LED lighting

kierantf97

kierantf97

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So I have a tank set up with a quad T5 system, but I am not exactly keen to spend 2k every year when the globes need to be changed. My tank is currently cycling but I am wanting to have fish and then a couple soft corals. I need some help with regards to lighting.

My options are either 2x 165w LEDs from Amazon which would take me a while to get the money for.
The second option is 2x Zetlight 1201L? These are 16w lights so I am not sure if they will be able to grow corals or not?

I don't really understand the whole Wattage per gallon as iv seen some large tanks with low wattage lights? If anyone could help me out with a better knowledge with this stuff please do.

My tank dimensions are 100cm, 50cm, 50cm
 
kierantf97 said:
So I have a tank set up with a quad T5 system, but I am not exactly keen to spend 2k every year when the globes need to be changed. My tank is currently cycling but I am wanting to have fish and then a couple soft corals. I need some help with regards to lighting.

My options are either 2x 165w LEDs from Amazon which would take me a while to get the money for.
The second option is 2x Zetlight 1201L? These are 16w lights so I am not sure if they will be able to grow corals or not?

I don't really understand the whole Wattage per gallon as iv seen some large tanks with low wattage lights? If anyone could help me out with a better knowledge with this stuff please do.

My tank dimensions are 100cm, 50cm, 50cm
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I think your tank is too deep for those zetlights. Maybe a zetlight 5000 series would be the perfect fit or if you can get a nice second hand 6600 you would be more than sorted. Then you can run the light at a lower intensity and it would last longer.
 
do your research when buying LED, you get LED and then you get LED, personally im not a fan of the unots under 90w when we are looking at a moxed system with the potential of adding a few sps, it all depends on what you intend to achieve with your system.

another thing to consider is controllability? you really dont need that and basic on and off units are far cheaper but alitlle more effort to add a timer to.

look at back up and support on the units, parts in the country? ZT6600 is a great light unit and has a proven track record in SA with positive results for most systems.
 
The 1201's will definitely not cut it on that size for most corals. The amazon units can work, but you are mostly limited in terms of control-ability, with most only having manual dials on 2 channels. They are quite nice lights nonetheless, have run the WattShine 140w light, and you can't beat the price vs output on that, think it cost me R950 or something.
 
hotdog83 said:
The 1201's will definitely not cut it on that size for most corals. The amazon units can work, but you are mostly limited in terms of control-ability, with most only having manual dials on 2 channels. They are quite nice lights nonetheless, have run the WattShine 140w light, and you can't beat the price vs output on that, think it cost me R950 or something.
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Where did you get your unit from because all of the ones i have seen end up costing about R2300 to get to Durban from overseas? These are from Amazon.
 
Dian6430 said:
I think your tank is too deep for those zetlights. Maybe a zetlight 5000 series would be the perfect fit or if you can get a nice second hand 6600 you would be more than sorted. Then you can run the light at a lower intensity and it would last longer.
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I do like those 6600's but only issue is i have 2k to spend now and can save up another 2k to get the second light a bit later. So the 6600 from my understanding cost about 6k? which is way out of my price range.
 
kierantf97 said:
Where did you get your unit from because all of the ones i have seen end up costing about R2300 to get to Durban from overseas? These are from Amazon.
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Is that not for 2 units? The Rand was a bit stronger back then, but should probably be around R1200 now?
 
kierantf97 said:
I do like those 6600's but only issue is i have 2k to spend now and can save up another 2k to get the second light a bit later. So the 6600 from my understanding cost about 6k? which is way out of my price range.
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Maybe a nice secondhand unit comes up but that 1201L unit i reckon wont cut it
 
kierantf97 said:
I do like those 6600's but only issue is i have 2k to spend now and can save up another 2k to get the second light a bit later. So the 6600 from my understanding cost about 6k? which is way out of my price range.
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there are some second hand ones about, i have a mate selling one for i thing R4k ive whatsapped to ask him, but they are discontinued at the supplier so you may find a few around ar reasonable prices since the launce of the ZS7300.
 
leslie hempel said:
there are some second hand ones about, i have a mate selling one for i thing R4k ive whatsapped to ask him, but they are discontinued at the supplier so you may find a few around ar reasonable prices since the launce of the ZS7300.
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Okay, thank you!
 
kierantf97 said:
Im just worried i may not get a good spread as they seem to be quite small? will i have dead spots of low or no light?
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From my experience, you won't. I ran 1 on an RSM130, which is 60cm long and I think 40cm wide, and this was the spread, so 2 should work on a 1m:

IMG_2441.jpg
 
IME my Improved Living kit started blowing drivers after about a year, so I took it out. Might be because it is inside a canopy, but not sure. Also found the spectrum to be very white, so you might end up running some of the IL channels on low percentages to get the right spectrum, I eventually swapped out some white LED's for more blue. But it certainly is good value for money.
 
swopping drivers is very easy to do...its a case of taking a soldering iron...removing two wires...and solder the new driver on. takes less than a hour to do.
in fact it takes longer to walk to the garage to get the toolkit to do the work than to physically do the work....lol
 
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