Led Lights As An Add-On

[pmb_67]

Evening all,

Just wondering, has anyone tried QE Global's LED strips as additional lighting for a marine tank? I have a 400-litre (~100 gallon) Rena tank and want up the lighting without (a) adding too much heat and (b) spending too much cash - otherwise I'd be looking at (a) Deltec's "Razor" T5 or (b) some AquaBeams... Can't really consider anything over-tank like halides or a big luminaire as I can't have the tank open-topped.

Anyway, so my idea is to get some decent-sized strips and stick them on the bottom of the Rena's big metal booms that carry the 4 T8 tubes - maybe a blue and a white for each one (there are two).

Any thoughts?

Paul

PS Link to strips: http/www.qeglobal.com/flexible-led-lighting.html

 

[Morri]

I dont think they will have the punch to get through but its hard to tell as they dont state which LEDs they are using.

I contemplated all the options and went with TMC Aquarays should have them next week.

 

[pmb_67]

I dont think they will have the punch to get through but its hard to tell as they dont state which LEDs they are using.

I contemplated all the options and went with TMC Aquarays should have them next week.

Which units did you go for? And how many & for what size tank? Mine is 150cm x 50cm (or 5 foot by a bit less than 2) and talking to my LFS they reckoned I'd need something like 3 1000HD tiles and a couple of the 500's (the original shape 5-LED lights) - so a good £1000-worth including the 3 controllers... Alternative is to use TMC's T8 adapters, keep the Rena's mountings and run 8 of the 5-LED units - still pricey, but at least that way I can switch over gradually.

Anyone seen any other in-hood lighting options that don't cost the earth, give good light wattage and low heat production?

Paul

 

[Morri]

In my 39" x 30" by 24" deep I went with 6 x 39w ATI sunpower unit with

3 x ATI Blue Plus T5 Tube

3 x ATI Aquablue Speziale T5 Tube

These give excellent coverage and my SPS love them

I have order a TMC Marine White Duo which is all whites these are only to add a little more useable light and add some shimmer to the tank.

If you are looking at the tiles i would advise going to see one in action I went T5s as I was not over impressed with them T5s are the way to go

 

[pmb_67]

In my 39" x 30" by 24" deep I went with 6 x 39w ATI sunpower unit with

3 x ATI Blue Plus T5 Tube

3 x ATI Aquablue Speziale T5 Tube

These give excellent coverage and my SPS love them

I have order a TMC Marine White Duo which is all whites these are only to add a little more useable light and add some shimmer to the tank.

If you are looking at the tiles i would advise going to see one in action I went T5s as I was not over impressed with them T5s are the way to go

Hmmm, thanks Morri. Can't really get myself one of those ATIs (or similar) as my good lady wife doesn't like the smell in the living room when I leave the tank hood open even for an hour or so - can't see her going for the permanent removal of the lid so I can pop a nice big luminaire up there...

Anyone tried the latest Deltec (made by Giesemann) Razor T5 units? I could fit 2 of the 2x54W units in the hood of my Rena tank, I think - the 2x80W units are just too long to fit in unfortunately. In terms of watt numbers alone, this wouldn't be a huge upgrade - I have 2 Rena units each with 2x40W T8s (well, 36-40W depending on whose tubes you pick - 1200mm long tubes) already, so the £400+ investment would only get me an extra 56W. Do the T5s give more light at depth, somehow? I'm also more than a little concerned about putting T5s into the hood, given the heat output they're likely to give - any experience of seeing tank temp rise on switching from T8 to T5?

Maybe I should just stick to leathers, toadstools, mushrooms etc. and save my hard-earned

Paul

 

[Morri]

I have glass covers on my tank would that be an option?

 

[drsquirrel]

This kind of LED for lighting output is old hat - it's cheap, but old. (and heat from these old LEDs is almost non existant).

They push out around 20-30 lumen each, whereas the likes of SSC P7 and SST-50 push out around 900 lumen on a good bin.

Old LEDs are around £0.10-£0.50 each though (and draw around 300mA max, so 3.6w@12v) whereas the "hardcore" LEDs cost around £2.50 each and draw around 2.8A (20w @ 7.4v).

I am surprised people don't use these more often... at least for custom builds.






And that "LED Controller" is a joke - it's just a generic power supply.