help pick LED's for 40 gallon

[jarrod13]

I have a 40 breeder that I'd like to put a LED system on.

I will need to support rock anemones, soft corals, and some lps.

The one I am interested in is the Kessil A150W 20k 32 watt. Will this be sufficient? Will it put out a wide enough beam to cover most of the tank?

If this will not work what are some good fixtures out there that will work for around $200? Are the Marineland ones any good?

[Mark Bianco]

From what I have read in the forum most people that have purchased the Marineland Reef Capable lights have not been happy with them. I had one on a 26 gl cube and it was ok for about 6 months then started to have issues with the leds burning out. You woud need two 150 Kessils for a 40gl breeder the spread is only about at best 18" to get a good par. Although I have no expierence with them there is led fixture that people are raving about from Reefbreeders and thier value fixtures start at 179.00. You may want to look there.

Mark

[jarrod13]

Ok thank you, I looked at them and I think I'm going to go with the value one. When ordering it asks if I want 120, 90, or 60 degree optics, what does this mean?

[Mark Bianco]

Simply Stated from thier website

The 60 degree optics will have a lot of depth penetration, but not a lot of spread, and are ideal for 30"- 40" d​​eep tanks. The 90s have a decent amount of depth penetration, but more spread than the 60s. We recommend them on tanks from 18" deep, to 30" deep. The 120s (or no optics on the value fixtures) have a lot of spread, but not too much depth penetration. They will work on tanks up to 24" deep

The value fixture has no optics so thier is no need for concern on you part.

[rkesling]

Get the value fixture as noted above but spend the extra $20 and get a set of 90 optics (you can ask for them to be sent uninstalled if you want). You can play around with them and see what works best for you. They are simple to put on and take of.

It will boil down to how far up you mount/hang the fixture.

[jwoyshnar]

The Reefbreeders one won't cover the 36" distance. You may need two of those also. Apollo reef led sells one for a 40 breeder.

[scubaprashant]

The Reefbreeders one won't cover the 36" distance. You may need two of those also. Apollo reef led sells one for a 40 breeder.

A friend of mine here has a 40g Breeder and 2 of the lights that you are looking at for your tank. I know he initially had a lot of issues with corals bleaching out because it was too intense, but he ended up dimming them way down and raising them up much higher. He primarily does Zoas though, so those don't like too intense light anyways.

Also, his tank looks awesome so I'm sure you will be happy.

[jarrod13]

Thank you everyone! I'm really not going to need intense lighting so I'll probably just go with the 120 optics, because I'd rather have the spread.

I don't see the Apollo reef one that is specifically for 40 breeders, does anyone know which model it is?

[HUNTER1]

I have a reef breeder p24" over a 40g. I have it at 21" high and covers the full tank and ony at 50-50% intensity. These lights are powerful, I think you just need one 24".

[jarrod13]

You don't think one of the value 16" would be enough? Anything that required more light would just go in the middle under the light.

[HUNTER1]

You don't think one of the value 16" would be enough? Anything that required more light would just go in the middle under the light.
Not at all. I have mine at 21" above water and its just ok to cover the ends. I wish I've gotten the P32". If you have most of your corals in the middle and not much on the end, I guess that'll do. I'm sure you wouldn't like the value fixture once you see the spread over a 40g.

[rkesling]

You don't think one of the value 16" would be enough? Anything that required more light would just go in the middle under the light.

I have the D120 with 90 optics over a 20L with a Large Fuge on the back. Total Depth from front of tank to back of fuge is 19". I have the D120 sitting 15" up from the rim of the tank. The D120 covers the 19" with ease and covers the 30" length of the 20 L with an overlap on the sides. I also have a very shallow (1" or less sand bed). I can not turn the D120 up more than 50% power. I keep zoas, chalice, ricordea, palys in the tank and they all must be on the bottom some even in shaded areas. Removing the optics would give me more spread and if I crank it up to 75-100% I could raise the light up or go with a deeper tank.

IF I were in your shoes, I would buy one of the D120's or value fixtures as RB calls them, try it above your 40B and see if you and your corals are happy, if not then add a second one. You'll be surprised at the power and coverage you can get with just one of these lights.

Again...Just my opinion and my personal experience with the D120.

[jarrod13]

Thank you everyone for your opinions, I am taking all of them into consideration :-)

Rkesling, I think I'm going with your idea, try one and see if its enough, if not I can always add another. What are you referring to as the D120?

[rkesling]

Thank you everyone for your opinions, I am taking all of them into consideration :-)

Rkesling, I think I'm going with your idea, try one and see if its enough, if not I can always add another. What are you referring to as the D120?


The D120 is the same exact fixture as the RB value one, I just purchased direct from Evergrow. RB just buys in bulk and puts their own name on them. Pretty sure RB is a sponsor here too, so support our sponsors as much as you/we can. They are all the reason we are able to be here!

Post some pics when you get it all set up so we can see what coverage you end up getting and at what height etc. Good luck with it! You'll love the fixture weather you end up with one or two in the end.

[jwoyshnar]

Apollo has a really nice fixture coming out soon for a 40 breeder. Controller built in and dimmable moonlights

[jarrod13]

The D120 is the same exact fixture as the RB value one, I just purchased direct from Evergrow. RB just buys in bulk and puts their own name on them. Pretty sure RB is a sponsor here too, so support our sponsors as much as you/we can. They are all the reason we are able to be here!

Post some pics when you get it all set up so we can see what coverage you end up getting and at what height etc. Good luck with it! You'll love the fixture weather you end up with one or two in the end.

Will do!

[jarrod13]

Apollo has a really nice fixture coming out soon for a 40 breeder. Controller built in and dimmable moonlights

Any idea when and how much it will be?

[matty0206]

I don't know if it is an option for you but I have a 40breeder and the 27" Maxspect Razor I have lights it very nicely. Great fixture with built in controller.

Edit: Reread your first post, definitely more than $200 but still a great option.

[jarrod13]

Thanks for the suggestion Matty, but yea I am trying to stay relatively cheap with this tank. Out of curiosity how much is it?

[matty0206]

It is quite a bit above at $500. It might be a good way to go though if you end up having to get 2 smaller fixtures. Great light.

[Reef Tech]

get a reef breeder photon16- you won't be dissapointed.

[jarrod13]

get a reef breeder photon16- you won't be dissapointed.

Is the only difference the controller and ability to dim every half hour? If so that's not really worth the extra money to me, but thank you for the suggestion

[moondoggy4]

If you have an Led light you will want to be able to dim the light, that way you can acclimate the corals instead of lifting and lowering the light.

[jwoyshnar]

get a reef breeder photon16- you won't be dissapointed.

You won't be happy with a 16" fixture on a 36" tank. Sides will be dark

[jarrod13]

So we went with the value fixture from reefbreeders. We are very pleased with it and I think it will work great. She has a few nps corals so the little bit of shade we're getting from the pillars will work in out favor. If those pillars weren't there the light coverage would be great and plenty for what we want. The picture makes it look darker than it really is, these LEDs are hard to photograph lol. Anyways I'm just updating with a picture because I said I would, and for anybody who might have the same question in the future.


http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z466/grodm13/null_zpsab567eb8.jpg

[moondoggy4]

Thanks for the update, What options does the value fixture have?

[jarrod13]

Not sure what you mean? The only options I know of are 120, 90, or 60 degree optics

[YoungREEFA]

that thing covers 36 inches like a champ!

[moondoggy4]

Sorry, does it dim or have an internal controller?

[jarrod13]

The white and the blue both dim separately, and that's about all it does

[moondoggy4]

Well that way you can at least get the color spectrum you like.

[jarrod13]

Ya exactly, and adjust the corals properly. All in all I am very pleased with this light and might get two for my 90... Too bad I just bought 6 new t5 bulbs for it a month ago

[YoungREEFA]

This is a 36 inch tank right?

[greech]

Looks great. Glad you found a fixture that works for you.

The 36" tank being lit by one LED fixture see,s to be a common question. I'm sure others will benefit from your thread.

[jarrod13]

This is a 36 inch tank right?

Yes, a 40 breeder

[jarrod13]

Looks great. Glad you found a fixture that works for you.

The 36" tank being lit by one LED fixture see,s to be a common question. I'm sure others will benefit from your thread.

Thanks, that's what I was hoping for. I have to re-do the pillars anyways so I'll probably take a picture when they're down to show a better view of the coverage.

[Sun357]

Did you bother with any optics at all?

Looking at probably DIY my own LED setup on my 40 breeder but for the price it may not be too far off from just buying.

~Fred

[Ron Reefman]

So we went with the value fixture from reefbreeders. We are very pleased with it and I think it will work great. She has a few nps corals so the little bit of shade we're getting from the pillars will work in out favor. If those pillars weren't there the light coverage would be great and plenty for what we want. The picture makes it look darker than it really is, these LEDs are hard to photograph lol. Anyways I'm just updating with a picture because I said I would, and for anybody who might have the same question in the future.


http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z466/grodm13/null_zpsab567eb8.jpg

You won't be happy with a 16" fixture on a 36" tank. Sides will be dark

jwoyshna, the ends are a bit dim and probably a much lower PAR, but as far as viewing goes, it doesn't look too dark to me. But there is a lot of shadow due to the rock. That's always a problem with leds, especially leds that are bundled close together.

jarrod, I tried a single EG D120 (same as your 'VF') over a 4' tank and it came up about a foot short of doing the entire 4'. So you should be right at the edge with a 3' tank. BTW, I pulled the 90 degree lenses off the last 3 rows of leds at either end and got a bit better spread, about an extra 4".

[jarrod13]

Did you bother with any optics at all?

Looking at probably DIY my own LED setup on my 40 breeder but for the price it may not be too far off from just buying.

~Fred

No optics on this one

[YoungREEFA]

How high is the fixture?

[jarrod13]

It's 7". We went lower because its right next to the couch and if it was too high the light was blinding, but it looks good still even though the coverage would be better higher up.

Can't say enough how much I like this light, very very pleased with it.

Here's another picture with everything torn down so you can get a better feel for the coverage. If you kept the majority of the rockwork in the middle you wouldnt barely have any shadows, but she wanted two islands so we went with that again, and it looks pretty good I must say, very simplistic. I'll take another pic once it clears up


http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z466/grodm13/null_zps8e496ae0.jpg

[christopherjudd]

where did you get those mount? did you have to make them on your own?

[JasonMHorn]

Very nice! It's crazy how different the coverage is without the pillars.

I like the mount. I have a RB Photon 48 and I'm planning on making something very similar. I'm a welder and I have the material, now I just need to find the time to fab it up. What is your mount made of? Did you make it or buy it?

[JasonMHorn]

I know exactly what you mean about the LED being hard to take a picture of. They pics always come out looking very blue.

Here is mine:
http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p782/JasonMHorn/057_zpsd2aabd89.jpg (http://s1351.photobucket.com/user/JasonMHorn/media/057_zpsd2aabd89.jpg.html)

[jarrod13]

Sorry for the late response, I made it out of 1x2" wood strips, maybe 1x3" I don't remember now, and I just used some 90 degree angle bracket for the feet and painted the whole thing black. It wasn't meant to be permanant but I like it and might keep it, we'll see.

Here's the final product, she wanted just the two pillars and nothing else so we're going minimalist on this one, I think it turned out pretty good though.

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z466/grodm13/null_zps69e1a946.jpg

[JasonMHorn]

Sorry for the late response, I made it out of 1x2" wood strips, maybe 1x3" I don't remember now, and I just used some 90 degree angle bracket for the feet and painted the whole thing black. It wasn't meant to be permanant but I like it and might keep it, we'll see.

Here's the final product, she wanted just the two pillars and nothing else so we're going minimalist on this one, I think it turned out pretty good though.

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z466/grodm13/null_zps69e1a946.jpg

OK. Here is my mount that I made last night out of 1"X1" square tubing. Mind you that I still have to paint it.

http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p782/JasonMHorn/photo3_zpsa36b0664.jpg (http://s1351.photobucket.com/user/JasonMHorn/media/photo3_zpsa36b0664.jpg.html)

[Ron Reefman]

OK. Here is my mount that I made last night out of 1"X1" square tubing. Mind you that I still have to paint it.


Nice job, are those joints welded? They look so clean, almost like it's soldered and filed. Nicely over built, just my style! LOL!

[JasonMHorn]

Nice job, are those joints welded? They look so clean, almost like it's soldered and filed. Nicely over built, just my style! LOL!

Yes Sir!! It's all welded up. I didn't have to but I ground the welds smooth.

[jarrod13]

Looks identical to mine except I didn't put braces on the ends, just in the middle

[Ron Reefman]

Yes Sir!! It's all welded up. I didn't have to but I ground the welds smooth.

I could have used you in our garage for 20 years while I was building and driving race cars! I never learned to weld and had an outside shop do all our welding. :thumbsup:

[Tbred]

Your lighting mounts look great! I may have to steal (borrow) your design when I order my RB fixture.

[ldallen95219]

To Jarrod: I have my aquarium in the family room and when you sit down the lights on the aquarium would be bothersome so I cut a piece of plastic which is 48" long (I have a 75 gal. tank) and the height of it just enough to touch where my lights hang down. So, what I do is lay the piece of plastic on the edge of the front tank and lean it up against the edge of the light where it hangs down and it works perfect. I painted the plastic black so it matches everything. Plus, when I want to get my hands in the water I just take the thing off (very lightweight) and do my thing then put it back up. No lights glare in your eyes while watching T.V. or whatever.

I have attached a picture, although you can't really see from end to end, but trust me, very cheap to do and it works great. Almost like it all came that way.