Decisions to make?

so I want to put leds over my 75 gallon tank thats 48x19x22, and there are a few hundred options. I wanted to hear from my fellow reffers about the diffrent types and brands to help narrow my decisions.

Orphek- par 38 bulbs x4-800.00
fixture- 812.00

boost led- par 30 bulbs x8-559.92
fixture x2 800.00

rapid led- 465.00 (48 led kit and two heat sinks)

Stunner led strips- 868.00 (for 4 48" strips and all the accessories)

kessil led a150 x2- 538.00 (one for each side of the tank)

I want light coverage but the ability to have a sps lps dominate tank if I want to later. also I really need the opinions of others on this who have any of these products, (besides Boost leds par 30 bulbs cause I have them ;D)

thank in advance

 

I have the same size tank & have been weighing the options as well. At the moment I am going with the save my money for a DiY from rapid.

I know there are the no-LED MH fanboys out there that scream get an expensive MH fixture.

I know there is alot of assembled pre-made LED options out there too.

I also know that kids, bills and other commitments I cant afford to drop $1,000 on a light fitxture.

So all that combined I think Rapid is going to be my best option, and that is even IF I upgrade from my T5's at all, but I am mostly a LPS/softie guy so its not at the top of my list.

 

same here i just cant drop that kind of money into a fixture but If I do I want it to be somthing I like insted of what I can afford.

 

I have also put the purchase of LED's on hold.
I know there are kits and fixtures that can pair up with MH's as far as growth and brightness, etc, but like everyone mentioned they cost an arm and if u do the fixture with an integrated programmable unit that cost goes up to an arm and a leg.
I have decided in the last couple of days that I'm going to buy replacement bulbs for my t5 fixture..... yeah, I'm limited on coral placement to the top 3rd of the tank for sps, but it works. My tank is 48" long by 12" wide by 21" deep.
This 7 to 9 months I will hold on the LED's will allow me to save some more money and give LED's a bit more time to mature and prove themselves as a cheaper but still very efficient way to grow corals.



I also understand that LED's are cheaper in the long run, but at this point I'm not in a "long run" phase. I need to spend based on what I have and being that now it costs me close to $100 to buy all 4 bulbs I need and that this would give me another 9 months to save for a nice fixture or DIY kit.


I'm waiting... LED's have no other thing to do but to get cheaper and better in the following months and this will play to my advantage.




- Milton.

 

I have thought about this to and could have bought some halides foe cheeper than the leds but I cant afford the electric bill and can say that since I switched my 20 gallon to leds from t5's that the bill has droped over 50 bucks and gave retained their color.

but my thing is that the bulbs cost me so much, its unreal here $25. for 24 inch t5's from coral life, and the fixture was about $100.00

boost leds I got now were all togther about 150 after the superbowl sale and I couldent be happier.

THERE just so much money LOL

 

Yup. +1, +K and buy me a ticket on your bus cause I'm with ya.

 

i will be doing an experment in the next few months to see about a real cheap way to have leds, and I did use blue christmas lights as moon light with good results. ;D

that being said its all about what I can afford to buy over time and the led par 30 bulbs seem to be yelling at me since 70-100 per month is cheeper than 500-600 at one time.

I also dont want to be mad after I put all this money into them and they dont cover the tank how I want or arnt the right color I like, there for I started this threan to help with my decision.

 

The PAR 30's could be very interesting. I dont think I have read a well done (with pictures) thread on a larger tank using them & how it turns out (inside & out). I really like the idea. Technologically the bulbs can do it, just never seen it done. Some track lighting options could prodice some really nice setups.

 

my thought on the matter way 4 0n either side all with 60 degree optics ;D