PDA

View Full Version : Best LED for this much money??


rope33
08/12/2015, 02:48 PM
wanting everybody's input on what's the best LED lighting I can buy for $375 for my reef tank. Was thinking about two 165w Chinese black boxes. Pro/cons. What r y'all's thoughts? Ready GO!

Steve Atkins
08/12/2015, 03:22 PM
It would probably help it you mentioned what size the tank was and what you intended to keep in it.

PeterHall
08/12/2015, 03:25 PM
I have had two taotronics boxes for 2 years. I like them. They grow pretty much everything. I did add 2 T5s which I feel helped with color a bit.

shellsea
08/12/2015, 04:01 PM
check rout eefbreeders. go to their forum in sponsor section. Awesome customer service if needed. Great advise. great product. I am very happy.

Wazzel
08/12/2015, 04:04 PM
I think the reef breeders photon units are probably the best bang for the buck.

BM3
08/12/2015, 04:55 PM
reef breeders photon!

shellsea
08/12/2015, 04:56 PM
That's what I was trying to spell. Lol. Reef breeders

Bent
08/12/2015, 05:02 PM
Reef breeders.

rope33
08/12/2015, 05:03 PM
Oops it's a 75 gal

mcgyvr
08/12/2015, 05:34 PM
I like OceanRevive
http://oceanrevivellc.com/
Very similar to Reefbreeders..

boxfishpooalot
08/12/2015, 05:55 PM
Kessil LED. The shimmer looks more natural than any other led ive seen. Plus theve got a ton of research and nearly 30 million invested in developing this technology. Plus it works with an apex/reefkeeper to simulate dawn/dusk. I had one and will be getting another. I had a chinese fixture and dont use it anymore. Plus selling it is a pain, and i lost money. Then they said simulates dawn/dusk and it does not. They are not quality lights, but meant to satisfy a group of people who like leds but dont want to pay more. They might grow coral but look very unnatural to me.

karimwassef
08/12/2015, 06:01 PM
DIY. I can get about 800W for ~$400.

colorful1180
08/12/2015, 06:59 PM
Chinese black boxes (https://www.facebook.com/groups/603511806434292/?fref=nf)

Great spectrum,Very similar to Reefbreeders,OceanRevive,Reefradiance,

DavidinGA
08/12/2015, 09:29 PM
Two eBay boxes should only cost you about $150-160 shipped. Definitely what I would buy and what I run (I have three AquaStar boxes).

sixpackgarage
08/12/2015, 09:34 PM
I paid about that for one of my Kessil A360WE, but then again, I bought a lot of stuff from my LFS, so he gave me a break on them. I don't think you can beat the bang for the buck for that price point.

joesfiddy
08/13/2015, 04:45 AM
Kessil

TangingOut
08/13/2015, 05:28 AM
His budget is $375 to light a 75gal. Assuming it's 48x18x20, I think Kessil will be out of his price range as 2 will be needed.

Ron Reefman
08/13/2015, 06:51 AM
Stretch the budget to $450 and get an OR-IT2081 or a Photon32. But if that's a big issue, and/or you don't care about sunrise/sunset (it's certainly not necessary) then look at any fixture sold by somebody you can contact. Like somebody who has a sponsor forum here on RC. Or at the very least has their own website. Buying an unknown brand from Ebay or Amazon that doesn't have a website with customer feedback in a forum, is a real crap shoot. How good are the fans (noisy), the heatsink (does it even have one), the case material (steel... rust issues vs aluminum) and case finish (paint vs powder coating).

karimwassef
08/13/2015, 07:14 AM
I built a 6" x 96" 400W fixture for $200.
You can make a 24 x 48" 800W for $400.

rope33
08/13/2015, 03:29 PM
I built a 6" x 96" 400W fixture for $200.
You can make a 24 x 48" 800W for $400.

do you have a build thread for this?

gveng
08/13/2015, 03:32 PM
His budget is $375 to light a 75gal. Assuming it's 48x18x20, I think Kessil will be out of his price range as 2 will be needed.

He didn't mention the dimensions... could be a 30"x30"x20" cube.

rope33
08/13/2015, 03:34 PM
He didn't mention the dimensions... could be a 30"x30"x20" cube.

just your standard 75 g

karimwassef
08/13/2015, 10:40 PM
I have bits and pieces in my main thread. I'll be updating one of my lines soon so I'll post that.

azjohnny
08/14/2015, 07:13 AM
Reef Breeders Super Lux

It is their budget light, it doesn't have as much control as the Photon. You can control the on/off, color and intensity.

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/superlux/

Mayberry
08/14/2015, 08:16 AM
Another vote for Reef Breeders! Awesome service too!!

Buzz1329
08/17/2015, 06:35 PM
Agree with Wazzel, BM3, Shellsea, Bent, Azjhonny, and Mayberry, that Reef Breeders is your best option. Lights are great, prices are right, and (most importantly IMO) service is outstanding.

Good luck,

Mike

Stitchaholic
08/18/2015, 12:34 PM
I have had the Reef Breeders for over a year now and they have grown everything that I put into that tank. It is the cheap one without the timer. The only downside IMO is it has a little more purple to the color than I personally like. But they are cheap and put out a ton of light.

Spartanman22
08/18/2015, 02:28 PM
I'd recommend the OR-T247s. You should be able to get 2 within your budget. I have one and love it. I also have a kessil and that's a fantastic light too. I run the kessil side by side with the OR-T247 on two tanks that are plumbed to the same sump. Same filtration, same nutrient import, same flow, same parameters, but colors look better under the OR-T247 by a tad. Only downside is in some spots there's the disco ball affect. Doesn't bother me but its a deal breaker for others. Also the OR is not contrallable via Apex like the Kessil.

Specfishin
08/18/2015, 02:29 PM
You could buy used kessil a150's a pair of them and goosenecks for under 300.00 if you're wanting the kessil shimmer but you have no control just on off with a timer. I have two and they seem adequate for a 75gal tank. Just my inexperienced 2cents of advice ☺️