LED Analysis Paralysis

[Coelli]

Okay, here's the deal - mixed reef, 65g 36x18x24, not set up yet.

I'm in analysis paralysis on lighting. I want LEDs, not T5 or MH.

Options are:
2-3 Reefbar Pros, full spectrum, 36". They claim 120 PAR at 24" with two fixtures.
Price: About $110 each. Con: have to use their own controller (another $40). Cats will love them. Have to figure out some kind of cat-proof mounting.

2 Kessils. Price: $700-800. Pro: can be hooked up to Apex and cats can't jump on them.

2 AI Hydra 26s. Price $750-800. Pros: Apex compatible or I hear their Director is the shizz. Cons: Cats can jump on them, mounting might be tricky (?)

Maxspect Razor 160w. Price: $510. Cons: Perfect cat perch (hang from wire shelf?), not Apex compatible (?). Possible low par at tank edges (not sure of spread?)

Argh. If anyone feels like geeking out and offering input I could use it. I don't *want* to spend upwards of 800 bucks on lighting but will if it makes sense. :shout:

 

[Adrock]

try taking a look at Aquatic Life and Rapid LED the Onyx From Rapid has great par values and are dimmable the controller isn't the best but the good out weighs the bad I feel

 

[xmas_one]

https://www.reefbreeders.com/photon-series/

 

[Jhuneke]

+1 in Reefbreeder photon! Love mine , been running maybe 2 years and corals love it, no issues, fully programable and has remote for dif functions

 

[newe70]

Okay, here's the deal - mixed reef, 65g 36x18x24, not set up yet.

I'm in analysis paralysis on lighting. I want LEDs, not T5 or MH.



2 AI Hydra 26s. Price $750-800. Pros: Apex compatible or I hear their Director is the shizz. Cons: Cats can jump on them, mounting might be tricky (?)

I'm not sure why you heard the AI Director is shizz...I am using a Director to control three Hydras on my 100g Cadlights tank. I never have any issue since day one. U can use the suspension kit and the ext rail to hang two of the 26 Hydras or the Ext railing systems can be used and very sleeked looking.

 

[newtothis]

For the price of 2 reefbar, I would just go on the prowl for a ai sol blue, ai hydra, or even a radion 1st right here on scr

 

[BeanMachine]

I'm not sure why you heard the AI Director is shizz...I am using a Director to control three Hydras on my 100g Cadlights tank. I never have any issue since day one. U can use the suspension kit and the ext rail to hang two of the 26 Hydras or the Ext railing systems can be used and very sleeked looking.

Is the shizzz... not is shizzz... get your shizzz lingo straight.

 

[newtothis]

[MENTION=3628]BeanMachine[/MENTION] newe70 didnt get his ebonic rosetta stone

 

[orbela]

Chinese LED instead of the bars they are cheaper and better par value.


Sent from my iPhone using Tam

 

[newe70]

Is the shizzz... not is shizzz... get your shizzz lingo straight.

Wat r u trying say, bud?

 

[zigginit]

Running Reef breeders over my 36x24x24 for 2 years and have good results. fully programmable and cheaper then the other options. cant go wrong here.

 

[BeanMachine]

Wat r u trying say, bud?

Is the shizzz... is the shi t... means awesome.

 

[MxReEfEr92]

To be honest I would look at a radion and add the wide angle TIR lenses. You can get a G3 non pro for $600 or a Pro for $750. The problem with reef breeders or any other Chinese fixture is that you get major disco effect because most use single LEDs spread out over the fixture. Where as kessils or radions have very minimal disco effect due to the multiple chip or close cluster design. Also the best advice I ever got in this hobby is to buy quality once rather then buy cheap twice. You still se plenty of people using gen1 radions and kessil a350s. Ecotech even offers upgrades to each generation that are easily installed by any level of hobbiest. Yes people are going to have success with other cheaper light fixtures but you get what you pay for on the higher end lights. Ecotech is so easy to deal with, friendly and timely. Kessil has amazing support as well. Our club has 2 360ws and I have 2 radion g3 pros and 2 kessil a360wes. One of my radions came with a bad RF module and ecotech sent me one next day air with a few samples of glue and no questions asked. It took about 10 min to fix and I was on my way. Just my 2 cents so take it for what it's worth. Whatever makes you happy is all that matters.


Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk.

 

[barbazoid]

i love my new onyx by rapid ill get you a pic tmrw