Good budget LED for 40 breeder with SPS/Polyps?

Slammed01 · 10/25/2017, 08:04 PM

Good budget LED for 40 breeder with SPS/Polyps? Had a ReefBreeders value fixture on my 46Bow and 54 Corner with great results. 1 of 2 went out but only ran 1 so wasn't worried. Long story short tossed one and sold one with my custom canopy.

Looking to keep mostly sps/coral frags, nothing to wild. Mostly for my kids *winkwink lol. A led strip (if any good ones) or value style or Evergrow 120 style. I could build another canopy I suppose. Which it was a better tank, hard with 36"-18"-16" deep.

Anyone run 1 value style or evergrow on a 40B? Lighted both tanks awesome, 46 bow same width at 36". IMG_3695.JPG

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

fishy_mcfish · 10/25/2017, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slammed01

Good budget LED for 4 breeder with SPS/Polyps? Had a ReefBreeders value fixture on my 46Bow and 54 Corner with great results. 1 of 2 went out but only ran 1 so wasn't worried. Long story short tossed one and sold one with my custom canopy.

Looking to keep mostly sps/coral frags, nothing to wild. Mostly for my kids *winkwink lol. A led strip (if any good ones) or value style or Evergrow 120 style. I could build another canopy I suppose. Which it was a better tank, hard with 36"-18"-16" deep.

Anyone run 1 value style or evergrow on a 40B? Lighted both tanks awesome, 46 bow same width at 36". Attachment 381612

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had one of the eBay Chinese led lights on my 40 Breeder and it worked great! Grew everything very well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Slammed01 · 10/25/2017, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishy_mcfish

I had one of the eBay Chinese led lights on my 40 Breeder and it worked great! Grew everything very well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome! Did you remember which one? Any pics and did you have in canopy? Hard to go to cichlids after salt so if I can get a good budget light then SW it is!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

fishy_mcfish · 10/25/2017, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slammed01

Awesome! Did you remember which one? Any pics and did you have in canopy? Hard to go to cichlids after salt so if I can get a good budget light then SW it is!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don’t remember the exact one but if you go on eBay and google full spectrum led light under aquariums they will pop up. I got the dimmable 2 channel one and it was about $80 with free shipping. I mounted it to my stand using electrical conduit.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

mcgyvr · 10/26/2017, 04:45 AM

Yep.. "chinese black box" leds..
mars aqua, viparspectra, galaxy hydro..
All are basically the same and under $100 each.

Ron Reefman · 10/26/2017, 05:37 AM

This post may help you pick one with the features you want (or don't want).

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...&postcount=233

jda · 10/26/2017, 09:13 AM

If you really liked the RBs, then why change? It is a rare thing to be truly happy in this hobby.... so duplicate what made you so.

davehead86 · 10/26/2017, 09:14 AM

Best thing I ever did was buy a used Radion on this forum. (2 actually)

I spent $250 on two Gen 1 Radions.

Besides that go with one of the Black Boxes on Ebay / Amazon.
*and as a side note SPS is wild. lol Make sure you find a good spectrum setting from here to use on the light so that you can actually grow the corals.

Slammed01 · 10/26/2017, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jda

If you really liked the RBs, then why change? It is a rare thing to be truly happy in this hobby.... so duplicate what made you so.

Sold all my old when my 1st kiddo was born. If I can save $100 why not esp since 1 LED quit working just out of warranty lol.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lsufan · 10/26/2017, 09:08 PM

I don’t use LEDs on my 40 breeder, I use mh & t5 so take what I say with a grain of salt. But I don’t think only one of the black box LEDs will be enough for sps. U will be able to turn up the power but that creates hot spots. I just think u will have big time shading issues with sps with the spread u will get from one fixture, especially as frags grow into colonies.

Personally, I would at the very least go with a 32” V2 from reefbreeders. U may be able to get a good deal on a used V1, or a used led in general to save money but still get enough light. I have been pondering getting a 32” v2 for my 40 breeder but have been hesitant only because I love my mh/T5 combo

Slammed01 · 10/27/2017, 11:43 PM

Thanks all for the feedback!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

sendmeakite · 10/28/2017, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishy_mcfish

I don’t remember the exact one but if you go on eBay and google full spectrum led light under aquariums they will pop up. I got the dimmable 2 channel one and it was about $80 with free shipping. I mounted it to my stand using electrical conduit.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thats the 165w Marsaqua I have 2 on a Mixed tank and they work well.

Pandagobyguy · 10/28/2017, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sendmeakite

Thats the 165w Marsaqua I have 2 on a Mixed tank and they work well.

I have a 29 biocube with the reefbreeders super lux on it. I grow sps lps and softies and i am not joking i just emailed them about buying/making a diffuser becuase i run it at 1%blue 4% white and i am not lidding it managed to bleach both my acan and my brain coral on the sand bed. They are now in full shade and recovering. The only stuff that can handle above sand bed are xenias zoos and sps and my branching frogspawn (although when i first got him he seemed to bleach a little but he adjusted).

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Odysi · 10/29/2017, 04:52 AM

I had the photon 24 v1 on my 40b and it worked great. Not sure how easy they are to find used. I don't think the one 16" will provide the spread to cover 3ft.

m.kaiser · 11/02/2017, 03:09 AM

Hey guys,

I'm new to this forum aswell as in reefkeeping. I'm questioning if anybody used only the intestines of the ,,blackboxes" and used it in a selfmadefixture?
I'm actually planing my Reef...It will be 95*95*55 cm. I'm from europe btw

so be patient with my language.

However would you go with 3 or 4 165 Watt Version or 2 300 regarding the size? As the start will be quiet expensive I thought to choose these budget lights and mount it in a nice looking hanging canopy (stainless or Aluminium)? My thoughts are to displace the surrounds to save some space,especially height? Saltwater shouldn't be a problem since the tank will be covered glas/acrylic dunno yet.
Anyone did this before???

Thank's for your reply

Ron Reefman · 11/02/2017, 03:39 AM

m.kaiser, it's not a bad idea, but I'm not sure you really save any space vertically by taking the insides out of the case. It seems that either 4 of the 165w fixtures or 2 of the 300w fixtures should work OK. I'd tend to go for the 4 fixture as you have a bit more flexibility in light placement and if one fails, only 25% of your ligh is lost rather than 50% which would happen if a 300w fixture fails. And in this hobby almost everything fails sooner or later!

You tank size is interesting, are you going to make that yourself? I have a 24"x48"x14" shallow reef I built.

BTW, your English is pretty good, not to worry. So what part of Europe are you from?

m.kaiser · 11/02/2017, 10:24 AM

Hi Ron,

mh okay. The tank will be placed in the living room. The optics of the blackboxes doesn't fit there for me.
I also have a closer look on the zeus 150 from ledzeal. That wouldn't be so much more $ compared to wifiblackboxunits. Of course the marsaqua*4 would be cheaper at the end of the day.
At the moment the tank is just build in my head. It will be done by a professional tankbuilder. The size isn't totally fixed yet. Something between 90 and 100cm each side. I like cubic tanks. Have to figure out some more details regarding the tankbuild prior I go for it.
I'm from germany

themummra · 11/02/2017, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slammed01

Good budget LED for 4 breeder with SPS/Polyps?

Looking to keep mostly sps/coral frags, nothing to wild.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Slammed01 · 11/11/2017, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themummra

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you! I wish they made one with legs!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Slammed01 · 11/12/2017, 01:35 AM

Sorry all prob no sps, maybe lps.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Slammed01 · 11/12/2017, 01:22 PM

Anyone have thoughts or is spectrum off with this one for lps? Says $216 watts/ 72x3w but price seems too cheap. https://www.ebay.com/i/172635889806?...D1362192392967

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10/25/2017, 08:04 PM	#1
Slammed01 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area, Ca 925 Posts: 416	Good budget LED for 40 breeder with SPS/Polyps? Good budget LED for 40 breeder with SPS/Polyps? Had a ReefBreeders value fixture on my 46Bow and 54 Corner with great results. 1 of 2 went out but only ran 1 so wasn't worried. Long story short tossed one and sold one with my custom canopy. Looking to keep mostly sps/coral frags, nothing to wild. Mostly for my kids winkwink lol. A led strip (if any good ones) or value style or Evergrow 120 style. I could build another canopy I suppose. Which it was a better tank, hard with 36"-18"-16" deep. Anyone run 1 value style or evergrow on a 40B? Lighted both tanks awesome, 46 bow same width at 36". IMG_3695.JPG Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront Homemade Canopy Emperor 400,Seaclone 100, Reefbreeders value 24" 120watt LEDs, 2 Koralia 750s Current Tank Info: 54 Gallon corner on order Last edited by Slammed01; 11/12/2017 at 09:30 AM.*

10/26/2017, 04:45 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Yep.. "chinese black box" leds.. mars aqua, viparspectra, galaxy hydro.. All are basically the same and under $100 each. __________________ Who me?

10/26/2017, 05:37 AM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	This post may help you pick one with the features you want (or don't want). http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...&postcount=233 __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

10/26/2017, 09:14 AM	#8
davehead86 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Monticello, IL Posts: 819	Best thing I ever did was buy a used Radion on this forum. (2 actually) I spent $250 on two Gen 1 Radions. Besides that go with one of the Black Boxes on Ebay / Amazon. *and as a side note SPS is wild. lol Make sure you find a good spectrum setting from here to use on the light so that you can actually grow the corals. __________________ My build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24225945#post24225945 Current Tank: 65 Gallon Mixed Reef\| 40B Sump\| 2 Radion Gen 3's\| 2 MP10wes\| Vectra M1 \| Reefkeeper Lite

10/27/2017, 11:43 PM	#11
Slammed01 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area, Ca 925 Posts: 416	Thanks all for the feedback! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront Homemade Canopy Emperor 400,Seaclone 100, Reefbreeders value 24" 120watt LEDs, 2 Koralia 750s Current Tank Info: 54 Gallon corner on order

10/26/2017, 09:13 AM	#7
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	If you really liked the RBs, then why change? It is a rare thing to be truly happy in this hobby.... so duplicate what made you so.

10/26/2017, 09:08 PM	#10
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	I don’t use LEDs on my 40 breeder, I use mh & t5 so take what I say with a grain of salt. But I don’t think only one of the black box LEDs will be enough for sps. U will be able to turn up the power but that creates hot spots. I just think u will have big time shading issues with sps with the spread u will get from one fixture, especially as frags grow into colonies. Personally, I would at the very least go with a 32” V2 from reefbreeders. U may be able to get a good deal on a used V1, or a used led in general to save money but still get enough light. I have been pondering getting a 32” v2 for my 40 breeder but have been hesitant only because I love my mh/T5 combo

10/29/2017, 04:52 AM	#14
Odysi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 401	I had the photon 24 v1 on my 40b and it worked great. Not sure how easy they are to find used. I don't think the one 16" will provide the spread to cover 3ft.

11/02/2017, 03:09 AM	#15
m.kaiser Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2	Hey guys, I'm new to this forum aswell as in reefkeeping. I'm questioning if anybody used only the intestines of the ,,blackboxes" and used it in a selfmadefixture? I'm actually planing my Reef...It will be 959555 cm. I'm from europe btw so be patient with my language. However would you go with 3 or 4 165 Watt Version or 2 300 regarding the size? As the start will be quiet expensive I thought to choose these budget lights and mount it in a nice looking hanging canopy (stainless or Aluminium)? My thoughts are to displace the surrounds to save some space,especially height? Saltwater shouldn't be a problem since the tank will be covered glas/acrylic dunno yet. Anyone did this before??? Thank's for your reply

11/02/2017, 03:39 AM	#16
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	m.kaiser, it's not a bad idea, but I'm not sure you really save any space vertically by taking the insides out of the case. It seems that either 4 of the 165w fixtures or 2 of the 300w fixtures should work OK. I'd tend to go for the 4 fixture as you have a bit more flexibility in light placement and if one fails, only 25% of your ligh is lost rather than 50% which would happen if a 300w fixture fails. And in this hobby almost everything fails sooner or later! You tank size is interesting, are you going to make that yourself? I have a 24"x48"x14" shallow reef I built. BTW, your English is pretty good, not to worry. So what part of Europe are you from? __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

11/02/2017, 10:24 AM	#17
m.kaiser Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2	Hi Ron, mh okay. The tank will be placed in the living room. The optics of the blackboxes doesn't fit there for me. I also have a closer look on the zeus 150 from ledzeal. That wouldn't be so much more $ compared to wifiblackboxunits. Of course the marsaqua*4 would be cheaper at the end of the day. At the moment the tank is just build in my head. It will be done by a professional tankbuilder. The size isn't totally fixed yet. Something between 90 and 100cm each side. I like cubic tanks. Have to figure out some more details regarding the tankbuild prior I go for it. I'm from germany

11/12/2017, 01:35 AM	#20
Slammed01 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area, Ca 925 Posts: 416	Sorry all prob no sps, maybe lps. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront Homemade Canopy Emperor 400,Seaclone 100, Reefbreeders value 24" 120watt LEDs, 2 Koralia 750s Current Tank Info: 54 Gallon corner on order

11/12/2017, 01:22 PM	#21
Slammed01 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area, Ca 925 Posts: 416	Good budget LED for 40 breeder with SPS/Polyps? Anyone have thoughts or is spectrum off with this one for lps? Says $216 watts/ 72x3w but price seems too cheap. https://www.ebay.com/i/172635889806?...D1362192392967 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront Homemade Canopy Emperor 400,Seaclone 100, Reefbreeders value 24" 120watt LEDs, 2 Koralia 750s Current Tank Info: 54 Gallon corner on order