Recommended LED Lighting for 115 Gal

[EBJDLuke]

Hey guys, this is my first post on MFK and I would love to hear your opinions on planted tank lighting. I recently got a 125 gal from a guy on Craigslist that came with 2 36" Coralife T5 fixtures. It is a heavily planted tank and I'd like to keep it that way. However, I run these fixtures on a timer for 10 hours a day, and I know they are wreaking havoc on my electric bill and I don't really like how bulky they are. So my question is, are there any LED light fixtures that are suitable for a 72 in long planted tank? I'd like to find something that stretches all the way across the top of my tank, and I want LED to save on my electric bill. Which fixture would be able to meet the light requirements of a heavily planted tank? Thanks!

 

[bbortko]

Buildmyled.com, a little pricey without being overly expensive and quality is top notch.

 

[EBJDLuke]

Buildmyled.com, a little pricey without being overly expensive and quality is top notch.

I checked that out and it looks like a 72" fixture would run somewhere around $500 still and I'm really looking to spend a max of $250.

 

[bbortko]

For $300-400 you could do a pair of 36" finex fixtures but you're not going to find a 72" fixture for $250, when I bought my bml fixture I don't remember seeing any other 72" fixtures. At $250 you're probably looking at something only capable of low light plants. Personally I would save up for a bml fixture, every time I try to save money I wind up unhappy and upgrading a second time.

 

[EBJDLuke]

For $300-400 you could do a pair of 36" finex fixtures but you're not going to find a 72" fixture for $250, when I bought my bml fixture I don't remember seeing any other 72" fixtures. At $250 you're probably looking at something only capable of low light plants. Personally I would save up for a bml fixture, every time I try to save money I wind up unhappy and upgrading a second time.

I wouldn't mind paying that long of money if I had a larger tank but seeing as I paid $300 for the tank and all of the equipment I just can't fathom spending twice that just to light it. I do have a Finnex on my 55 and I'm satisfied with it so I do think I will be taking the 2 36" fixture route. Probably the Fugeray Planted Plus, or Ray 2? Thanks for your input, I appreciate it!