LED lighting review

[gatekeeper]

It's gonna cost you a LOT of money to get enough LED to grow plants. I'd suggest t5 until LED gets cheaper unless you have a ton of cash.

not really,

I bought 2 of these from fosters and smith at $100 each for my 75 gallon tank and they both came with a free timer. I bought the 24 to 36 inch model. My plants are doing great and only using 12 watts each so just 24 watts total. I love these lights, and the shimmer effect is awsome

 

[Bazinga]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169831
i figure some of you guys might wanna check that out i just ordered all the my leds some super white some normal bright light and of course the blues with resistors and shipping its costing my about 9$ fairly cheap when you look at the led fixtures at lfs

 

[theanticrust]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169831
i figure some of you guys might wanna check that out i just ordered all the my leds some super white some normal bright light and of course the blues with resistors and shipping its costing my about 9$ fairly cheap when you look at the led fixtures at lfs

Thanks for posting this informative link! I really don't want to spend a lot of money on a new hood when I already have one and figured I'd have to do a DIY light fixture anyway. I feel like bulbs might be easier but these LEDs sound like they might be too cool to pass up.

 

[Joe M]

I am amazed at the difference. This is the next thing I'm buying for my tank.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Well as far as plants go, what are we talking here? Because I'm talking about high light, co2 enriched tanks. I'm sure these can grow low light plants, I've grown anubias with no lights on my tank at all!

But corals and high light plants will cost you quite a bit of money up front. I agree it will save on energy and bulbs in the long run. What's not to like about LED except the cost?

But prove me wrong, show me a real planted tank running on cheap LED...

 

[aclockworkorange]

I also posted a link on LED on here before, watts per gallon doesn't really apply with LED. Something to do with intensity.

Let's do some more research guys! Id love to run LED on my tanks.

 

[fishvendorjuan]

Interesting... I have been thinking about going the LED route on my personal planted tank for a while now. I love LED technology

I have some LED plant lighting on an aeroponic unit I have in my house (no im not growing illegal substances lol just tomatoes)
and I absolutely love it....

Hmmm.. I think a major purchase is in order soon

 

[Chefken]

Someone else on this site must run Ecoxotic Panarama fixtures. These fixtures are amazing.....there is video of them on Foster Aquatics! I tell no lies!!

 

[Myarbro]

^ have you seen those strips on a tank? 150 leds at 29w suggests low wattage leds .2w each. I'm still learning about leds but I'm under the impression that leds need to be the 1w or 3w varity to but out really bright light and that multiple small ones don't preform the same. Also the color temp of the white light will have a strong influence on the way your fish look.

I have had some of my hooping friends pull the strips out of their hoops and hold it over my tank. It seems good.

I understand where you are coming from though. Here is a vid of someone with it on a smaller tank. Yes my tank is larger, so it has more water to penetrate, but I still think it will suffice if I get all 16 feet worth of LED's to shine. Also, I already have 2 36" T5 lights. I am really getting this for a cheap moonlight so I can see my nocturnal fish without disturbing them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFyME2iv1DQ

 

[Myarbro]

Someone else on this site must run Ecoxotic Panarama fixtures. These fixtures are amazing.....there is video of them on Foster Aquatics! I tell no lies!!

I would not be caught dead paying over $500 for a fixture like that. Sure, it might look nice, but it's really meant for sw corals. You don't need something that intense for freshwater.