LED lighting - HELP

[seanh]

I have recently upgraded to a 4x2x2 and my current light unit (a t5 juwel unit for rio 240) isnt bright enough to penetrate to the bottom of the tank leaving me with a very dull looking set up.

I am wanting to replace this unit with a bright LED unit, powerful enough to suitably light my tank and show of the colors of the fish.

Can you recomend anything? I am in the uk and have had a look around ebay/amazon but not sure what to get.

I have come across an interpet triple led unit for just under £100 (see link below) which is the most id ideally want to pay - anyone use this unit? Any other recomendations? Help please!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400627891844

Thanks in advance

 

[monkeybike]

Are you interested in growing plants or just illuminating fish? I would go with something in the 10k range for fish. Maybe a beamworks evo.

 

[seanh]

Are you interested in growing plants or just illuminating fish?

Ideally both but my priority is illuminating fish..

 

[monkeybike]

I updated my previous reply

 

[seanh]

Are you interested in growing plants or just illuminating fish? I would go with something in the 10k range for fish. Maybe a beamworks evo.

Okay, I consider myself a novice in this area. When you say 10k, what do you mean exactly - thanks btw

 

[monkeybike]

10k is the Kelvin rating. Well it's actually 10000 kelvin, but I use 10k for short. 5500k is good for plant growth but is more of a yellowish light. 10000k is more blue/white and tends to show off the colors on the fish, like the irredescent blues. Think saltwater reef lighting.

 

[monkeybike]

I have both on my 180, I can take pics of each one on.

 

[monkeybike]

10000 kelvin

5500 kelvin

 

[seanh]

10000 kelvin
View attachment 1264678
5500 kelvin
View attachment 1264679

Okay they both look great but it appears the 10k is what I am after.

How do i know if the light is powerful enough to light up the whole tank? Is this soley down to wattage?

 

[monkeybike]

A lot of the led light's either come with 1 watt or 3 watt leds installed. A strip like the Evo has the 3 watt lamps and has better light penetration in a deeper tank. The regular beamsworks has more bulbs but they are 1 watt lamps. I would make a comparison like a spotlight vs. regular bulb.