Thinking of going LED and Questions on it.

I got my 75g all set up yesterday and yes the MH does penetrate it but at only 36" long it doesn't cut the mustard on the ends of the tank.

I am thinking of two different ways to light this tank ether go with another TEK T5 6 bulb fixture like I had on it a few years ago or go with the LED's.

I have located 90 W LED pendants which I would need 2 of them for the tank. So looking at $600 to go this route.

Clams on Demand | 90 watt L.E.D. Grow Light

Or the TEK set up with bulbs

Tek Light T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Light 4ft 6 bulb 324W

Or go with this MH/ T5 combo

2 x 150W MHL with 2 x 2bulbs 4Ft Fixture

Oh and I need to support SPS and clams in this tank so I need a lot of light

Not sure of the quality of that LED fixture.....I would hate for you to spend $600 on junk.....I would do some research on what fixtures are good and have good track records.....If any fixture is using less then 3w LEDs I would pass.....Also look for what kind of LEDs are being used Cree is the best bar none....There are some manufacturers that use Cree platforms that are good as well but that's cause they use Cree tech.....I personally like LED and MH mix.....But if going straight LED might look around first....I know CoralSky is the cream of the crop in fixtures and there are a few others that are getting really good reviews. I can't remember them though right now.....I plan on some point going all LEDs...The cost is a lot up front but will pay themselves off in a few years considering bulb replacement....

hmm, you know its been "a few years" and Im still not hearing the glowing satisfaction reports one would hope for, I guess there was sooo much hype when they came out, now ?? dunno man

Yeah I am starting to wonder too, I am thinking the TEK is more appealing.

what would you look for in a bought unit?

What do you mean?

well? why a tek over sunlight supply, its just me lol I only buy stuff i cannot make just from being ripped off

I think TEK is made by Sunlight supply.

I am actually looking at the retrofit kits at Hello Lights.com It looks like I can do a 6 bulb retro for about $375

Sun System® Tek-Light™ T5 HO Fluorescent Lighting - Sunlight Supply: Hydrogarden Wholesalers

Whats in the retro kit the link is for full units

One of each

Hellolights 48" 4 Lamp Very High Output T5 Retrofit Kit w/ bulbs! - HL448T5KIT

48" 2 x 54w T5 HO Retrofit Kit - 48254

54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI - ATI1013

54W Pro Color T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI - ATI1045

Mate I wouldn't touch the ATI Pro bulbs, they are too red, and make the tank look funny. I bought 1 to try, and the colour looks to white/pink, not like the cool look of the blues. ATI blue and blue plus are the best combo. KZ bulbs are supposed to be good as well, but I haven't tried them due to expense. I like T5's, as you can play around with the bulb combo, and they give a good spread of light, which is intense enough (with a good unit) to light the bottom of the tank, which is good IMO.

I like the LED's from what I'm reading atm, but the only problem I see with LED is the TRUE bulb life. I don't care that the bulb will run for 50,000hrs, that's completely irrelevant. I've run T5 bulbs for nearly 2 years to see what would happen, and they still work, but that doesn't mean they are usefull in my aquarium. As with any form of lighting, they do loose their intensity. Over the life of LED bulbs, 1 manufacturer said you still have 70% intensity in lights. To me that reads a loss of 30%. I don't think T5's and halides are ever let go that far. That would be my only concern with LED's. Having said that, I've read the chinese light's are pretty good to start off with, and you could replace the bulbs as per a light meter, but I don't know the cost as yet.

I have no experience with halides as yet.

I voted for other , depending on where it is in the house , why not install some sky lights ?

They dont give too much info on those LED's. I think i would go with T5's for now

No sky lights, I have a second floor above the tank, but they would be nice.

Originally Posted by blacjack

Mate I wouldn't touch the ATI Pro bulbs, they are too red, and make the tank look funny. I bought 1 to try, and the colour looks to white/pink, not like the cool look of the blues. ATI blue and blue plus are the best combo. KZ bulbs are supposed to be good as well, but I haven't tried them due to expense. I like T5's, as you can play around with the bulb combo, and they give a good spread of light, which is intense enough (with a good unit) to light the bottom of the tank, which is good IMO.

I like the LED's from what I'm reading atm, but the only problem I see with LED is the TRUE bulb life. I don't care that the bulb will run for 50,000hrs, that's completely irrelevant. I've run T5 bulbs for nearly 2 years to see what would happen, and they still work, but that doesn't mean they are usefull in my aquarium. As with any form of lighting, they do loose their intensity. Over the life of LED bulbs, 1 manufacturer said you still have 70% intensity in lights. To me that reads a loss of 30%. I don't think T5's and halides are ever let go that far. That would be my only concern with LED's. Having said that, I've read the chinese light's are pretty good to start off with, and you could replace the bulbs as per a light meter, but I don't know the cost as yet.

I have no experience with halides as yet.

Most of the high end LED fixtures run the LEDs if a say a 3w bulb at 1.25w or 2w and do not run them at full power for this reason. This increases bulb life and usefulness over long term, MH and T-5 might not drop off 30% but they shift in spectrum(MH) and some what intensity and PAR within a year or so. The leds do not shift in spectrum at the point they lose intensity(PAR). But if you get 5-10 years before this happends then you have saved $100s of dollars over that time from not having to replace bulbs especially in multi-bulb fixtures.
Here is a comaprison of a new LED fixture and MH and T-5.....PAR#
LED Panel Test Coming soon

From first reports this new panel looks promising......But it all depends on what one wants to do if these par numbers are effective long term then this panel is going tobe better and more cost effective not in jst bulb replacement but electrical cost to the blood sucking electrical companies .....I still like T-5s too and don't think you could really go wrong with either one as both are better as far as cost in eletricity then MH......BUt I do love my MH for the fact that I get glitter lines and you do as well with LEDs too...

I kinda like that LED set up. Not bad for the price, but I like to see couple of reviews on it before I popped the trigger on it. Also with doing LED's could you make one for that?? I've been pricing parts to make my own and think you could build a higher power light for same cost or less.

I agree....I think it would be pretty close, the biggest cost would be the highend Cree LEDs....Some of the good ones that you would want to use go for about $7.50 an LED....

I decided to go with the retro setup from Hello Lights. It should be here about Thursday.