Led

One thing that really intrigue me is this LED lighting. Lots of people are talking about how great it is, much brighter, less electricity consumption, etc… but on the other hand, all new threads I see of reefers building tanks of 500+ gals are all using MH.

Why is that?

 

Because even a DIY LED for a 4' tank will run around $650.00. I'm working on a nano fixture and will spend around 400.00 but I'm throwing on some extra goodies.

 

Thanks reefmonkey, get your point. However reefers who are building a 500 to a 1000 gals or even bigger, they obviously have the financial support to pay these extra bucks for a led system, don't you think?

 

The MH are proven long term viable, the book is still open on whether or not current LED tech can provide the proper light spectrums for long term coral growth and health. It looks to me like it's getting close but honestly it will be a few years before anyone is totally sure and can prove it.

 

yeah LED is a couple years off on being reliable, cost comparable, and proven. on my 75gal ive been spec'ing lights for a few months now (havent pulled the trigger on my MH because of financial reasons at the moment), but to build a equivalent LED setup to compare to the 500W of MH ill have (2x250) it would have cost me ~$3k to build it on my own with the current LED drivers available and using an assortment of Cree 30W whites and 3W blue/reds. so the $600 its going to cost me to get 2x250 HQI with pendants, ballasts, the whole nine yards is a lot more cost effective for me than the 3k to build an LED system.

otherwise my option is to buy a pre-made fixture and they are about the same 3-4k at the moment for something with that much light. even if i went with say reefbrite LED strips and put like 6 of them on there id still be up in the 2k range with those at ~$300/ea.

granted, id love to have a LED setup. who wouldnt? i mean you can do REAL dusk/dawn simulation because its all dimmable, spectrum adjustable, etc.

 

LED lighting is the newest products, but I think it will instead of other lighting products because its much brighter, less electricity consumption

 

Nice Post!

I have 35 of the ReefBrite LED's in my store. Have not had a single problem with ANY of them! I have sold several of them. Most customers are buying them to add to there current lighting. I have one customer who is buying them for a 100% LED lit 90G tank. I have one of the coral flats with MH and ReefBrite combo and the colors pop in that display. The coral flat with 100% LED's has amazing colors.

C.J.