Marineland LED?

I purchased a Marineland reef capable led for a 29 gal straight tank I started . My LFS (this store specializes in reef tanks only) recommend it to me since my tank was shallow-18" deep and I planned to keep softies and LPS only. I have had second thoughts on it . I hope I didn't waste my money. Has anyone here have any experience with this light? I hope that 15 years away from the hobby didn't set me up for a $250.00 mistake.

 

That LED light is on the low low end of LED lighting. Try to sell it on CraigsList. Check out BoostLED.com, nice fixture at comparable price point, or RapidLED.com if you are handy for a nice custom DIY option.

As a comparison, I have a DIY from RapidLED over my 29 Gallon. It is comprised of 7 XP-G Cool White, 7 XR-E Royal Blue (better to go with XP-E now) for my daylighting, and 4 XP-E Royal Blue, 2 XP-E Blue and 2 3W UV LEDs I got from eBay (expensive!) for my actinic lighting. I have a dimmable driver on the daylighting, and a constant current driver on the actinic. The day lights have 65* Optics, and I didn't use any optics on my actinics. I can't give you a price for it all, but I'm pretty sure it is under $250, and I am keeping SPS midway with my daylighting dimmed to 50% or so. Good luck.

 

It is pretty low-grade, as far as LEDs are concerned. However, if you never plan to keep anything beyond softies and some/certain LPS, it'll probably get you by.

Otherwise, I'll stand with FaceOfDeceit.

 

I'm not sure I would generalize LPS, soft coral etc.. Some softcorals can require, or at least tollerate more light than some SPS corals for example. However, looking at the number, here is a review:
Exclusive first unboxing of the Reef Capable LED fixture from Marineland

From it, they got 80par through 18 inches of saltwater. Generally average LPS or softcoral I'd like to see 100-200, so that's bit low, but close. Some can handle down to 50 par or so though, so there is some options for sure and are certainly some that would do fine. Others could be kept higher up.

Lighting is a confusing topic though. Really, corals can only utilize a certain amount of light (photosaturation), but can tolerate more light, up to a point, although it may not be utilized. For best growth, we want corals to get as much light as they can utilize, however, not so much that they need to shut down their photosynthesis machinery to prevent damage (photoinhibition). From here, the photosaturation points of even some shallow water corals can be surprisingly low. Feature Article: How Much Light?! Analyses of Selected Shallow Water Invertebrates' Light Requirements

 

that lighting fixture will be hated by most people on this website.
if you want a fixture that sits on top of your tank without wires or clamps, this is the fixture for you. i cant find any other LED fixture that will hang on top of the tank and not look like bricks on a wire or pole. I read that the leds are equal to 3x t5s witch isn't that bad. Softies will do well (zoas, xenia, leather, bubble, mushrooms, etc). Sps corals will not probably do well although the company states that they will do fine. The price is kinda high for what you get, but i think the size and design would be worth it as i like fixtures to sit on top of my tank so the light isnt in my eyes when i sit down. I would use t5s for now intill something better comes out with a nice design. but thats what im doing.

 

Thanks for all of your info...I guess I'll bite the bullet on this one. I'm stuck with it for now.

 

Ok, my wife is helping me get over my mistake by telling me to get a different light. Since I really like the shimmer effect of this light and no longer have the patience to do a DIY I'm looking at 2 different lights. The first is the JBJ K-2 clamp on lamp @ 150w and the AI Sol Blue. I did check out the Boostled but they tell you that I would need 2 for my tank and they can't be dimmed. Now the write up on the Sol blue says 1 unit is good for a tank up to 30" wide ...would this work? If not, would the MH clamp on work? thanks

 

If the AI Sol is within your means, go for it.

The MH will work as well, but MHs generate a lot of heat, both in the tank as well as the room and will be less powerful than the AI Sol.

 

How big is the tank? If its only 18" try a Sol Nano.

 

Its a 29 gal 18" deep 30" wide.