540g tank lighting suggestions.

westmoorenerd · 05/20/2010, 03:40 AM

Hey guys, I'm trying to decide if I should swap my lighting over to T5s or LEDs. Right now I'm running 4x 250w MHs and 4x 48" VHOs over my 8x3x3 tank. I like the lighting but unfortunately the $~0.24 a kW energy charge out here is killing me. I'm more leaning towards LEDs, but I've yet to see someone with a large and deep tank with LEDs so I'm unsure of how many.

khaosinc · 05/20/2010, 06:03 AM

I've played around with a couple borrowed and home built ones, and I haven't found an LED light that is much more than an over glorified moon light on my tank so far. I'm still using T-5's, but the cost of replacing 40 bulbs a year has me looking other directions as well. If you have the money to play with, you might look towards the plasma lights.

wfournier · 05/20/2010, 07:44 AM

There are some people working on setting up big tanks with LED lights, not sure if there are any live at this point. I saw some PAR numbers from a plasma light and they were a little uninspiring to say the least.

Personally I think LEDs are the best option, an array of 24 3w Cree LEDs seems to at least me the equal to a 250w halide and probably closer to a 400w.

05/20/2010, 03:40 AM	#1
westmoorenerd USN Avionics Technician Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: FPO/AP Posts: 334	540g tank lighting suggestions. Hey guys, I'm trying to decide if I should swap my lighting over to T5s or LEDs. Right now I'm running 4x 250w MHs and 4x 48" VHOs over my 8x3x3 tank. I like the lighting but unfortunately the $~0.24 a kW energy charge out here is killing me. I'm more leaning towards LEDs, but I've yet to see someone with a large and deep tank with LEDs so I'm unsure of how many. __________________ 540g 8'x3'x3', SRO-5000EXT, Neptune APEX, Koralia Magnums, Korallin C-1502 Calcium Reactor...Soon to be LED powered!

05/20/2010, 06:03 AM	#2
khaosinc The cyborg reefer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Washington state Posts: 2,345	I've played around with a couple borrowed and home built ones, and I haven't found an LED light that is much more than an over glorified moon light on my tank so far. I'm still using T-5's, but the cost of replacing 40 bulbs a year has me looking other directions as well. If you have the money to play with, you might look towards the plasma lights. __________________ Disclaimer: I have not yet figured out how to install a breathalizer on my computer. Current Tank Info: It's all torn down... someday I might rebuild.

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05/20/2010, 07:44 AM	#3
wfournier Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 379	There are some people working on setting up big tanks with LED lights, not sure if there are any live at this point. I saw some PAR numbers from a plasma light and they were a little uninspiring to say the least. Personally I think LEDs are the best option, an array of 24 3w Cree LEDs seems to at least me the equal to a 250w halide and probably closer to a 400w.