LED lighting question

Rose613 · 06/15/2012, 11:22 AM

I was thinking of purchasing two Blueline 55 LEDs fixtures for my 90 gallon oceanic reef tank. I currently have a t5 with 6 bulbs. I'm thinking of removing the t5 and just have the LEDs. Any suggestions on how to accumulate my coral to the LEDs. Any useful information I can have would be appreciated. Thank you.

swanny · 06/15/2012, 02:29 PM

My advice would be leave a few t5's up with your led's.

Rose613 · 06/16/2012, 10:36 AM

Thanks - why would you recommend that? I'm curious to know your opinion. I've been doing a lot of research on this, it's a little overwhelming, so much information and options....

zachts · 06/16/2012, 09:06 PM

two of those will burn your corals to a crisp! they don't apear to be dimmable and on a 90 gallon you really only need around 48 to 60 LEDs to grow just about any corals. I am growing sps under 24 leds and they are still dimmed to lower levels than this fixture runs at.

If you are at all handy with DIY as a good share of those of us who get into this hobby are, have you considered building a fixture? there is a wealth of knowledge and how too's on around here on the subject.

the reason for keeping a couple t5 is that a simple cool whit and royal blue LED combo like these fixtures have will be lacking some of the color your used to with all t5 light. It's not bad but it is very different.

there's nothing wrong with the blueline lights the ones you are looking at are just way too much for your tank.

on the note of acclimating to LED. if the fixtures aren't dimmable the best way is to hang the fixture way above the tank, starting 3' or more feet up and gradually lowering over several weeks in small increments so as not to shock the corals. LED puts out a tremendous amount of PAR compared to t5 of the same relative brightness.

Rose613 · 06/20/2012, 07:42 AM

Thanks Zachts!

Rose613 · 06/20/2012, 07:55 AM

Ok so after further reading I've narrowed down to 2 choices, Ecotech Radion XR30W and Aqualllumination Sol Blue LEDs. I've read great reviews on both! I'm a little confused

as to which one would be worth my money. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money but if I know that it will be worth it in the long run I will be willing to spend it. Any suggestions?

asonitez · 06/20/2012, 08:19 AM

Keep your T5's - Add a few reef brite LED's for Shimmer. You will be happier in the long run imho.

If You must spend the money I like the AISOLs and the Radions but 1400 vs 600 :-/

swanny · 06/20/2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose613

Ok so after further reading I've narrowed down to 2 choices, Ecotech Radion XR30W and Aqualllumination Sol Blue LEDs. I've read great reviews on both! I'm a little confused

as to which one would be worth my money. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money but if I know that it will be worth it in the long run I will be willing to spend it. Any suggestions?

I run 3 ai sols with two t5 bulbs over a 120g, one ati purple plus and one ati true actininc. I love the sols for the whole sunrise sunset effect but I hate the color combo. They just don't have the spectrum that mh's have and that is why I added the t5's. My corals now have great "pop" and good growth. I would run two ai sol's over your 90 and keep a few t5's and experiment with color combo's. I have seen quite a few used ai's for sale on RC btw. Good luck, post some pics with your new setup sometime.

Rose613 · 06/20/2012, 12:20 PM

Thanks for your replies very useful information however I would like to get rid of my t5s completely and have only one fixture - either 2 AISOLs or the Radions

Any suggestions on which one would be better for me now and in the long run. I read great reviews on both....

I will definately post a pic with the new setup

swanny · 06/20/2012, 01:33 PM

If money is not an issue I would do the Radions because of the extra color spectrum.

katchupoy · 06/20/2012, 04:51 PM

Rose, are you good with DIY?

Rose613 · 06/21/2012, 07:34 AM

Thanks swanny!

Yes katchupoy I am....

cwschoon · 03/17/2016, 09:37 PM

I have been in the hobby for a very long time but never had LED lighting. Am purchasing a 120 gallon-48 x 24-x-24-and am looking at Aqualllumination Hydra 26 x 2. Any thoughts or advice?
My reef will be lots of rock, fish, softies, mushrooms, bubbles, anemones, etc. Wondering if the light will be adequate, especially on the bottom of the tank. Radions are just too expensive!

Thanks for any comment.

06/15/2012, 11:22 AM	#1
Rose613 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 34	LED lighting question I was thinking of purchasing two Blueline 55 LEDs fixtures for my 90 gallon oceanic reef tank. I currently have a t5 with 6 bulbs. I'm thinking of removing the t5 and just have the LEDs. Any suggestions on how to accumulate my coral to the LEDs. Any useful information I can have would be appreciated. Thank you.

06/15/2012, 02:29 PM	#2
swanny Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: denver Posts: 406	My advice would be leave a few t5's up with your led's. __________________ 120 gallon soon to be (hopefully) sps dominant. Current Tank Info: 120g rr

06/20/2012, 07:42 AM	#5
Rose613 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 34	Thanks Zachts! Last edited by Rose613; 06/20/2012 at 07:56 AM.

06/20/2012, 07:55 AM	#6
Rose613 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 34	Ecotech Radion XR30W or Aqualllumination Sol Blue LEDs Ok so after further reading I've narrowed down to 2 choices, Ecotech Radion XR30W and Aqualllumination Sol Blue LEDs. I've read great reviews on both! I'm a little confused as to which one would be worth my money. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money but if I know that it will be worth it in the long run I will be willing to spend it. Any suggestions?

06/20/2012, 01:33 PM	#10
swanny Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: denver Posts: 406	If money is not an issue I would do the Radions because of the extra color spectrum. __________________ 120 gallon soon to be (hopefully) sps dominant. Current Tank Info: 120g rr

06/16/2012, 10:36 AM	#3
Rose613 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 34	Thanks - why would you recommend that? I'm curious to know your opinion. I've been doing a lot of research on this, it's a little overwhelming, so much information and options....

06/16/2012, 09:06 PM	#4
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	two of those will burn your corals to a crisp! they don't apear to be dimmable and on a 90 gallon you really only need around 48 to 60 LEDs to grow just about any corals. I am growing sps under 24 leds and they are still dimmed to lower levels than this fixture runs at. If you are at all handy with DIY as a good share of those of us who get into this hobby are, have you considered building a fixture? there is a wealth of knowledge and how too's on around here on the subject. the reason for keeping a couple t5 is that a simple cool whit and royal blue LED combo like these fixtures have will be lacking some of the color your used to with all t5 light. It's not bad but it is very different. there's nothing wrong with the blueline lights the ones you are looking at are just way too much for your tank. on the note of acclimating to LED. if the fixtures aren't dimmable the best way is to hang the fixture way above the tank, starting 3' or more feet up and gradually lowering over several weeks in small increments so as not to shock the corals. LED puts out a tremendous amount of PAR compared to t5 of the same relative brightness.

06/20/2012, 08:19 AM	#7
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	Keep your T5's - Add a few reef brite LED's for Shimmer. You will be happier in the long run imho. If You must spend the money I like the AISOLs and the Radions but 1400 vs 600 :-/

06/20/2012, 12:20 PM	#9
Rose613 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 34	Thanks for your replies very useful information however I would like to get rid of my t5s completely and have only one fixture - either 2 AISOLs or the Radions Any suggestions on which one would be better for me now and in the long run. I read great reviews on both.... I will definately post a pic with the new setup

06/20/2012, 04:51 PM	#11
katchupoy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,548	Rose, are you good with DIY?

06/21/2012, 07:34 AM	#12
Rose613 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 34	Thanks swanny! Yes katchupoy I am....

03/17/2016, 09:37 PM	#13
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	I have been in the hobby for a very long time but never had LED lighting. Am purchasing a 120 gallon-48 x 24-x-24-and am looking at Aqualllumination Hydra 26 x 2. Any thoughts or advice? My reef will be lots of rock, fish, softies, mushrooms, bubbles, anemones, etc. Wondering if the light will be adequate, especially on the bottom of the tank. Radions are just too expensive! Thanks for any comment.