HELP: LED Recommendation - 90g Tall Tank

elio · 06/10/2013, 06:18 PM

Hello,

I'm looking to get help on getting a new LED Setup. I don't have much knowledge on LED Lighting.

I currently have a 90g tall tank. I've drawn a little sketch with specs down below.

I currently have some sps, lps, polys, and zoas.

I'm trying to get more into sps, but I not sure which LED lighting to go for.

Hope some one can help me out. Any recommendation/help would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,

Elio

Ron Reefman · 06/11/2013, 05:41 AM

Your openings are only 18" from end to end? So your center brace and end braces make up the extra 24"?

My 180g is glass, but I have an 18" glass center brace (and it's kind of a frosty white from old age). I was concerned about the glass brace causing a shadow. I got 2 of the EverGrow IT2080 fixtures with 90 degree lenses. There is no shadow (even thru frosty glass) and the PAR only drops off a little because the 2 fixtures light overlap at the brace.

You could use either the EG (EverGrow) IT2040 or IT2060. see them here:
http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=16
http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=15

I had 1000w of MH, 160w of t5 and 90w of led stunner lighting before I switched to the EG lights. I have lots of sps & lps with some softies, palys and a few zoas. Everything was growing well, but the MH are hot, I was pulling 1250w of power for 8 hours a day and replacing bulbs every 12-18 months. Now I have 480w of power available, but I run under 75% power (180w) at midday and only for 5 hours. I do a 4 hour sunrise and a 5 hour sunset at even lower power levels. Very, very little heat. These run a tiny bit warm because they are in a canopy. Best 2 things, my corals are growing as good or better than before and I can adjust how blue or white my tank is without messing with bulb changes (MH or t5). I have a slightly blue sunrise, a white midday and an increasingly blue sunset. It's like having 3 different tanks! Here is my tank:

elio · 06/11/2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

Your openings are only 18" from end to end? So your center brace and end braces make up the extra 24"?

Yes, that is correct.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

My 180g is glass, but I have an 18" glass center brace (and it's kind of a frosty white from old age). I was concerned about the glass brace causing a shadow. I got 2 of the EverGrow IT2080 fixtures with 90 degree lenses. There is no shadow (even thru frosty glass) and the PAR only drops off a little because the 2 fixtures light overlap at the brace.

You could use either the EG (EverGrow) IT2040 or IT2060. see them here:
http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=16
http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=15

I had 1000w of MH, 160w of t5 and 90w of led stunner lighting before I switched to the EG lights. I have lots of sps & lps with some softies, palys and a few zoas. Everything was growing well, but the MH are hot, I was pulling 1250w of power for 8 hours a day and replacing bulbs every 12-18 months. Now I have 480w of power available, but I run under 75% power (180w) at midday and only for 5 hours. I do a 4 hour sunrise and a 5 hour sunset at even lower power levels. Very, very little heat. These run a tiny bit warm because they are in a canopy. Best 2 things, my corals are growing as good or better than before and I can adjust how blue or white my tank is without messing with bulb changes (MH or t5). I have a slightly blue sunrise, a white midday and an increasingly blue sunset. It's like having 3 different tanks! Here is my tank:

Bro, your tank is AWESOME~!!!!!! You know, I thats exactly how I want my tank to look like. Your tank is a inspiration to me. Thanks!

By the looks of it, it seems that the EG is the way to go. However, quick question, would the EG cover a depth of 30" with good PAR readings?

Ron Reefman · 06/12/2013, 05:39 AM

Thanks for the compliments. It just takes time and experience. This tank is about 4 years old now and it's my 3rd start up. I had a 30g for 18 months and a 75g for a couple of years. This one is mostly used equipment, and I don't run GFO, carbon, bio-pellets or do any carbon (vodka) dosing. I dose calcium, alk and mag in pretty large amounts because of all the sps & lps growth. And what amazed me the most was that as the corals get bigger, they grow faster. Think about it. An sps frag with a 2" circumference grows along that 2". A good size colony with 18" of circumference has 18" to grow along.

I have 2 friend who bought EG IT2080's at the same time I did. One has a 30" deep 220g and the other is a 30" deep 240g. They both grow sps & lps and are just as happy. At 30" you are right at the edge of using 90 degree lenses (standard) or 60 degree. I'd buy the 90's and order some 60's on the side. If you need a bit better PAR in an area where it's deep, you could add a few 60's to cover that spot. But most people's corals aren't on the bottom, and the ones that are, aren't commonly sps. And in my 24" deep tank, I'm running my lights at about 60-70% power. So there is more power to help get more PAR down to the bottom. BTW, just left of center at the bottom is a birdsnest sps that is growing just great!

Here are the 2 DT's that are tied together with one sump/refugium. The 2nd tank is an anemone tank and fish that aren't reef safe. The photo with the stand is older (notice the MH over the 70g tank.

elio · 06/12/2013, 02:24 PM

Dude, that's sick. Wanna switch shoes? lol jk

Okay, I'm definitely getting the EG. I did my research in addition to your recommendation. Seem they are the way to go. Thanks for introducing me to them.

Ron Reefman · 06/12/2013, 02:48 PM

Glad to be able to offer some help. I like the lights and I hope you will too.

As for the tanks, it's a labor of love. My wife and I love to go snorkeling down in the Keys (3-5 long weekends a year) and the tank is kind of way to keep reminding us how much we enjoy snorkeling.

elio · 06/13/2013, 11:56 AM

I've gone snorkeling in the Floriday Keys, it is beautiful.
Have you gone snorkeling in the bahamas? its awesome as well.

Ron Reefman · 06/13/2013, 12:34 PM

Several times in various places in the Bahamas. Also Jamaica, Hawaii and just a month ago Belize. BTW Belize beat out Hawaii by just a bit.

There are several posts with lots of pics:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ghlight=belize

VetteFanatic007 · 06/13/2013, 12:52 PM

Your tank looks AWSONE!!!

Heelfiend · 06/13/2013, 12:53 PM

I'm going to Disney World in December.

wildman926 · 06/13/2013, 01:33 PM

Here is an alternative to what has been recommended -

Buildmyled.com

3 year warranty, you can custom make your own light, or buy their pre configured models. Go to their website and check out the customer feedback. Here is a pic of a single 14k strip on a 75g -

Ron Reefman · 06/13/2013, 03:23 PM

I talked for a long time to the owners of Buildmyled at MACNA in Dallas last fall. They are like EverGrow in China, they have been doing plant nurseries, greenhouses and hydroponic farms for years and are just expanding into the aquarium market. So they know what they are doing when it comes to putting an led fixture together. They are nice guys and I think they build a pretty good product. But when I was buying last Nov-Dec, they were a fair bit more expensive than EverGrow. And I don't know if their fixture can be run by a reef controller or if it even has dimmers (back at MACNA it didn't have dimmers... if my memory serves me correctly).

wildman926 · 06/13/2013, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

I talked for a long time to the owners of Buildmyled at MACNA in Dallas last fall. They are like EverGrow in China, they have been doing plant nurseries, greenhouses and hydroponic farms for years and are just expanding into the aquarium market. So they know what they are doing when it comes to putting an led fixture together. They are nice guys and I think they build a pretty good product. But when I was buying last Nov-Dec, they were a fair bit more expensive than EverGrow. And I don't know if their fixture can be run by a reef controller or if it even has dimmers (back at MACNA it didn't have dimmers... if my memory serves me correctly).

They are based out of Austin, TX.

The cost difference depends on which fixtures you are comparing to.

Yes, they have manual dimmers, or can be controlled by a controller using a 0-10v signal.

zachts · 06/13/2013, 05:59 PM

I'm pretty sure that the drivers from BuildmyLEDs are basic Meanwell type so you could also request, I would imagine, a fixture without drivers and provide your own, in order to be compatible with whatever controller you want. the one advantage over Reefbreeders is they use more modern Luxeon LEDs (except for the violets which are Semi) they might also be able to provide different drivers upon request. from the looks of their site they are open to customization and requests.

Reefbreeders though has the ability to swap out chips later on if you decide you don't like the color. So, it's really up to you as to the style light you want.

06/10/2013, 06:18 PM	#1
elio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Arcadia Posts: 373	HELP: LED Recommendation - 90g Tall Tank Hello, I'm looking to get help on getting a new LED Setup. I don't have much knowledge on LED Lighting. I currently have a 90g tall tank. I've drawn a little sketch with specs down below. I currently have some sps, lps, polys, and zoas. I'm trying to get more into sps, but I not sure which LED lighting to go for. Hope some one can help me out. Any recommendation/help would greatly be appreciated. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Elio __________________ ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º>

06/11/2013, 05:41 AM	#2
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Your openings are only 18" from end to end? So your center brace and end braces make up the extra 24"? My 180g is glass, but I have an 18" glass center brace (and it's kind of a frosty white from old age). I was concerned about the glass brace causing a shadow. I got 2 of the EverGrow IT2080 fixtures with 90 degree lenses. There is no shadow (even thru frosty glass) and the PAR only drops off a little because the 2 fixtures light overlap at the brace. You could use either the EG (EverGrow) IT2040 or IT2060. see them here: http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=16 http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/goods.php?id=15 I had 1000w of MH, 160w of t5 and 90w of led stunner lighting before I switched to the EG lights. I have lots of sps & lps with some softies, palys and a few zoas. Everything was growing well, but the MH are hot, I was pulling 1250w of power for 8 hours a day and replacing bulbs every 12-18 months. Now I have 480w of power available, but I run under 75% power (180w) at midday and only for 5 hours. I do a 4 hour sunrise and a 5 hour sunset at even lower power levels. Very, very little heat. These run a tiny bit warm because they are in a canopy. Best 2 things, my corals are growing as good or better than before and I can adjust how blue or white my tank is without messing with bulb changes (MH or t5). I have a slightly blue sunrise, a white midday and an increasingly blue sunset. It's like having 3 different tanks! Here is my tank: __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017 Last edited by Ron Reefman; 06/11/2013 at 05:49 AM.

06/12/2013, 05:39 AM	#4
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Thanks for the compliments. It just takes time and experience. This tank is about 4 years old now and it's my 3rd start up. I had a 30g for 18 months and a 75g for a couple of years. This one is mostly used equipment, and I don't run GFO, carbon, bio-pellets or do any carbon (vodka) dosing. I dose calcium, alk and mag in pretty large amounts because of all the sps & lps growth. And what amazed me the most was that as the corals get bigger, they grow faster. Think about it. An sps frag with a 2" circumference grows along that 2". A good size colony with 18" of circumference has 18" to grow along. I have 2 friend who bought EG IT2080's at the same time I did. One has a 30" deep 220g and the other is a 30" deep 240g. They both grow sps & lps and are just as happy. At 30" you are right at the edge of using 90 degree lenses (standard) or 60 degree. I'd buy the 90's and order some 60's on the side. If you need a bit better PAR in an area where it's deep, you could add a few 60's to cover that spot. But most people's corals aren't on the bottom, and the ones that are, aren't commonly sps. And in my 24" deep tank, I'm running my lights at about 60-70% power. So there is more power to help get more PAR down to the bottom. BTW, just left of center at the bottom is a birdsnest sps that is growing just great! Here are the 2 DT's that are tied together with one sump/refugium. The 2nd tank is an anemone tank and fish that aren't reef safe. The photo with the stand is older (notice the MH over the 70g tank. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

06/12/2013, 02:24 PM	#5
elio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Arcadia Posts: 373	Dude, that's sick. Wanna switch shoes? lol jk Okay, I'm definitely getting the EG. I did my research in addition to your recommendation. Seem they are the way to go. Thanks for introducing me to them. __________________ ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º>

06/12/2013, 02:48 PM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Glad to be able to offer some help. I like the lights and I hope you will too. As for the tanks, it's a labor of love. My wife and I love to go snorkeling down in the Keys (3-5 long weekends a year) and the tank is kind of way to keep reminding us how much we enjoy snorkeling. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

06/13/2013, 11:56 AM	#7
elio Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Arcadia Posts: 373	I've gone snorkeling in the Floriday Keys, it is beautiful. Have you gone snorkeling in the bahamas? its awesome as well. __________________ ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º>

06/13/2013, 12:34 PM	#8
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Several times in various places in the Bahamas. Also Jamaica, Hawaii and just a month ago Belize. BTW Belize beat out Hawaii by just a bit. There are several posts with lots of pics: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ghlight=belize __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

06/13/2013, 12:52 PM	#9
VetteFanatic007 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Riverview, FL. Posts: 15	Your tank looks AWSONE!!!

06/13/2013, 12:53 PM	#10
Heelfiend Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 172	I'm going to Disney World in December.

06/13/2013, 01:33 PM	#11
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	Here is an alternative to what has been recommended - Buildmyled.com 3 year warranty, you can custom make your own light, or buy their pre configured models. Go to their website and check out the customer feedback. Here is a pic of a single 14k strip on a 75g - __________________ Beware of recommendations by those who don't actually use their recommendation!! The search function actually works quite well!! Tanks:Planet Aquarium 150g LPS, Planet Aquarium 90g Softie

06/13/2013, 03:23 PM	#12
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I talked for a long time to the owners of Buildmyled at MACNA in Dallas last fall. They are like EverGrow in China, they have been doing plant nurseries, greenhouses and hydroponic farms for years and are just expanding into the aquarium market. So they know what they are doing when it comes to putting an led fixture together. They are nice guys and I think they build a pretty good product. But when I was buying last Nov-Dec, they were a fair bit more expensive than EverGrow. And I don't know if their fixture can be run by a reef controller or if it even has dimmers (back at MACNA it didn't have dimmers... if my memory serves me correctly). __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

06/13/2013, 05:59 PM	#14
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	I'm pretty sure that the drivers from BuildmyLEDs are basic Meanwell type so you could also request, I would imagine, a fixture without drivers and provide your own, in order to be compatible with whatever controller you want. the one advantage over Reefbreeders is they use more modern Luxeon LEDs (except for the violets which are Semi) they might also be able to provide different drivers upon request. from the looks of their site they are open to customization and requests. Reefbreeders though has the ability to swap out chips later on if you decide you don't like the color. So, it's really up to you as to the style light you want.