Convince me to go LED. Update: CONVINCED!!!!!(Taotronic dimmable)

Thanks. does this come with a kit or is it a separate cost?

 

You can usually get this separate.

Check out Rapid LED DOT com

 

This is going to require a lot of research. I'll need to see what the best optical degree, how many lights, how long of a sink, color etc. Thanks for the start guys. DIY may be do able, just hope the promote growth just as well as t5 .

 

the easiest way to start helping as there are TONS of options is to ask, whats your budget? and what are your plans for the tank?

This will help eliminate a lot of the options for you and steer ya the right way

 

I have a rapidled 64 led system on my tank and am struggling with too much light running my blues at 85% and whites at 50% on a relatively short light cycle, they are MORE than enough for any coral. I run a boostled.com typhoon controller that allows quick light customization, and sunrise and sunset functions.

 

I was looking to spend $350, but with diy, it looks like I may be able to start with the basic and slowly add and mod ( dusk/dawn sim). How long is your sink on the 55? Does it need to span all 48"? Do yours have optical reflectors? Seems like I would need mire than 64 bulbs lol.

Im wanting the option to house any coral or clam.

 

I have 3 clams, sps, lps in my 55g and 64 rapidled's are WAY TOO MUCH for the tank and clams at full power, which is why my lights run at 85% and 50% for blues verse whites. You don't even need 48 cree led's for a 55 with clams of any type, I have a derasa, crocea and maxima on the sandbed growing great

 

BTW you'll need $700 to build my system, but you can build a similar system using aqua style.com for prob about $350 or so, but you'll need more leds and def upgrade the drivers from maxwell to mean wells! DEF do that

Or buy 2 taotronics 120w dimmables, a complete fixture for prob under $400, but less controllablitlty!

Heres my basic thread, look at the different color combos you can do with led instantly that you can't do with any other light system, you can instantly make your tank look anyway you want, check out bio cubes thread for a better idea of led possibilities, thunderstorms in your tank
http://www.3reef.com/forums/led-aqu...ctrical-rookie-now-blind-boot-lol-129782.html
http://www.3reef.com/forums/led-aquarium-lighting/weather-rapidled-solved-pg-5-w-video-133856.html Watch the video at the end of this first so ya know what led's offer, lol
http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-of...iocube-build-thread-weather-added-133894.html
http://www.3reef.com/forums/led-aqu...install-biocube-rapid-violet-here-128277.html

 

Very nice. 1:1 ratio? How long is your housing unit?

 

I have about 28 blues(18 rbs and 10 blues) 24 whites(8 nw's and 16cws) and 12 violets on 60 degree optics, on 2 16" heatsinks, running at 80% blues and 50% whites run by a boostled.com typhoon controller with a 2 hour sunrise sunset and 6 hours at peak. So in short, I have WAY more light over my tank than I need, but thankfully I just fell into a 90g deeper tank that I'll be able to open these lights up on.