Need Led light
- Thread starter Angelv8613
- Start date
- Location
- Queens, NY
I like SBreeflight, which is actually really good quality for a good price. They have the 36" fixture ~350W for your 55 gallon for like $300, (cheaper without a built in timer but a timer is very useful). Located in Florida.
If you care about the plastic divider in the middle of your tank, blocking the light in the center and creating a shadow, then two ocean revive t247, $180 each on amazon are pretty good. These are less powerful than the SBreeflight, at 120W each, so actually cost more overall, but would have better spread and full heat sinks.
As for any of those other "black box" fixtures such as viparspectra, on Amazon for ~$100, they are not really full spectrum, and have too much white (which are probably just 6K and 10K, more suited for freshwater or plants), which makes them a bit less useful in the long run when you're really getting into your corals and will want to upgrade them anyway. These basic "black boxes" are entry level, and you'll end up running the blues (which are probably just the 450nm) at 100% with white at like 25%, which is wasting half the fixture's capacity.
You could replace half of the white channels LEDs if you can solder, but with all that effort, might as well get a full spectrum, color enhancing fixture, with blues at 420, 450, 470nm, whites at 10K and 12K, and they even throw in a single red 660nm and green LED per side.
If you care about the plastic divider in the middle of your tank, blocking the light in the center and creating a shadow, then two ocean revive t247, $180 each on amazon are pretty good. These are less powerful than the SBreeflight, at 120W each, so actually cost more overall, but would have better spread and full heat sinks.
As for any of those other "black box" fixtures such as viparspectra, on Amazon for ~$100, they are not really full spectrum, and have too much white (which are probably just 6K and 10K, more suited for freshwater or plants), which makes them a bit less useful in the long run when you're really getting into your corals and will want to upgrade them anyway. These basic "black boxes" are entry level, and you'll end up running the blues (which are probably just the 450nm) at 100% with white at like 25%, which is wasting half the fixture's capacity.
You could replace half of the white channels LEDs if you can solder, but with all that effort, might as well get a full spectrum, color enhancing fixture, with blues at 420, 450, 470nm, whites at 10K and 12K, and they even throw in a single red 660nm and green LED per side.
I love my Viparspectra LEDs, I have no problems growing any corals with them. Not everyone can afford top of the line light fixtures and these can definitely do the job.
My 2 cents...
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- Location
- Queens, NY
Heh, Ocean Revive and SBreeflights are in no way top of the line, also budget minded options.
Oh wow, very nice. Just looked it up and Vipar has already modified the LED layout to broad spectrum, 165W for $140 (average 110W) They seem to make the ocean revive at $170 seem a little expensive for the return results. Timer set up is identical, LED lay out is very similar (ocean revive has have a larger spread), Wattage is similar (less over heating of the driver with the vipar since it's rated higher at 165W vs 120W, though both would have similar power draws), but Vipar uses a lot of 6500K LEDs (ocean revive uses 10K and 12K). Vipar does have more (55) LEDs, so each one would be at a lower wattage compared to the ocean revive (48) and would run cooler and longer life span. heh probably, marginal difference.
In the end, the ocean revive does have a more expensive housing unit compared to the vipar.
Oh wow, very nice. Just looked it up and Vipar has already modified the LED layout to broad spectrum, 165W for $140 (average 110W) They seem to make the ocean revive at $170 seem a little expensive for the return results. Timer set up is identical, LED lay out is very similar (ocean revive has have a larger spread), Wattage is similar (less over heating of the driver with the vipar since it's rated higher at 165W vs 120W, though both would have similar power draws), but Vipar uses a lot of 6500K LEDs (ocean revive uses 10K and 12K). Vipar does have more (55) LEDs, so each one would be at a lower wattage compared to the ocean revive (48) and would run cooler and longer life span. heh probably, marginal difference.
In the end, the ocean revive does have a more expensive housing unit compared to the vipar.
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Bulk reef supply did a video comparing black box on YouTube, if I remember correctly, they are shocked at how viparspectra outperform the others. (Oceanrevive isn’t mentioned tho)
I used viparspectra before and I’m pretty sure that unless you are keeping a home wrecker or other high ends acro that needs the extra spectrum to pull out the pinks and other color, that thing is enough to put out enough par and spectrum to make things thrive
I used viparspectra before and I’m pretty sure that unless you are keeping a home wrecker or other high ends acro that needs the extra spectrum to pull out the pinks and other color, that thing is enough to put out enough par and spectrum to make things thrive
- Location
- Queens, NY
Haha, great, I can see the timer/control board is identical to the ocean revive's. (I just received my ocean revive replacement time control board by mail, and it was shipped from vipar, probably the same company). Thanks for the link! so it does come down to the light spread, where this one is more focused than ocean revive. So with this fixture, it needs to be mounted over around 15 to 18 inches above the water level, and I would also recommend swapping out the 90 degree lenses with 120 for the UV, red and green LEDs. they are only $1 each online. (NOTE: I currently use my ocean revive at 12 inches above the water line.)
So then the choices are then between the 2 Vipar at $140 each, 2 ocean revive T247 at $170 (saltcritters). They really are in the same price point.
Just looking at the Vipar, I see they also make a 30 inch fixture at 300W for $250, though if given the choice, I'd go with the single 32" SBreeflight currently for $260 (list is 309 but there is a sale now). Nice wrap up guys. So if I were to do it again... hmm the 32 SBreeflight would be the way for me to go, (though the center tank bar is going to be annoying).
So then the choices are then between the 2 Vipar at $140 each, 2 ocean revive T247 at $170 (saltcritters). They really are in the same price point.
Just looking at the Vipar, I see they also make a 30 inch fixture at 300W for $250, though if given the choice, I'd go with the single 32" SBreeflight currently for $260 (list is 309 but there is a sale now). Nice wrap up guys. So if I were to do it again... hmm the 32 SBreeflight would be the way for me to go, (though the center tank bar is going to be annoying).
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You do not need to modify the fixture to be successful, nor do you have to raise it that high....
- Location
- Queens, NY
Yes, it does seem like a pretty good fixture, lots of bang for the buck. It's only weak spot, if any, is getting the light to spread evenly, which is easily resolved by raising it higher, rather then lower. The 120 lenses are a simple modification to spread the diodes with the least colors, UV, red and green, around more. If you ever have to swap out your lenses and diodes when they burn out, I'd recommend getting a few 120s in addition to the 90s lenses. You can really extend the fixtures life span indefinitely.
I run vipar spectra on both my tanks. Both 165 and 300w models. I’ve had most of the brands out there and love my vipars. Not fancy but work great. eBay has factory auctions were you can get the 165 for about 85$.
heuerfan, mind sharing your settings and height? I’m at 12” over water 100% blue 30 white through a homedepot diffuser.
heuerfan, mind sharing your settings and height? I’m at 12” over water 100% blue 30 white through a homedepot diffuser.
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I am running 9” from water level, and both channels at 60%. Only have clear mesh netting between the fixtures and water. But as of recently I am slowly increasing it until I hit 100% on both channels since my sps have grown and seem to be responding well to it. My actinics are on for 10 hours and 7 hours of daylight...
These settings i find work well for me, they may or may not work for you. Good luck!
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- Location
- Queens, NY
In regards to the 30 inch model, do you use it over a 4 foot tank? how does the middle plastic divider interfere with the light? Is that midline shadow annoying? Was the diffuser your solution?
I use the 300w on a nuvo 20 gallon peninsula so I can’t really speak on those issues. No diffuser on my 300w. I know it’s super over kill but no shadows in here lol light is almost same footprint as tank. only running this at 10% white 50 blue. I’ve never had a braced tank with leds but it was annoying with power compacts when I ran those.they were sitting right on the glass lid though.
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I got this great light setupfor your 55 wasn't using no more is a Fluval a 3976 was a great light at full spectrum upgraded so just been sitting around great for what you trying to do with your tank if you want to take it for $30 its yours im in queens
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