what type of lighting to use?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I've been seeing a lot of people use SB reef branded leds lately... never used them myself since they arent available here but might be worth looking into...
 
Beauty of a setup you have. I saw your post on another site as well. I have a 48" Current Satellite LED+ fixture over my 55g with plants that keeps crypts, anubia and java fern going nicely without ferts or CO2, but you'd need to double this fixture for high light I'd imagine. I can't find lumen specs for my Current Satellite LED+

What intrigues me about LED fixtures is how long it will take for the PAR/PUR to fade on them to the point they're no good for plants anymore. Chatting it up with people in the industry, LEDs fade over time too, just not as quickly as fluorescent thankfully.
 
Very nice! I've heard people going both ways. I use florescent on my planted tank and they do a good job. But I personally wasn't ready to trust the LEDs (I have since bought some for my reef tank). I do think I'd go LED for my next set.

That being said, in my readings, some people swear by LED others by florescent. I did read a few posts of people who bough LED and went back to florescent after as they liked them better. It really seemed a matter of preference though. I think the best option is what do you want?
 
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Nice. I have used compact fluorescents in the past on my planted tanks, and now have LED lights on most of my tanks. The LED is a big step up. No more noisy fans, hot fixtures, or changing bulbs. You get a bit of a "wave" texture too from surface ripples.
I would recommend going to LEDs.
Here is one of my old tanks with compact fl.
30pl.JPG

New setup with Fluval Aquasky LEDs
CJtClom.jpg


And my nano with Finnex Planted+ LEDs
Pj0m33h.jpg


I think the LED's look much better, plus the benefits I listed before.
I would recommend the finnex Planted+ over the fluval. The fluval is a great light, but is very pricey, because it has app connectivity and you are supposed to be able to set it to mimic clouds and storms. Which would be really cool, but the app is impossible to use, and I gave up. Many others had this same problem in reviews I have read.
The finnex has true red, blue, and white LED's, the spectrum is just about perfect. And it's cheap.
Good luck
 
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LEDs give you just as good or better growth at a fraction the power. I think they look nicer, too. CFLs are dirt cheap, though (I can pick them up for free), so it's a hard call for me. If you're okay with laying out the money, get an RGB LED strip with a controller - that will grow plants at least as good as a CFL and fully customizable tank color/brightness. If you use a regular LED like they sell for lighting your house, make sure the CRI value is really high (80+), or it may give you plenty of light and not grow plants.
 
Thanks everyone . Guess I will just look at both price wise and see what I feel is appropriate at this time .I'm more familiar with PCs but figured LEDs probably have come a long way since my last tanks.
 
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IceH2O said:
Thanks everyone . Guess I will just look at both price wise and see what I feel is appropriate at this time .I'm more familiar with PCs but figured LEDs probably have come a long way since my last tanks.
Click to expand...


They definitely have and are worth a look.
 
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