LED suggestion please!

Pylon · 08/30/2012, 10:53 AM

Hey guys, i'm getting ready to set up a 29 gallon tank (just a walmart tank.. nothing special like tall or side) and I was planning on buying the Marineland Reef Ready LED lights and I read a bunch of reviews and they sounded pretty crappy. So here's what i'm looking for any suggestions would be amazing.

I need the lights to be mountable onto the tank..(can't drill into ceiling.. i live in a apartment)
They need to be able to grow Zoas and Mushrooms (even if I have to put them at the top of the tank that's cool)
Maybe sometime after the tank is established a anemone.
I'd like to spend around 200 but the absolute max is 250.. the people at my LFS really doesn't know much about LEDs so any help from the pros here at Reef Central would be great.

I've have searched, but I didn't really find what I was looking for.. I spend some time looking at the Chinese LEDs but they all looked like hanging LEDs not mountable.
Links to products would be aaammaazziinngg

Thanks in advance

vai6921 · 08/30/2012, 11:07 AM

Well if you really want to get Leds, then you can just get 12 leds with a mix of 60 and 80 degrees to get enough spread.

If you are looking to grow soft coral and leathers, it should be just fine. I personally do not like the really blue look and rather something a bit whiter.

I would do 8 10k(60 degrees) and 4 blue(80 degrees). The spread is pretty nice as I have tried this already on my tank.

If you do not want to spend money on Cree leds, you can try bridgelux which are still able to grow and give good light. (I have used cree, bridgelux, and luxion)

Here are some links. For Aquastyle you can email or call and ask for Ray. He is very nice and helpful and always throws in few extras for free.

http://www.aquastyleonline.com/produ...mable-Kit.html

http://www.aquastyleonline.com/produ...mable-Kit.html

http://www.rapidled.com/24-led-plug-...-kit-dimmable/

http://www.rapidled.com/12-led-plug-...-kit-dimmable/

For Rapid, i believe the guys name is Danny and he can help you out if you email.

Personally i would get the Cree 24 Solderless LED Kit Dimmable, even though i know how to soder, it just saves some time.

Good luck and let us know what you decide in the end!

vai6921 · 08/30/2012, 11:11 AM

Please note that if you are good with electronics and know how to set up these units, there are cheaper led sites out there, but the above two are trusted sites (at least for me).

planedoc · 08/30/2012, 11:22 AM

This place makes it easy
http://www.modularled.ca/24-led-kit/

Pylon · 08/30/2012, 03:30 PM

Hey guys!
First off thanks for the post! Second is that i'm not really looking for a DIY because Id' rather have something to mount nto the tank and all the DIY stuff i've seen is for hanging fixtures. do have that cheap canopy that came from the tank but IDK how or if LEDS would fit in there.

So i'm really looking for something already made that I can mount on the tank
Thanks!

08/30/2012, 10:53 AM	#1
Pylon Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Jefferson, NC Posts: 493	LED suggestion please! Hey guys, i'm getting ready to set up a 29 gallon tank (just a walmart tank.. nothing special like tall or side) and I was planning on buying the Marineland Reef Ready LED lights and I read a bunch of reviews and they sounded pretty crappy. So here's what i'm looking for any suggestions would be amazing. I need the lights to be mountable onto the tank..(can't drill into ceiling.. i live in a apartment) They need to be able to grow Zoas and Mushrooms (even if I have to put them at the top of the tank that's cool) Maybe sometime after the tank is established a anemone. I'd like to spend around 200 but the absolute max is 250.. the people at my LFS really doesn't know much about LEDs so any help from the pros here at Reef Central would be great. I've have searched, but I didn't really find what I was looking for.. I spend some time looking at the Chinese LEDs but they all looked like hanging LEDs not mountable. Links to products would be aaammaazziinngg Thanks in advance

08/30/2012, 11:07 AM	#2
vai6921 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 283	Well if you really want to get Leds, then you can just get 12 leds with a mix of 60 and 80 degrees to get enough spread. If you are looking to grow soft coral and leathers, it should be just fine. I personally do not like the really blue look and rather something a bit whiter. I would do 8 10k(60 degrees) and 4 blue(80 degrees). The spread is pretty nice as I have tried this already on my tank. If you do not want to spend money on Cree leds, you can try bridgelux which are still able to grow and give good light. (I have used cree, bridgelux, and luxion) Here are some links. For Aquastyle you can email or call and ask for Ray. He is very nice and helpful and always throws in few extras for free. http://www.aquastyleonline.com/produ...mable-Kit.html http://www.aquastyleonline.com/produ...mable-Kit.html http://www.rapidled.com/24-led-plug-...-kit-dimmable/ http://www.rapidled.com/12-led-plug-...-kit-dimmable/ For Rapid, i believe the guys name is Danny and he can help you out if you email. Personally i would get the Cree 24 Solderless LED Kit Dimmable, even though i know how to soder, it just saves some time. Good luck and let us know what you decide in the end!

08/30/2012, 11:11 AM	#3
vai6921 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 283	Please note that if you are good with electronics and know how to set up these units, there are cheaper led sites out there, but the above two are trusted sites (at least for me).

08/30/2012, 11:22 AM	#4
planedoc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 535	This place makes it easy http://www.modularled.ca/24-led-kit/

08/30/2012, 03:30 PM	#5
Pylon Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Jefferson, NC Posts: 493	Hey guys! First off thanks for the post! Second is that i'm not really looking for a DIY because Id' rather have something to mount nto the tank and all the DIY stuff i've seen is for hanging fixtures. do have that cheap canopy that came from the tank but IDK how or if LEDS would fit in there. So i'm really looking for something already made that I can mount on the tank Thanks!