I am at a loss on my 250

Mock · 05/31/2016, 01:49 PM

Hi,

I want to go LED, I have spent hours looking at these things and am still as confused as I was to begin with. I dialed this tank back about a two years ago after a crash (heat issue, chiller died). I am currently still running the halides and want them off, the heat they produce is overkill in the tank room. I have added a split unit which did well last year but, I would like to help it out a little.

The tank is a custom built 60x36x27. I am currently running two 400 watt 14k halides on it and want to make the leap to LED. I have been told that two Hydra 52's will replace the halides by the LFS but it seems AI's recommendations are a lot more. I need help without breaking the bank. I dont mind shelling out about $1000 but anymore than that and I am going to have to just start buying used parts or something. Seems all these lights are $500 and I need like 6.... I cant do that.

Any recommendations. Doesnt matter the product, I just need to know what will take the place of these two Halides over a 60x36 frame and still give me enough light to keep LPS at the bottom.

Mock

Potatohead · 05/31/2016, 02:01 PM

I hate to say it but with 27" of depth you are going to need some pretty serious power to run LED, there's no way $1000 will do it unless you are only doing softies and LPS which would likely be fine with two Hydra 52's

Taahirs · 05/31/2016, 02:11 PM

The 36" wide is quite difficult to light. I'd go for twi zetlight 6600a units and mount them sideways. Even then it may not be enough.

Otherwise Chinese Black box is the way to go.

Duality · 05/31/2016, 02:12 PM

Some times to play with the big boys u have to pay like a big boy.
I've got a 300 gallon and I'm running 5 radions over it. They do a nice job, but I would truly like to have 10. I would have them angled in from the sides
This is an old pic to show the lights

Mock · 05/31/2016, 03:07 PM

I am just keeping Softies and LPS at the moment. I have no aching to go back to SPS.

TangingOut · 05/31/2016, 03:09 PM

Two Photon 50 V2s will be about $300-400 more than your budget, but will give you full coverage and you'll be about to grow anything.

cougareyes · 05/31/2016, 03:38 PM

My tank is 24" deep and I only run 70watt leds and have even bleached out my open brain coral, so the 135watts on the hydra will get you there for lps. Lps do seem to like the leds but have you considered a t5/led hybrd, if I were to do in again that's what I would do an ATI t5 with reefbrite strip leds. Two hydras trying to cover a 30x30 area might be much.

Mock · 05/31/2016, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duality

Some times to play with the big boys u have to pay like a big boy.
I've got a 300 gallon and I'm running 5 radions over it. They do a nice job, but I would truly like to have 10. I would have them angled in from the sides

I have been playing this game for 12 years now. I am done playing. =) I am not into fads or looking cool. I just want something that works. If I have to go Chinese Black Boxes I will, They are hidden in a room, you cant hear anything through it so noise wouldnt be an issue, I dont care if they look off as long as in the tank they look good and will last.

I have sat back for a long time looking at LEDs and the older ones are starting to show up on ebay still working fine but someone wanted to upgrade. I am just biding my time until I can find the right deal. While I would like radions I am not that attached to my tank. Its not worth that much to me. Its an old hobby that I enjoy but other than that its just a living picture on my wall that the guest enjoy.

Thanks!

Mock · 05/31/2016, 03:43 PM

This is the tank currently.

kdirk · 05/31/2016, 03:49 PM

here's my vote
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4PCS-Dimmabl...cAAOSw1DtXK~Kx

kdirk · 05/31/2016, 03:50 PM

or
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6PCS-Dimmabl...AAAOSwVcFXOwVG

71xlch · 05/31/2016, 05:10 PM

Contact SB reef lights. Probadly the best of the black boxes. He has a huge tank lit with 11 boxes I believe. You can get an idea of coverage etc.

05/31/2016, 01:49 PM	#1
Mock Saltwater Junkie Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sherwood, AR Posts: 669	I am at a loss on my 250 Hi, I want to go LED, I have spent hours looking at these things and am still as confused as I was to begin with. I dialed this tank back about a two years ago after a crash (heat issue, chiller died). I am currently still running the halides and want them off, the heat they produce is overkill in the tank room. I have added a split unit which did well last year but, I would like to help it out a little. The tank is a custom built 60x36x27. I am currently running two 400 watt 14k halides on it and want to make the leap to LED. I have been told that two Hydra 52's will replace the halides by the LFS but it seems AI's recommendations are a lot more. I need help without breaking the bank. I dont mind shelling out about $1000 but anymore than that and I am going to have to just start buying used parts or something. Seems all these lights are $500 and I need like 6.... I cant do that. Any recommendations. Doesnt matter the product, I just need to know what will take the place of these two Halides over a 60x36 frame and still give me enough light to keep LPS at the bottom. Mock __________________ 250g In-Wall, 75g fuge, 40g sump, 20g frag tank, Aqua Euro PS-400, RK Elite, 2x400w 14k Halides, 2 MP40s, MRC-6

05/31/2016, 03:07 PM	#5
Mock Saltwater Junkie Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sherwood, AR Posts: 669	I am just keeping Softies and LPS at the moment. I have no aching to go back to SPS. __________________ 250g In-Wall, 75g fuge, 40g sump, 20g frag tank, Aqua Euro PS-400, RK Elite, 2x400w 14k Halides, 2 MP40s, MRC-6

05/31/2016, 03:43 PM	#9
Mock Saltwater Junkie Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sherwood, AR Posts: 669	This is the tank currently. __________________ 250g In-Wall, 75g fuge, 40g sump, 20g frag tank, Aqua Euro PS-400, RK Elite, 2x400w 14k Halides, 2 MP40s, MRC-6

05/31/2016, 02:01 PM	#2
Potatohead Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,596	I hate to say it but with 27" of depth you are going to need some pretty serious power to run LED, there's no way $1000 will do it unless you are only doing softies and LPS which would likely be fine with two Hydra 52's

05/31/2016, 02:11 PM	#3
Taahirs Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 376	The 36" wide is quite difficult to light. I'd go for twi zetlight 6600a units and mount them sideways. Even then it may not be enough. Otherwise Chinese Black box is the way to go.

05/31/2016, 02:12 PM	#4
Duality Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 385	Some times to play with the big boys u have to pay like a big boy. I've got a 300 gallon and I'm running 5 radions over it. They do a nice job, but I would truly like to have 10. I would have them angled in from the sides This is an old pic to show the lights

05/31/2016, 03:09 PM	#6
TangingOut Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,511	Two Photon 50 V2s will be about $300-400 more than your budget, but will give you full coverage and you'll be about to grow anything.

05/31/2016, 03:38 PM	#7
cougareyes Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 713	My tank is 24" deep and I only run 70watt leds and have even bleached out my open brain coral, so the 135watts on the hydra will get you there for lps. Lps do seem to like the leds but have you considered a t5/led hybrd, if I were to do in again that's what I would do an ATI t5 with reefbrite strip leds. Two hydras trying to cover a 30x30 area might be much.

05/31/2016, 03:49 PM	#10
kdirk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bismarck, ND Posts: 234	here's my vote http://www.ebay.com/itm/4PCS-Dimmabl...cAAOSw1DtXK~Kx

05/31/2016, 03:50 PM	#11
kdirk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bismarck, ND Posts: 234	or http://www.ebay.com/itm/6PCS-Dimmabl...AAAOSwVcFXOwVG

05/31/2016, 05:10 PM	#12
71xlch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 116	Contact SB reef lights. Probadly the best of the black boxes. He has a huge tank lit with 11 boxes I believe. You can get an idea of coverage etc.