Leds for a 6 ft by 3 ft 300 gal aquarium.

[steve9]

Its pretty simple.....light movers

Cheap......2 movers with 2 led fixtures
diy a tank long strip of rbs.....

[Creetin]

Originally Posted by this is me

If you're gonna be worried about technology changing in a couple years, stay away from semiconductors!
LED took a drastic changed over the past 5 years and it will continue to improved. High power OLED lighting is now on the horizon.

I'm also planning on a 72"x36"x24" and lighting is the most difficult part. Not sure what to go with but DE MH is looking more and more pleasing. I would need a lot of LEDs over that sized tank and the cost would be through the roof. It would cost at least as the tank or more. While you don't have to change the bulb, the spectrum may change over time and can be less effective. Most LED fixtures requires you to change the whole panel to change a bulb!
I'm thinking 3x250W DE MH with good reflector can do the job better. A 250W DE bulb can be had for $40-50$(Pheonix, aquamaxx). Electric bill might be higher than running LEDs but if you need a crap load of LEDs to light the tank, the cost will be comparable.
Heat? Depends on your location. Some people actually can use some heat if they have a basement sump. I think I rather pay my electric bill to run the MH than the electric heater to keep my tank warm. This is especially true if cool/cold weather starts as early as late September to mid May.

Here's my lighting plan on excel file. Option 1 seem to be doable and feasible.
Option 3 would be really nice and I may not need two stripes but I doubt the 6" in width fixture can light up a 36" tank. Take it for what it's worth but on a large tank. I think MH is still plenty competitive against LED. Especially if you have a large sump sitting in a cool place.

I hear ya i have the same reservations. Maybe a couple of 72 inch reefbrites for actinic and dusk dawn will keep me happy till it can be a no brainer. As of right now large tanks are left in the lurch with leds. For a small tank like a 2 ft cube i would not have a problem getting a top notch led fixture for. But add 3 times the amt to light up a large tank and it becomes quite the investment.
My halides work fine, and corals look good. I just like that fake look the royal blue leds put out, and the control. My tank is in my basement and I am in michigan. Heat in the summer with the halides is not that big of a deal because i run AC. Its the 9 other months that i have to heat the tank. If i take the halide heat away I easily will lose 7-10 degrees of heat that my heaters will have to work to gain back. At 3 of them at 250w I would gain nothing in energy savings, I may have to pay out more to heat.

[fixx198]

I just replaced one of my 250 radiums for a AI SOL. I am only a couple of days in but light appears brighter. corals do not seem to mind and clam opens up under the LEDs. I have the same tank (300DD). I do believe at this point i will be ordering two more to replace my other two radiums. of course this will be after about a month of making sure my livestock is doing fine and growing. If i was you and had no lights i would put three of these on my tank and if you need more in the future when you grow they are easy to add on more units.
steve

[Creetin]

Originally Posted by fixx198

I just replaced one of my 250 radiums for a AI SOL. I am only a couple of days in but light appears brighter. corals do not seem to mind and clam opens up under the LEDs. I have the same tank (300DD). I do believe at this point i will be ordering two more to replace my other two radiums. of course this will be after about a month of making sure my livestock is doing fine and growing. If i was you and had no lights i would put three of these on my tank and if you need more in the future when you grow they are easy to add on more units.
steve

Thanks, I ordered 3 and will see if i need another. I might, But I have a starting point i believe. I can always add more or add reefbrite strips to get desired light.
I went with AI controller as well, I hate writing script and refuse to learn it, My apex's days are numbered. Maybe in the spring get a vertex cerebra controller.

[Steved13]

I have the 250DD 60"X36"X27" with 4 AI sols super blue, good lighting and I'm seeing good growth. I had 2 units for a short time, and even that wasn't too bad, I just had to watch placement more. I would think on the 300 you could get by with 4, but I would probably end up with 5.

[Creetin]

I Re did the math. I will be saving a bit with these even with the heaters running more. The real savings will be in the summer time where my dehumidifiers wont run as long at 500 watts a piece times 2. These ran 12 hrs a day, In the winter they run 1/3rd of that and spring and fall maybe 2/3rds.
That and going with a better pump I should save $40=45=50 per month depending on outside seasonal weather. Thats a savings of $540 a year. Add cost of replacement bulbs in and they will pay for themselves in just over 2 years.
The pump is the big savings though and part of the reasoning. Have to. LOL. I hate getting ebills in because i have a pool too that burns up Electric. Took care of that too. Bought a 2 speed motor for it. Now it burns 2 amps rather than 11 amps!! I should go from 270 a month in E to 150's with air on in the summer and just over 100 in the cooler mos.

[Wolfmann81]

Originally Posted by Steved13

I have the 250DD 60"X36"X27" with 4 AI sols super blue, good lighting and I'm seeing good growth. I had 2 units for a short time, and even that wasn't too bad, I just had to watch placement more. I would think on the 300 you could get by with 4, but I would probably end up with 5.

I have a 180G (odd-size) and have been thinking on what I could change to with the LED's (from the 3 MH's I currently have). My tank is 59x24x30, any thoughts on how many of these AI sols I should put (yes, have SPS) I am a bit concerned with the 30" depth. Thoughts?

[Creetin]

From what i have heard the new phoenix from AI will drive better par numbers deeper. What i was told they are better suited for taller tanks. Def look into those.

[Steved13]

Originally Posted by Wolfmann81

I have a 180G (odd-size) and have been thinking on what I could change to with the LED's (from the 3 MH's I currently have). My tank is 59x24x30, any thoughts on how many of these AI sols I should put (yes, have SPS) I am a bit concerned with the 30" depth. Thoughts?

I'd go with 4 units I think you're going to end up with about the same usability as I have.

Here's why...the stuff you put on the bottom obviously by definition doesn't need a lot of light so I don't think the 3" will make that much difference there, and I have stuff on the bottom near the glass, which probably makes it about equal to 3" deeper but more under the fixture (your 24" front to back instead of my 36")

I'm about 10" over the water level with the standard optics.

You might be better off with the phoenix, but from what I've read, and from the info I've gotten from AI, for the difference in price, I think the Sols will work great. The phoenix use a different puck with (I believe) a different white LED and optics. To me it looks like they get the same light out of a different configuration and a few less emitters. Once the new Sols with the wireless interface and controller come out, and with the new lower price on the Sols, I don't see a big advantage to the phoenix.

Except one...the phoenix looks like it will be much better looking...I'm in a canopy so that really doesn't matter to me.

[Creetin]

Agghhh i added a 4th Better to bite the bullet now so i get all matching units since they will be black soon. LOL
Steve thanks for the clarification!

[Creetin]

Double post

[Steved13]

Originally Posted by Creetin

Agghhh i added a 4th Better to bite the bullet now so i get all matching units since they will be black soon. LOL
Steve thanks for the clarification!

I hope they're only shipping the new wireless version, but make sure that's what you're getting. I will upgrade mine with the wireless chips and controller when it's released. The wireless version, will give you a lot of nice features IE: east to west sunrise/sunset, moving clouds, easier to program.

The new pricing should include the new wireless version.

[Creetin]

Dunno I have to ask. I didnt know about wirelesstill ya mentioned it in this thread.

[Steved13]

I read somewhere that AI was offering a free upgrade to wireless for folks who bought between X date and Y date, so I would imagine they would only be shipping the wireless version now. I control mine with my Apex, which I like far better than the original "wired" AI controller, but the new wireless sounds like it's a lot better.

[Creetin]

The wireless is just a plugin sold at a later date. Instead of plugging a wire and daisy chaining them you plug in a little white adaptor into each SOL. Each unit is 49.99 so 200 for me when they release them.
They are offering them free for people that bought the sols between a certain date. I guess people were peeved that they gotten hosed by a price reduction after they bough theirs.
I am sure the black box (controller) is extra as well.

[Steved13]

Originally Posted by Creetin

The wireless is just a plugin sold at a later date. Instead of plugging a wire and daisy chaining them you plug in a little white adaptor into each SOL. Each unit is 49.99 so 200 for me when they release them.
They are offering them free for people that bought the sols between a certain date. I guess people were peeved that they gotten hosed by a price reduction after they bough theirs.
I am sure the black box (controller) is extra as well.

I may have misunderstood, but I thought the wireless was going to be standard on the Sols, that's why some folks would get an upgrade for free. Therefore I would have thought you wouldn't have to pay to upgrade them. I know I will have to pay as I have had my Sols for awhile now.

I was just trying to look out for you, I don't think you should have to pay for the upgrade, unless like I said I misunderstood.

[Creetin]

Thanks I appreciate it!!! The phoenix is the only ones coming with them standard from what i read and heard. The ones i am getting are fresh from AI so they are the latest.

[Steved13]

Aahh! OK. I thought I had read that the Sols were going to be switched over, and also going to be wireless, but I probably mis-read.

That actually make the price difference, between the phoenix and the Sols, make more sense.

[fixx198]

got my SOL two weeks ago. Did not see wireless available. Also nothing on there web site unless i am missing something.

steve

[Creetin]

There are some stuff on the blogs. Its a add on for the SOL if you want wireless, and the stuff that Steved mentioned with cloud effects and such.

[Creetin]

Well i just measured the inside height of my cannopy. I have 11 inches of clearance and if the units with support bracket take up 3.5 to 4 inches the most i would have is 7.5 inches of clearance.
Looks like i will remove the cannopy. The tank will be moved in wall this winter with a fish room so not total bummer. Do you guys think 14 inches is a good start off the water? I would try it at 7 inches first but i have a tang that likes to splash the surface while eating.

[Steved13]

I'm at 10" above the Water on my 250DD...5' long with 4 modules

at 6' long with 4 modules and 7" you're going to have some dark spots. you can combat it with good coral placement, but if you can get them to about 12" I think you'll be good.

I vary the intensity of mine throughout the day and night, but never more than 70% right now, and I think that's only for about 2 hours. My point is if you were at 12" and 100% I think youll be close to what I have. I'm seeing good growth, and health in all types of coral, softies, SPS and LPS.

[Steved13]

Here are a couple of pics that might help?

I started with 2 modules, and later added 2 more. I took a pic of the tank before and after adding the 2 additional. It's a liitle hard to see in the pics you have to look at specific areas and then compare. My camera skills were very poor then also. On the left side at the top above the toadstool, there is a small SPS, if you look there and compare for instance, you can see the difference.

2 AI modules:


4 AI modules:

[wrestle1952]

I saw those $169 dollar units on Ebay. The question becomes "do you get what you pay for?" or is everyone else so high priced someone finally hit reality? The units are three watts per bulb same as other units that cost 3-4 times more. AI's are 100 dollars a unit less than 6 months ago. There is nothing that will lower prices faster than competition. Just a reminder to folks that LFS will tout whatever brand they carry as the best of the best and everyone else's stuff is junk and will fail in a short amount of time. That is the beauty of competition and lower prices. The $169 units carry a two year warranty and are made in California.

[Wolfmann81]

Steved13 - What are the dimensions of your tank? It looks like you have great coverage with those 4 units. I am curious to know (from your tank dimensions) if you think you could have done fine with 3 of the units.