What do you guys think?

[roscoe]

What does everyone think about this LED fixture? I don't really want to spend a crap load of money on an uber expensive fixture until I am full convinced they are capable of growing SPS. So I want to find a cheap fixture to experiment with. Here is a link to this one I found.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-LED-Aquarium-corals-light/dp/B002N0MNR8

 

[Scooterman]

looks like a cheap knock-off to me. JMO buy on the cheap get junk.

 

[fishoutofwater]

Yep. You get what you pay for. I would wait till the prices come down.

 

[roscoe]

These fixture uses Bridgelux LEDs and from my research they are good LEDs. I know but I am also not willing to spend thousands of dollars on lighting that is pretty new to the hobby and have very little track record to go by how they do over a year or 2 period in a SPS dominate reef. All the pics and articles I've seen and read. None of them had any long term effect info on what LEDs are really capable of. Can we see a controlled experiment in a system to see how corals grow starting from a frag? Maybe that experiment have been done but I havn't found that article yet. If anyone knows of one please post a link. So thus the reason why I want to find a cheap fixture to experiment for myself.

 

[Scooterman]

Search Reef Central, It would be cheaper to get what your looking for!

 

[dragoneggs]

I have taken the plunge on LEDs. I am keeping it relatively simple and inexpensive going with the Maxspect units. I have no empirical data to support them vs. MH but as far as output they are plenty bright. As far as PAR, wavelength, degradation, reliability, they are just too new to have solid data. But! I am going to see what happens. As an engineer I really appreciate controlled experiments and hard data but I can't say I will be able to provide much of that as I probably won't take the time to really isolate variables, compare directly with other light sources, etc so the proof will be more along the lines of how I like my results.

I say go for it! LEDs I mean. I am not endorsing the particular unit you have posted. There is too much to like about these little buggars!

 

[moto826]

i know some one with that one and they like it but jest got it

 

[DolphinLVR]

I agree with Mark!

Even though I went with the more expensive units, I did so because after all of my research, these were the units that I felt were for me. After having them on my tank, there is IMO plenty of light, I will be following up that with some quantive light meter readings.

From the pictures and videos of those who have had LED's for awhile and some SPS dominated tanks, they will IMO be more than enough.

The bottom line for anyone considering going the LED route is do your own research and if at all possible, see them in person Ask yourself what you want from your lighting, what do you want to be able do with them! Do you want to just turn them on and off via a timer? do you want to be able to turn on/off certain banks? do you want full control and the ability to custom program?

My home is open to anyone that wants to come check them out. I am excited about the units I have and can't wait to get some corals in my tank. I know I will be keeping a progression thread going on my tank once I start getting stuff in it and I believe people will see the growth represented in my tank

Jeff

 

[roscoe]

I seen now both the maxspect and the PS in person and I will say that the light output is impressive no doubt there. I don't want to spend top dollars on LEDs yet. So that is why I want to get a cheap fixture to play around with and see what the long term coral growth rate is. I am planning to finally tie in my small tank that is in my garage to my system. I will run LEDs over that tank and of course I have my halides on my DT. I will then make a couple frags of the same corals and have a frag of each in the DT and 1 in the LED lit tank. So hopefully at that time I might be able to borrow a PAR meter and place the corals at comparative PAR levels in each tank. Since the system are all tie to one another there should be no other variables to worry about other than lighting and maybe flow.

 

[DolphinLVR]

I say go for it and see how it does over your small tank.

 

[thatguy559]

hMmmm i asked about this light when the whole pacific sun led group buy... if you do get it let me know how it works out for you