LED shop lights versus Beam Works

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Cich Mind

Cich Mind

Dovii
MFK Member
Feb 28, 2021
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Michigan
I'm looking at a lighting source for a 90g tank right now. The LED shop lights are way cheaper than Beam Works, etc. There are a couple lights I'm looking at. I'm not very familiar when it comes to lumens, watts and 4000K vs 6500K.
The 3' shop light is 3000 lumens, 32watts, 4000K. The 4' shop light is 5000 lumens, 55 watts, 4000K.
The Beam Works light is 2600 lumens , 27 watts (54 X 0.50) , 6500K. I would like to know the pros and cons between these lights. I want my fish and aqua scape to look their best but I don't want to blast them with too much light either. Any advise is welcome. Thanks.
 
Lumens refers to the amount of light being produced.
Watts refer to the power consumption.
The K or kelvin is the color temperature of the light.
Lower k light has a more yellow appearance while higher k light is more blue.
4000k thru about 8000k are considered full spectrum lighting, though 4000k will appear slightly yellow, 8000k will appear slightly blue/white.
6500k will be more of a white light.
 
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OK BIG-G BIG-G thanks for the reply.
Would those shop lights be too bright? Like I said I don't want over do it with too much light. Also, it sounds like the 6500K would be more natural looking being it's a more "white light" appearance. I can get the 4' , 4000K, 55 watts for $23. The 55 watts and 5000 lumens just sounds like a lot of light. What do you think? Would one be better than the other including the 3' light.
 
I don’t think any of the lights you’ve mentioned will be “too” bright.
If you just plan on viewing the fish any lights will work.
A full spectrum light will give you better color and probably help with growing plants vs a lower k rated light.
Although if plants are something you’re interested in the lights mentioned may not be enough depending on plant choice.
Lower light requirement plants will work like Java fern and anubias.
 
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1617483215455.jpeg1617483262038.jpeg
This may help answer your question:
Top photo has a 4ft shop light placed on the center of the tank
The bottom photo is a 6ft beamswork DA FSPEC model. The one with more led chips, all colors, and higher lumens.

both have been able to grow low light plants such as floating plants, hornwort, Java fern, mosses, anubias, and slow growth of tiger lotus in a more shallow tank.
It now just comes down to which look you prefer. I got more of a shimmer from my beamswork but find between the light background, high light, and white sand, my fish seem a little washed out. My next tank will have a black background to help them darken up a bit.
 
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Don't forget CRI. Color Rendering Index. It's how well it shows color compared to natural sunlight. Those LED shop lights might have a very low CRI,I've seen some rated at like 60%, They make colors look very faded. They're probably around 80%.

The Beamsworks ones will probably be higher, making your fish look more colorful.
 
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Hey Randys Randys ,
I was researching dimmers for LED shop lights recently and what I keep finding is that dimmers usually don't work With LEDs. Do you have a special kind of dimmer, one that is designed for LEDs? I have seen a few $10-$20 inline dimmers on Amazon, but I think they are for incandescent lighting. Not sure these would work. Did you get yours from Home Depot? How pricey are they if you don't mind me asking? Very cool tank setup you have as well. Thanks.
 
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