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-TYR- 
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 Topic: Looking for inexpensive LEDs found this?
Posted: June 10 2014 at 10:01pm |
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Not sure if this is a good deal or if they are going to sufficiently light the 1/3rd of my tank I will be doing my floating reef on any input is greatly appreciated!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301181689222
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Blub Blub
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: June 11 2014 at 9:39am |
Okay since this thread went unanswered, I just need to say that there are many ways to light a reef. At this time, LED's are the most expensive. In 5 years when the price drops further and the spectrum/color combination is perfected, we will probably all be using LED's. Still, the other lighting methods work just fine and right now they are less costly than ever. MH is still the best replacement for natural sunlight. Fluorescent lights are perfect for growing all coral, clams and algae. VHO lights are awesome PC lighting is great when the right color tubes are used. t5's will be great for many years to come That's my 2 cents, Mark 
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Fatman
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Posted: June 11 2014 at 10:32am |
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Just a note on LEDs, they are more costly to acquire, but in terms of bulb replacement and cost of electricity they excel. They are also very controllable. Reef'd Up did a cost analysis on them, but I can't remember when the break even point is reached. I think she put it up on the board, you might look at it.
I looked at the fixture when you posted the link, but I didn't spend a lot of time checking the features. At first glance is looks ok for a value fixture, but I think it needs some additional analysis to know for sure. Value fixtures have been problems in the past. LEDs tend to burn out on them and it shuts down the whole sting they are on (kind of like the Christmas lights). Parts have been hard to locate and the drivers are usually not available.
If you spend a bit more and get a name brand fixture you will have parts of a long time and I haven't heard of anyone having problems with the better known names.
Fat
Edited by Fatman - June 11 2014 at 10:33am
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Shad
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Posted: June 11 2014 at 11:42am |
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I bought a cheap par38 on ebay for my nano. It only lasted about 3 months then wouldn't work any more. I'd be wary of cheap chinese LED fixtures.
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-TYR-
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Posted: June 11 2014 at 3:20pm |
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Thanks everyone and id appreciate it Mark if you swung by and I could explain/show you how I want it to look
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Blub Blub
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: June 11 2014 at 4:31pm |
Mark is crazy, ignore his post.
Adam
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: June 11 2014 at 4:32pm |
By the way, I have those exact same lights on my tank. Come see them anytime you want.
Adam
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ReefdUp
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Posted: June 11 2014 at 9:21pm |
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I was running metal halides, and my LEDs hit the break-even point at 2 years running at 100%. I'm running at only ~35% right now, so I'm probably getting close at the one-year point. Granted, they were expensive initially, but my power bill thanks me.
I'll disagree all day long that metal halides are the best anymore. I wasn't convinced on LEDs until I did my master's thesis on them. I'm sold. Get the right colors and a dimming function, and you can simulate any time of the day or night for lighting. Sunrise, sunset, midday, moon cycles...you've got it all.
As for that specific fixture, I'll let others chime in. I've got to get some sleep. :)
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www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: June 12 2014 at 2:32am |
Up late. can't sleep.  from my point of view LED lighting is becoming more and more impressive, but
I still can't afford the initial outlay.
MH lighting is too costly as well. Sunlight is practically free. The reason I promote
affordable ideas like using sunlight is not only because I am passionate about being frugal,
but to lend some balance to an otherwise expensive hobby. It appears that the hobby has almost reached the point where LED lighting meets our demanding performance criteria, but I believe its still going to be several years before good quality LED lighting is affordable for po' folk. Until then it's PC's and t5's for me.
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-TYR-
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Posted: June 12 2014 at 2:58am |
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I see where your coming from Mark but as my budget is about 150 a month for my tanks the lights that I found I think fit well within that and since im only going to use it to light the 1/3rd of my tank that I will be doing the floating reef and the rest will be open sand bed for a shark or ray and I don't have much of an option for natural light I want to inexpensively find the most affordable new tech I can besides it does have a 1 year warranty and after that its retty easy to change out cree LEDs
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Blub Blub
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: June 12 2014 at 3:03am |
Cool 
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love2skiutah
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Posted: June 12 2014 at 9:00am |
When legends like Mike Paletta and Sanjay Joshi switch from MH to LED, you know the technology must be getting good. Even Jake Adams mentioned on his site the other day, that all the new fixtures were LED at Interzoo. He didn't see any MH and only a couple new T5 fixtures, but most of them were LED.
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