Any suggestions???

[DAN-O]

I have a 180 gallon tank with a 6 foot 3x250W MH & 4 96W compact flourescent
actinics. It's time for me to change the CF bulbs but I decided to try to convert
to LED strips rather than invest in new bulbs. Can anyone offer suggestions at to a LED light strip fixture to get and how many strips do you recommend I get.
Any suggestions would be welcomed.....

 

[ryangrieder]

reef brite

 

[DAN-O]

where can you buy them

 

[ryangrieder]

they have all blue LEDS, BLUE/WHITE, and all WHITE

http://www.saltwatercritters.com/led_s1?b=1

 

[DAN-O]

do you think i can get away with 2 36" units or will i need 4

 

[James983]

Two 36" Reefbrites are going to set you back $450. I don't think two will give you the effect you want.

Which means you need four at a cost of around a grand. Then you have to be bothered retro fitting the whole thing. You can light your whole tank with LEDs alone for around $2000. So, if it were me I'd either just switch out the T5 bulbs for new ones or bite the bullet and spend the money once for LEDs.

I have a 180 as well and will consider the same before I buy 14 new T5 bulbs. I just keep waiting for the LEDs to come down a little.

 

[jaa1456]

2 Reefbrites will be fin on that tank. Each one is equalivent to 2 T5 bulbs as it is. I have a 36" Blue reefbrite on my tank and my tank is 24"s deep and 18"s wide. With that light running by itself it lights up the entire tank. I have a video of it running on here.http://www.youtube.com/user/brock7979#p/a/u/0/q7UbqD3kI6M

 

[Celestin]

might want to consider the new vertex leds strips, its a little more but you may be able to get away with one due to the much larger spread distribution

 

[DAN-O]

It looks like to reef brites have more bulbs than the vertex

 

[jaa1456]

I know the 36" have 18 bulbs, not to sure about the Vertex. All I know is that the Reefbrite lives up to its name.

 

[Celestin]

Jeremy over at premium aquatics did a write up comparing the two really quick with some pics to show spreads on RC.

 

[Nassau]

Great leds made in the USA 3 year guarantee, I have 2 36" reefbrites, one bracketed to to each side of my t5's.

Fantastic, the stuff just pops.

I think the mistake being made by all this led buzz is that it is the only light you need and people are spending big bucks incorrectly.

Tests have been made by reefbrite with two tanks on the same central system, so same water.

one straight led the other MH with led

After 18 months the tank with only led showed signs of die off from the bottom up of various corals, the other tank was thriving.

Then the led only tank had a mh added the corals that were in bad shape came back.

So plan on having t5 or mh with your led's