Lighting advice

[winschuc]

Ok, so I have a 28x28x30h cube I need to light. The budget is roughly 300$. I already have a 24x3w DIY led system running and was thinking of adding To it. The goal is to be able to keep anything about mid way and polyps at the bottom.

On the other side, if I continue along the led path, I'd really like to control the dimming w/ my reef angel. All suggestions welcome, thanks in advance!

 

[KrisDeitz]

Im a LED guy but I have gone back to MH/t5

If you can find a decent Fixture Id go that route. But thats me!

You can also try to add some t5s to the LED setup and you should have great color and keep anything you want no problem

 

[winschuc]

In addition to the 24x3w led system I currently have? I've got a 250w DE icecap lying around as well, was thinking about going for a combo of the two.

 

[KrisDeitz]

winschuc;856485 wrote: In addition to the 24x3w led system I currently have? I've got a 250w DE icecap lying around as well, was thinking about going for a combo of the two.

Would be a great COmbo!

Get a nice 14k bulb and have the leds in a 20k Spec and you should have awesome growth and color!

 

[winschuc]

May give it a shot, that would free up some cash for a new skimmer. Thanks for the input man, I appreciate it. Was honestly worried that the combo wouldn't put out enough light for the 30" depth.

 

[KrisDeitz]

winschuc;856495 wrote: May give it a shot, that would free up some cash for a new skimmer. Thanks for the input man, I appreciate it. Was honestly worried that the combo wouldn't put out enough light for the 30" depth.

LEds have good punch and the MH will help!

No problem man! Ask away anytime!

 

[nassar0505]

I've been running to mm led's with 2 250w halides and its a pretty killer combo. Its nice because you can do all the color adjusting with the leds and have the Power and spectrum from the halides.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[ripped tide]

nassar0505;856514 wrote: I've been running to mm led's with 2 250w halides and its a pretty killer combo. Its nice because you can do all the color adjusting with the leds and have the Power and spectrum from the halides.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

How do you have that set up? Are the LEDs right next to the halides? I've often wondered if the heat put off from a halide would decrease the life of the LEDs.

 

[super]

nassar0505;856514 wrote: I've been running to mm led's with 2 250w halides and its a pretty killer combo. Its nice because you can do all the color adjusting with the leds and have the Power and spectrum from the halides.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

I am in the planning process of retrofitting LED's in place of my PC's on my MH/PC fixture. I figured it would look good but its nice to hear some reassurance.

 

[winschuc]

LED's are on U-Channel heat-sink, think i may just mount the two rails of LEDS on the sides of the MH pendant w/ 90 degree optics. Hopefully i can get it mounted 8-10" from the water and avoid burning while my arm is inside the tank...