Sell me on Reefbreeders LEDs

jwalters103 · 07/07/2015, 12:30 AM

Im getting back into the hobby and curious about leds. when I got out leds were just starting to be used and were so expensive they really werent a practical consideration.

My prior set up was 3x250 watt halides and 2x55? watt t5s. Will an led set up perform similarly?

Im wanting to do all sps and clams--will I get the same growth and coloration?

fill me in on optics---I assume these focus or spread the light. i am seeing 90 and 120. whats the diff?

Will I still get the shimmer effect like with halides?

What is a reasonable used price for the photon 48 rated for 60" tanks?

I get that these will put off less heat and not cost as much to run, and I will not have to replace bullbs, but what are some of the other pros of going led. sell me on it.

intyme · 07/07/2015, 07:53 AM

I have them, they are nice. Easy to program

Buzz1329 · 07/07/2015, 06:47 PM

Love the Reef Breeders. I have 2 x Photon 32's over my 180 with 90 degree optics. SPS is coloring/growing/PEing with extreme prejudice. Comes with built in controller so you can adjust the intensity of both mixed and white channels every 30 minutes.

And it's not just 50% blue and 50% white. Each fixture has 450nm royal blue, 4500K neutral whites, 480nm blues, 660nm reds, 410-420nm violets, 480nm blue moonlights, for a total of 99 x 3 watt LEDs.

Service is outstanding. Have screwed up 2x with fixtures (too embarrassing to disclose) and each time, Logan repaired and got them back to me within a few days.

Based on my experience, I'd never consider another LED fixture.

Mike

jwalters103 · 07/07/2015, 07:05 PM

That's good to hear.

Would you say growth and coloration is close to what it would be with halides?

Do you still get the shimmer lines in the tank like with halides or is the lighting more like with fluorescent lights?

What exactly are the optics and what is the difference between the 90 and the 120?

mav3rick478 · 07/07/2015, 08:31 PM

Yes you get the shimmer as long as you have good water movement on your tanks surface.

The optics is the angle of the light spread, 90 degrees and 120 degrees. The 120 will spread more because it is a wider angle while the 90 is more direct down but still has some spread which will vary based on the height of your fixture.

ct_vol · 07/07/2015, 09:20 PM

I've been considering trying a RB fixture but haven't pulled the trigger yet. Tagging along to see some opinions. I'm a pretty big MH proponent, but I'd like to save the electricity on my QT.

jwalters103 · 07/07/2015, 10:31 PM

Thats pretty much where I am right now. have loved my halides since I first switched to them and really not interested in switching unless I can get the same results. The savings in energy cost is the big selling point for me.

What are the pros and cons of spreading the light vs aiming it straight down? (90 vs 120 optics vs no optics)

mav3rick478 · 07/08/2015, 01:10 AM

Think of the optics working like a Maglight flashlight where you can adjust the beams spread, wider beam equals less intensity but you get a broader spread of mixed spectrum. Tighter beam is more intense.

Ian14 · 07/08/2015, 08:48 AM

I would get two 24" instead of one 48" for a 60" tank. On the longer ones they have the same amount of leds on them just spaced out more

I bought 2 32" for my 6 foot tank, they light it up well and not too difficult to program. Haven't put in coral yet to test them but a bit nervous because my tank is 30 inches deep

07/07/2015, 12:30 AM	#1
jwalters103 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: St. Louis Posts: 1,488	Sell me on Reefbreeders LEDs Im getting back into the hobby and curious about leds. when I got out leds were just starting to be used and were so expensive they really werent a practical consideration. My prior set up was 3x250 watt halides and 2x55? watt t5s. Will an led set up perform similarly? Im wanting to do all sps and clams--will I get the same growth and coloration? fill me in on optics---I assume these focus or spread the light. i am seeing 90 and 120. whats the diff? Will I still get the shimmer effect like with halides? What is a reasonable used price for the photon 48 rated for 60" tanks? I get that these will put off less heat and not cost as much to run, and I will not have to replace bullbs, but what are some of the other pros of going led. sell me on it.

07/07/2015, 07:53 AM	#2
intyme Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Farmington Ny Posts: 854	I have them, they are nice. Easy to program __________________ Justin Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef Ready, DIY Custom stand and canopy, Reef Breeders Photon 48, Aquamaxx CO-1 skimmer, Jebao DCT4000 pump, JBJ Ato, 2 RW-4

07/07/2015, 09:20 PM	#6
ct_vol Reefing On My Mind Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kempton, IL Posts: 8,083	I've been considering trying a RB fixture but haven't pulled the trigger yet. Tagging along to see some opinions. I'm a pretty big MH proponent, but I'd like to save the electricity on my QT. __________________ Randy Volunteers, Blackhawks, Titans, Cubs!!!! Current Tank Info: 185g waiting to be built, 120g SPS/Anemone Reef, 120g SCA in the works, 58g mixed reef w/ 6x39w T5, 125g grow out w/ Reef Breeders

07/07/2015, 06:47 PM	#3
Buzz1329 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 2,414	Love the Reef Breeders. I have 2 x Photon 32's over my 180 with 90 degree optics. SPS is coloring/growing/PEing with extreme prejudice. Comes with built in controller so you can adjust the intensity of both mixed and white channels every 30 minutes. And it's not just 50% blue and 50% white. Each fixture has 450nm royal blue, 4500K neutral whites, 480nm blues, 660nm reds, 410-420nm violets, 480nm blue moonlights, for a total of 99 x 3 watt LEDs. Service is outstanding. Have screwed up 2x with fixtures (too embarrassing to disclose) and each time, Logan repaired and got them back to me within a few days. Based on my experience, I'd never consider another LED fixture. Mike

07/07/2015, 07:05 PM	#4
jwalters103 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: St. Louis Posts: 1,488	That's good to hear. Would you say growth and coloration is close to what it would be with halides? Do you still get the shimmer lines in the tank like with halides or is the lighting more like with fluorescent lights? What exactly are the optics and what is the difference between the 90 and the 120?

07/07/2015, 08:31 PM	#5
mav3rick478 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: California Posts: 888	Yes you get the shimmer as long as you have good water movement on your tanks surface. The optics is the angle of the light spread, 90 degrees and 120 degrees. The 120 will spread more because it is a wider angle while the 90 is more direct down but still has some spread which will vary based on the height of your fixture.

07/07/2015, 10:31 PM	#7
jwalters103 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: St. Louis Posts: 1,488	Thats pretty much where I am right now. have loved my halides since I first switched to them and really not interested in switching unless I can get the same results. The savings in energy cost is the big selling point for me. What are the pros and cons of spreading the light vs aiming it straight down? (90 vs 120 optics vs no optics)

07/08/2015, 01:10 AM	#8
mav3rick478 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: California Posts: 888	Think of the optics working like a Maglight flashlight where you can adjust the beams spread, wider beam equals less intensity but you get a broader spread of mixed spectrum. Tighter beam is more intense.

07/08/2015, 08:48 AM	#9
Ian14 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 199	I would get two 24" instead of one 48" for a 60" tank. On the longer ones they have the same amount of leds on them just spaced out more I bought 2 32" for my 6 foot tank, they light it up well and not too difficult to program. Haven't put in coral yet to test them but a bit nervous because my tank is 30 inches deep