing I have learned in this hobby, it is that what works for one person, may not for others, so stop with the butthurt already.

I will let you read my signature again and then you can write a response back. You will know just about everything you need to know about my tank. I don't have a biocube and I didn't use a blue/white combo at any time.

Nice try though.

[ironman187]

Originally Posted by rtparty

I will let you read my signature again and then you can write a response back. You will know just about everything you need to know about my tank. I don't have a biocube and I didn't use a blue/white combo at any time.

Nice try though.

My bad, you have an even smaller tank...my points still stand. I looked up the Ecxotic lights, most are the blue/white combo, which model are you running?