ebay LED light good or not?

[bullterrier2]

hi every one, i was thinking of using LED lights for my 125 gall aquarium.

will this lamp work for a mixed reef tank if so how much?

http://cgi.ebay.com/225-WHITE-LED-Aquarium-Grow-Light-Panel-120-or-240-Volt_W0QQitemZ370177147583QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item370177147583&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

thanks

[hayes112]

No it wont work for a mixed reef it wont put out enough light. Not to mention that for the number of pannels you would have to buy to cover a 125 you could get a decent T5HO setup. I actually have this same pannel used for a diffrent aplication and I wouldnt try and keep corals with it.

[ReefEnabler]

agreed theres another thread about these... they are only 13 watts for the whole fixture.... laughably low. if it came with optics on every lens it might be decent, but as it stands its a waste of space IMO. Not even good for moonlights, you'd be better off with a handful of more powerful LEDs that don't take up 12x12"

Look for the DIY LED thread for better info on LEDs... most good arrays use 3w or even 6w LEDs, and it takes bunches of those to get the job done.

[bullterrier2]

OK but I'm actually looking for temporary lighting like 3-4 months for now not much money I'm only16 and saving what my mom gives me for lunch money lol, I'm too addicted to this hobby 3.5 years now t5ho are good I'm thinking of doing that but I'm not working right now and I'm kinda looking for something cheap now so would 4x96w PC light do for a while until i get the t5 ho's my friend is selling 2 36'' fixtures for $150.
So what do u think?

[ReefEnabler]

You'll be able to keep softies and LPS under 4 x 96w PC lighting no problem... maybe even some SPS like montipora if you place it high in the tank.

PCs aren't as bad as people make them out to be, but the ackward bulb shape makes it impossible to design nice parabolic individual reflectors like T5s have..... thats why T5s are capable of so much more light, its the reflectors (the main reason anyway).

But just to give you some more perspective on the LED light you posted, my wife's 20g, 17"x17" tank is lit with 7 of these:

http://www.divinelighting.com/bmz_cache/1/1a1d8c27226482cebbb14c6304c905bf.image.150x107.jpg
http://www.divinelighting.com/par-38-led-pure-white-12-x-1w-p-274.html?zenid=3940927ff48a2c9e43aa7bf8bfcf9806

Each bulb is 12 x 1w LEDs with 30 degree optics. 3 whites 4 blues. These have 30 degree optics, so they're fairly focused, and they are mounted about 4 feet above the tank. But thats about 7 times the watts with optics and it's borderline for SPS..... Just illustrating that a 12 x 12" 13w LED fixture won't pull its weight. You'd be better off with several of these LED-bulbs mounted a bit further from the tank, but you'd need way more than 7 for a 125g. Not a cost effective solution for a large tank IMO.

[bullterrier2]

thanks for the approval with the PC, so I'll buy the PC's next week instead of led lights for a while and ill start my tank tread as soon as possible.

thanks again for the advice on what kinda coral to keep in there I'll research more about that

[hyl768s]

[violation]

[luisagos]

19 1/2 inch is only 48 par?
Seems low to me.

[ReefEnabler]

Where did you see PAR numbers on that page??

All I saw was:

"Highest Illumination: Approximately 2400 lux (50 cm from the surface to the bottom of the tank)"

Not clear what that means to me... is that at the bottom of 50cm... or are they just providing useless info that the tank is 50cm tall, but the measurement is "highest illumination" spot, aka the top?

[luisagos]

50 cm = 19.68 inches

2400 lux * .02 (if they are using the correct light range) = 48 Par


No mention of any type of serial port or external control.
Way over price for what your getting.

[mustang51js]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14795267#post14795267 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
You'll be able to keep softies and LPS under 4 x 96w PC lighting no problem... maybe even some SPS like montipora if you place it high in the tank.

PCs aren't as bad as people make them out to be, but the ackward bulb shape makes it impossible to design nice parabolic individual reflectors like T5s have..... thats why T5s are capable of so much more light, its the reflectors (the main reason anyway).

But just to give you some more perspective on the LED light you posted, my wife's 20g, 17"x17" tank is lit with 7 of these:

http://www.divinelighting.com/bmz_cache/1/1a1d8c27226482cebbb14c6304c905bf.image.150x107.jpg
http://www.divinelighting.com/par-38-led-pure-white-12-x-1w-p-274.html?zenid=3940927ff48a2c9e43aa7bf8bfcf9806

Each bulb is 12 x 1w LEDs with 30 degree optics. 3 whites 4 blues. These have 30 degree optics, so they're fairly focused, and they are mounted about 4 feet above the tank. But thats about 7 times the watts with optics and it's borderline for SPS..... Just illustrating that a 12 x 12" 13w LED fixture won't pull its weight. You'd be better off with several of these LED-bulbs mounted a bit further from the tank, but you'd need way more than 7 for a 125g. Not a cost effective solution for a large tank IMO.

got to see a pic of that tank please....

[BlueCorn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14840545#post14840545 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luisagos
19 1/2 inch is only 48 par?
Seems low to me.

He was only suggesting it because it's his company. It's called "shilling." I'd never buy from a company that thinks that lying to customers is part of a successful business plan.

[tkeracer619]

One thing you don't want to do on a limited budget is spend money on a temporary rig. Save your money and get what you need even if it takes you some extra time. His old setup probably has old dim bulbs that will need to be replaced. 96w Bulbs cost $34 each so you could in reality buy 2 new retro kits with the money you are spending on the used one and the new bulbs. IMO this is not the best option.

What I would do in your case is buy one retro fit 250w halide kit and a 20k bulb. It will cost you about 50 bucks more but.... you will get a brand new bulb and metal halide... far superior to a used PC setup. http://www.aquacave.com/coralvue-250w-metal-halide-brretro-kit-with-electronic-ballast-382.html

This will light half of your tank, which might seem like an odd choice at first but hear me out :) . In 4-5 months when you say you will be able to upgrade you might be stuck in the same situation you are now. If you go ahead and get one halide now, you can just buy another in 4 or 5 months and you will then have a complete light system that will grow anything and you won't have waisted any money on it. With 20k bulbs you wont need any supplementation so less money on that. When you buy the 2nd halide you will still have several months left on your original bulb.

With a limited budget you most likely won't be stocking up on a lot of coral immediately so the one halide will be plenty of light. The best course of action is to buy something nice that can grow and be fragged easy. You can then trade with someone local and turn your couple pieces of coral into a couple more. If you keep your water params up in 6 months you will have plenty of things to trade and whatnot and might actually need the whole tank lit. In which case you can buy the second halide and have a sweet setup.

If I were on a super limited budget this would be my plan to get a nice tank. If you spend $150 on a pc light kit it will end up taking you that much longer to get nice lights.

[ReefEnabler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14840662#post14840662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mustang51js
got to see a pic of that tank please....

Here's a peak:
http://www.worstkind.com/aquarium/2009/0324/lights02.jpg

Rest of info is in my wife's thread
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1596729&perpage=25&pagenumber=4

She put some corals in recently but we haven't updated the thread yet, soon!

[bullterrier2]

wow is that the tank with led lights cause that is bright

[ReefEnabler]

yup!

with water in we get around 200 PAR on the bottom and 350-400 near the top, a bit more in some spots. The LEDs have 30 degree optics and they're about 4-5 feet away.... 15 degree optics would have been better, less light spill and more intensity.

[bullterrier2]

i like the idea tkeracer, but i live in the cayman islands(thats in the Caribbean just under Cuba but the Cayman Islands is a British territory) so it is probably difficult to order those and ship it to the island plus MH might just be to much of a energy sucker for me, but thanks for the advice anyway. in fact my dad lives in California and i just asked him to order me a 36'' t5ho with 6x39 watt bulbs just for 1 side for now so 2 or 3 week time my aunt is coming to the island from her vacation and she will bring it for me , I'm so exited
cant' wait

[bullterrier2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14842040#post14842040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
yup!

with water in we get around 200 PAR on the bottom and 350-400 near the top, a bit more in some spots. The LEDs have 30 degree optics and they're about 4-5 feet away.... 15 degree optics would have been better, less light spill and more intensity.


sweeeeet!
but i think im just going to go with the t5ho all the way.
I'm building my stand now with 2x6 no center brace for space cause to doors are sliding door and the glass company is right mow in progress with the sump, refugium and the acclimation tank
BTW do you have any suggestions about return pumps cause i have no clue about return flow the overflow box is going to be about 600 to 800 gph idk

[ReefEnabler]

t5s all the way! :) I am currently switching to T5 on my 220 after having MH for 8-10 months. on a bigger tank I think T5s still have have the initial cost advantage going. LEDs might save slightly in the long run due to extended life (T5s need replacing every 10 months or so). In a few years LEDs will be more scalable as higher wattage LEDs become the norm.

So far I've got 2 out of 3 ballasts installed so far but love it.

Do you know what bulb combo you'll end up with?

I'm a fan of sequence pumps for return. What size bulkhead is the drain? or is there more than one? Do you have a build thread?

[tkeracer619]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14842109#post14842109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bullterrier2
i like the idea tkeracer, but i live in the cayman islands(thats in the Caribbean just under Cuba but the Cayman Islands is a British territory) so it is probably difficult to order those and ship it to the island plus MH might just be to much of a energy sucker for me, but thanks for the advice anyway. in fact my dad lives in California and i just asked him to order me a 36'' t5ho with 6x39 watt bulbs just for 1 side for now so 2 or 3 week time my aunt is coming to the island from her vacation and she will bring it for me , I'm so exited
cant' wait

Awesome that you decided to just light one side now and got a nice unit =D. You really will benefit in the long run not waisting that cash on an old PC setup. I have some bad news for you though 6x39 watt t5 is the same power consumption as 1 250w halide =P. Not really bad news unless you pay the power bill =D.

As for a return pump.... Look at a Danner Mag-Drive 7 or 9. http://www.aquacave.com/mag-drive-95-water-pump-551.html

Do you already have an overflow box? If not you can probably get your dad to order a glass hole saw off ebay for the proper size bulkhead and make your tank reef ready with an overflow instead of a hang on back style. The bits are like $10 shipped and the bulkhead is like $5. Much cheaper and more reliable then a box.

[bullterrier2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14842440#post14842440 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tkeracer619
Awesome that you decided to just light one side now and got a nice unit =D. You really will benefit in the long run not waisting that cash on an old PC setup. I have some bad news for you though 6x39 watt t5 is the same power consumption as 1 250w halide =P. Not really bad news unless you pay the power bill =D.

As for a return pump.... Look at a Danner Mag-Drive 7 or 9. http://www.aquacave.com/mag-drive-95-water-pump-551.html

Do you already have an overflow box? If not you can probably get your dad to order a glass hole saw off ebay for the proper size bulkhead and make your tank reef ready with an overflow instead of a hang on back style. The bits are like $10 shipped and the bulkhead is like $5. Much cheaper and more reliable then a box.

cool thanks, that same pump is selling at my LPS for $85 i will get that one and no i don't have the overflow box yet but i was afraid of drilling my tank but is a Marine Land PERFECTO tank tempered glass? cause drilling it just sounds cool and cheaper than a $100-$120 CPR overflow box from marine depot
here is the fixture I'm gettinghttp://cgi.ebay.com/36-6X-39-T5-Retro-Light-New-w-Bulbs-Moon-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ350185912388QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item350185912388&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A9|294%3A50

thanks again

[tkeracer619]

I dont think the sides are tempered. Give them a call and ask. Drilling a tank is super easy, you just have to take your time and let the bit do the drilling. If you push into it you will crack it.

check this youtube video out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMctXz7GraU

The way I prefer to drill holes is by putting the tank glass directly on a piece of wood that you drill into. That way when you drill through the glass the piece you are drilling is supported by the backside. The glass won't fall and you get cleaner edges with less chipping. One thing you should do before drilling the tank is find a piece of non tempered glass and practice on that so you get a feel for it before attacking your tank =P.

I have no experience with that light so I cant chime about that.

Your welcome :)

[bullterrier2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14842593#post14842593 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tkeracer619
I dont think the sides are tempered. Give them a call and ask. Drilling a tank is super easy, you just have to take your time and let the bit do the drilling. If you push into it you will crack it.

check this youtube video out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMctXz7GraU

The way I prefer to drill holes is by putting the tank glass directly on a piece of wood that you drill into. That way when you drill through the glass the piece you are drilling is supported by the backside. The glass won't fall and you get cleaner edges with less chipping. One thing you should do before drilling the tank is find a piece of non tempered glass and practice on that so you get a feel for it before attacking your tank =P.

I have no experience with that light so I cant chime about that.

Your welcome :)


hey! drilling tanks look so easy, i found a 1 3/4'' dimond drill bit and 1'' bulkhead fitting for US$18 and US#4 shipping to cayman that would be about CI$18 for me plus about no more than $30 to send the money so i will ordered 2 to make it fare the seller has about 10 available as for that the hole project is going good im still taking picks of the tank as it develops so wish me luck:p