| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
Connie 
Guest
Joined: December 28 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 2799
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Led lighting OVER RATED!!!
Posted: May 17 2011 at 11:37am |
I picked up a 29 bio off the board and it did not come with lights. I ended up ordering a led light from Fosters. With free shipping it was 152.99 not a bad deal for leds since the same light was 200.00 at a LFS in town. Anyway, light coverage is not good, it gets very hot, and the color is far less then I had expected....
Not real happy and I am glad I learned my lession with a 29 bio and 150 bucks rather then my 180 and a thousand dollars later.....
They really are NOT all that everyone says they are......... I regret buying them....
Just my 2 cents.......
|
|
I have flying monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them.
180 gallon money pit that I love.....
|
 |
davser
Guest
Joined: October 21 2010
Location: salt lake city
Status: Offline
Points: 833
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 11:47am |
|
I still have my second thoughts about leds thats why I still use metal halides leds are more like moonlights In my oppinion
|
|
It's not about what you know but about who you know
|
|
Jeremyw
Guest
Joined: April 09 2009
Location: Utah County
Status: Offline
Points: 8513
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 11:56am |
|
What brand did you get?
|
|
Lexnano
Guest
Joined: December 08 2008
Location: Riverton
Status: Offline
Points: 127
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 12:04pm |
|
Connie did you get the marineland light? I always thought that looked more like a sump light more than a tank light. I saw Chad's LED setup and it looks pretty darn nice.
|
|
GentlemanBean
Guest
Joined: April 19 2008
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 592
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 12:11pm |
I'm sorry to hear about your LED experience.
LEDs are just like any other lighting type. There are fixtures out there that aren't even worth the scrap value you could get for them. There are also fixtures that are very well engineered using high powered LEDs that are worth every penny.
If you want to see a quality fixture, go check out the ACAN light fixtures at Marine Aquatics or the AI fixtures at Aquatic Dreams.
If I were you I would return that fixture to foster's and smith.
|
|
|
|
ninja_brandon
Guest
Joined: January 29 2009
Location: Salt Lake City
Status: Offline
Points: 260
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 12:19pm |
|
True, I have seen Chad's LEDS and they look beautiful and grow just about everything in his frag tanks, however they are around 7 hundred a piece so a bit spendy at the moment.
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21437
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 12:22pm |
The DIY setup that Asad/seti007 made is awesome and every bit as good lighting as the MH lighting he used to have over that tank. See this thread, but look down quite a few posts to where there are full tank shots: http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47666 It pays to do our homework here on this MB. 
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
Dion Richins
Presidency
Joined: April 03 2005
Location: Farmington
Status: Offline
Points: 11664
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 12:23pm |
|
I love the AI fixtures at Aquatic Dreams!! Chads are excepional as well!
|
|
|
|
SGH360
Guest
Joined: April 04 2010
Location: Centerville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1786
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 3:15pm |
|
LED are not over rated, its just the type of brand that's over rated. DIY setups are pretty nice and are more expensive than the one you bought. I seen LED setups for 29G cubes for around 3 times as much you pay for and are way awesome.
|
|
Josh95
Guest
Joined: December 17 2010
Location: West Velley
Status: Offline
Points: 1763
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 3:47pm |
Yea, Go torapidled.com and see what they have for a 29g biocube retrofit, all quality 3W Cree LEDs running on 2 drivers so tthey can be individually dimmed, the whites and blues., I'm sure the fixture you got for $160 isn't the quality it should or put out the light it should. My 10 LED fixture over my pico was $140 and thats DIY not a good AI module either.
|
|
Connie
Guest
Joined: December 28 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 2799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 4:08pm |
Marine Land Reef leds is what I ended up with. Maybe this is why I never shop at this LFS. I am sure Brad and the boys would not have steered me in this diection.
Lession learned but I will stick to T5's and MH from now on........  |
|
I have flying monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them.
180 gallon money pit that I love.....
|
|
Jake Pehrson
Admin Group
Joined: June 13 2002
Location: Murray, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 4279
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 17 2011 at 5:03pm |
|
Connie,
There are great LED setups, but there are many more that are poor at best. Don't judge LED based on this one purchase. I still would stick with T5's and MH for now anyway.
|
|
|
|
rwccomptech
Guest
Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Magna
Status: Offline
Points: 505
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 25 2011 at 4:45pm |
|
Marineland Led systems say not for reef systems, I got one once and I regretted it.
|
|
Ron
20g
60x turnover
30" current pc fixture
|
|
Will Spencer
Admin Group
Joined: September 04 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 6799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 26 2011 at 11:27am |
I said the same thing about the first T-5's that I used. "Piece of Junk, I would never buy T-5's again." I bought them to light my refugium and within a month they didn't put out enough light to see by, much less grow algae. Apparently there are good T-5 fixtures and bulbs out there though. At least that's what I've heard from a couple people here on the board.  Unfortunately the saying is still true, "You get what you pay for." I bought cheap T-5's and and you bought cheap LED's. That'll teach us. 
|
|
Connie
Guest
Joined: December 28 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 2799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 26 2011 at 1:19pm |
I should have done my homework and didn't. The guy at the LFS said use these and so I did. Two lessons learned:
1. The Aquarium ROCKS!!!! I love Brad and the boys, they never do me wrong
2. When in doubt re-read number one....  |
|
I have flying monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them.
180 gallon money pit that I love.....
|
|
rwccomptech
Guest
Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Magna
Status: Offline
Points: 505
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 26 2011 at 8:51pm |
|
Yeah the people at pets and such told me that had enough light for sps. BS PETS AND SUCH. Their good if you want color but thats about it. No par what so ever.
|
|
Ron
20g
60x turnover
30" current pc fixture
|
|
Connie
Guest
Joined: December 28 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 2799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 27 2011 at 9:05am |
We must have had the same salesman.......... The silver lining is that my sump light went out last night so I now have a led for my plants....... Expensive light for a sump but its my own fault.....
|
|
I have flying monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them.
180 gallon money pit that I love.....
|
|
Josh95
Guest
Joined: December 17 2010
Location: West Velley
Status: Offline
Points: 1763
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 27 2011 at 10:58am |
|
Yea, if you want to try the LED route again over your display and don't mind a little soldering PM me. I can help you work out plans, drivres, LEDs, lenses. Everything.
|
|
Nick801
Guest
Joined: July 03 2008
Location: Sandy
Status: Offline
Points: 4155
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 27 2011 at 11:49am |
 Connie wrote:
We must have had the same salesman.......... The silver lining is that my sump light went out last night so I now have a led for my plants....... Expensive light for a sump but its my own fault.....
|
Connie let us know how that works for a sump light =) I've been curious if those grow macro algae well
|
|
Josh95
Guest
Joined: December 17 2010
Location: West Velley
Status: Offline
Points: 1763
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 27 2011 at 12:16pm |
Someone on RC has the same fixture over his refugium, the macro grows really good for him. nick, are you going to make or buy a t5/LED fixture?
|
|
