Current USA trueLumen vs. Ecoxotic

I went back 7 pages and saw one post concerning Ecoxotic. I'm putting together a 190g FOWLR tank w/canopy. 5ft W x 27.5" H x 27.5" deep. Of the posts I've seen it seems like the LED light issue can get complicated. The following options seem to be the easiest and most economical: Current USA TrueLumen 48" strips Current USA TrueLumen Pro LED Striplight

With one 12000 diamond white and one Deepwater blue 453 and 2 transformers. Two transformers to have both sets of lights powered separately so i can do a morning/daytime/evening effect. From what i've seen this seems to be the easiest and most cost effective way to go.

Ecoxotic: I just got off the phone with Ecoxotic and they suggested 3 48" stunner strips. One 8k strip, one 12k/blue strip, both on one transformer and one all blue strip on another transformer.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Sorry my words may be disjointed...i keep getting disrupted at work! lol

 

AI sol. You'd need 3 and they're only about 49$ more than the Ecoxotic, or same price as the dimmable ones (?). That way you'd be set for corals, have good depth penetration, and be able to have the dawn dusk effect.
How high will you mount the canopy?
Also, I don't believe those strips have optics beyond the primary ones? I'd say you'd need closer to 4-6 to cover your entire tank and penetrate the WC.

 

That's weird because when I talked to ecoxotic they recommended 6 48" strips for my 48x18" 55 gallon!

 

well he is asking about a FOWLR, those only need light for the viewer to see the tank.

 

There is a big difference between 13" and 27.5 inches of width, and 18" and 27.5" of width. In terms of depth its 2x deeper, in terms of width its 1.5x deeper.

 

missed the FOWLR part, my bad!

 

no biggie, its easy to look over.

To the OP, i feel like ecoxotic is the better choice of the two. They may cost more, but LED lights is their business. Where as Current-USA makes all different kinds of lights.

Also, the color options sound more to my taste. So that is my opinion.

 

Many thanks to ya'll's posts! Thepanfish, AI Sol? guess I'll have to do a search...hadnt seen those. $49 more is nothing so I'm interested in what you're talking about. I hope you see this so you can follow up!

Skurious, thanks for the input. I'm thinking if needed I could add a 4th Stunner strip since their power supplies can power two 48" strips. I was just confused because I knew of their Panorama Pro LED at 12" at approx $90 a piece and didnt know til the Ecoxotic tech person suggested to use a stunner strip. I'd thought the Stunner strips were to just add to existing light set ups. This is why i posted here! That's a huge difference for a 48" stunner strip at $99 vs. $90 for only 12" Panorama Pro!!! I presuming the Panorama Pro LED more for coral application? On the Current USA end of things, $190 for 48" would've been cheaper than buying several Ecoxotic Panorama Pros at only 12". See why I was getting confused? I mean who the heck wouldnt want to just buy the Stunner strips if they'll work for a FOWLR setup?

Trying to be as cost effective as possible here as it's Christmas time and I'll need a new skimmer, live rock, sand etc.

 

Yeah, it would be about 1200$ plus 60$ for the controller. I know that seems a lot but I still maintain 2 or 3 of the strips ain't gonna cut it... I know you wanna do a FOWLR but you'll most likely start in coral. Plus I don't think the dpeth penetration will cut it....

 

Sorry WCW, when you mentioned Panorama and Canopy, I thought you meant these, not the modules.
Panorama LED Retrofit 2 - Panorama Retrofits - Aquarium LED Lights
Nevermind about the 49$ more then.