Recommendations for a good/cheap LED light

[Lauren Deadly]

Our light is the bane of my existence, cannot stand it. It's a basic t5 light meant to be temporary, it gives off a very white light leaving my phone to want to take yellow-ish looking photos constantly even with zero tannins in the water. I've gotten creative, but just don't feel like it's giving my very vibrant cichlid any justice. I just added some almond leaves yesterday so now I'll actually have tannins likely going to make matters worse.

Can anyone recommend a good LED light, preferably one that can be adjusted. I might be ordering one here shortly that can change from white to blue to red and even has a lightening storm setting, but I don't feel like it shines quite like I've seen with some of the brilliant tanks on here. We'd be paying around $140 for 2 24" of these lights, so something around that price range (have access to wholesale prices) would be what I'm looking for.


Would love to see some of your setups for examples of the different lights. Thanks so much!


Here's our current light in the most flattering way I can get on a galaxy s3, terrible lighting!

 

[DIDYSIS]

Sorry to say but to me that looks perfect. I say keep it as it is and dont add tanis to the tank. Its not needed in any way. Your light looks good. If you want a more yellow looking light just change the bulbs to a lower kelvin rating. Pm me if you need some help or say more what your looking for and I would be happy to recommend something

Sent from Samsung Note 2

 

[rodger]

I agree with Didysis. Your tank looks really good! If you are looking for inexpensive LED you can't beat Beamsworks. Ebay and Aquatraders are good sources. If you want them where you can adjust the colors of your lights you are talking some tall dollars. Look at salt water forums for info on those lights. I would say you are looking at triple the money. Your least expensive option would be to build your own. There are several sources for kits to do that. All that being said, your tank looks great just like it is.

 

[Lauren Deadly]

That might be because I had to get in some pretty weird positions and had to do..things to to get the right light. It's really harsh and my fish don't "pop" like some people's do even though I can clearly see how vibrant they really are. I've added the almond leaves only because I use california tap water (with prime) and it's just kind of hard. I probably won't add as many leaves next time, but I hear there are a lot of benefits to these leaves. My lights are almost way too bright and too dark in other areas (though I'll be adding a corner light where the floating driftwood is)

Here are some of the photos I get with this light


This is an old pic, but this fish's face was bright red. Since the photo came out so yellow it sort of just washed everything out.
View attachment 962012
recent photo of my pbass. It looks washed out and doesn't quite "pop" like some tanks on here. I'm sure my phone doesn't help, but I've seen people with crappier phones take better photos

again, it's not a bad shot and it's clear because I keep my water so darn clear but everything looks washed out and I usually have to put in a "lower temp" setting on my phone to offset the yellow.

My phone takes perfectly fine photos anywhere else and I've tried opening the windows and letting natural light, turning off all lights in house, everything and the light just doesn't look that great. Even in person it's meh.

 

[trace]

It looks like to me that your camera is focusing on objects in the tank rather than the fish. They all have an object in the photo that is just clearer than the fish are. But I'm no where near what anyone will call a photographer. If the fish look good in person and you like the light in person, don't mess with it. It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks and if way rather have lights that look good to me than to mfk.


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[Lauren Deadly]

It looks like to me that your camera is focusing on objects in the tank rather than the fish. They all have an object in the photo that is just clearer than the fish are. But I'm no where near what anyone will call a photographer. If the fish look good in person and you like the light in person, don't mess with it. It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks and if way rather have lights that look good to me than to mfk.


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I actually like the light even less it person haha. It just becomes frustrating when it gets accentuated on crappiness with my phone. It's the cheapest light they had. We grabbed it because the initial set up for a tank is SO expensive and I wanted to get something nice. I love those lights that almost make the fish look like they are in a spotlight. I'm assuming I need something with a moderate blue tint to it.

 

[blindkiller85]

Beamswork lights as suggested before. Aquatraders or ebay are the sources for it.

Only downside with them IMO is that the ones that have digital timers (which I'd want) are for SW. Very bright, a ton of lumens, but it gives you control of whites/blues for night light applications rather than an regular timer for whites only and a rocker switch.

 

[DIDYSIS]

Looks like the light is a little short for the tank as it does not spread all the way across that is why over by the driftwood its so dark. Some people and fish like that so the tank is not always super bright through out. Myself I run one light on a Timmer and then have more on switches for pictures and showing the tank to other people. My advice just add another light to the tank to do the same. Get one with a purple reef type bulb if you want the blue added color. But looking at your pictures I thought the colors and brightness of the fish was spot on. The jewels look great for being young jewls and the bass has great green on his head and nice red on his tail. The silvers have a good shine even though the picture is not the best. Try adjusting settings on your phone camera as well.

Sent from Samsung Note 2

 

[duanes]

I agree with Didysis. I also use extra lights for photos.
Be careful of cheap LEDs, even they aren't cheap and if you get the ones that can't take a humid environment, they can quickly fail.
There are bulbs made for plant growth, or salt water with different phosphors that are a different color spectrum, these can warm colors, but you'd need to experiment to find what you prefer.
You could mix the colors to reach your goal, by using a shop light in addition to your current light.
These bulbs are a bit expensive, sometimes $30 + each.
If you know someone into reef aquaria, you could ask for their old ones. Reefers usually change bulbs every 6 months, and these old bulbs, while too old for coral growth work well for freshwater tanks. I get hand me down bulbs occasionally from a reef guy, I like the ones with a blue spectrum.
I think your tank looks great, but you've got to please yourself.
before you get LEDs do lots of research.
Also some of that great light, can create great algae growth, so be careful. I like algae in certain spots, like the pic below, but it can be a constant battle in other places.

in other places it can be a daily chore, just keeping it off the plants (and even more the glass)

 

[doomiedee]

I got these led strips from ebay. They work great for only being $8. I have 4 in total in a half circle 1" PVC. It's not as bright as I would like but they do the job.


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