Equipment Money Pit

[Treefer32]

I haven't posted in a while as my tank is doing quite well and corals are growing phenominally well. Some minor issues with Cyano, but hoping I have the source resolved and it will resolve itself over time. (My hope).

So, now my tank has aged enough that I'm into Equipment woes... If I'd known going into this 6-9 years ago that all the expensive equipment would need replacing every 5-6 years. I might have considered not going large (340 gallon)

I have 5ft Aquatic Life T 5 fixture 4 bulb 80 watt each, setup at maximum width to house 3 AI Hydra 52 Leds facing front to back of the tank. The AL fixture came with brackets to setup LEDS this way for wider tanks.

I have 2 dillemmas -

1. Primary issue is I thought spending more on lights would equal longer longevity e.g. 10+ years of solid performance. No annual bulb changes, less electricity, and longer longevity than T5s or Metal Hallides. I was so wrong...
a. All 3 of my AI Hydras have 2-3 diodes burned out in each of the 3 circles of lights. That's a total of at least 27 diodes burned out between the 3 light fixtures. One of the Fixtures has more than three diodes per circle.
b. I reached out to AI and they now tell me (Evidently marketing materials have changed), that expected life expectancy is around 5-6 years.
c. I have the option of Paying for Shipping to AI and return Shipping from AI, and they will then tell me the estimate to repair the light fixture. (I have no idea if this is $100 per diode - so $600-900 per light) or $10 per diode ($100 per light).
d. If I elect to have them repaired, how long will the working diodes last? Or will they burn out as well in the next year?

2. The second issue is the new LEDs on the market are not tested with the aquatic life fixture. The brackets I have won't work with the new AI Edge LED. There's a possibility I may have to hang any new LEDs separately from the AL fixture I have.
a. In working with AI and AL neither have tested any of the new lights on the market with the Aquatic life fixture.
b. I'm hearing rumors that T5 bulbs are getting hard to come by and may be phased out at some point, rendering my AL fixture useless.

Knowing newer lights on the market are in the $700 range.
Tank is a 340 gallon (Custom) 6 ft by 3ft wide by 31" tall.

I just had the Par Checked with the reduced diodes and brand new T5 bulbs, and at the top of my SPS Par was around 300 and at the bottom at the top of my hammers and other Euphyllia I'm getting around 120 par. Sand bed is around 100 par. Not bad with a 30% reduction in LED Diodes.

My initial thought was to get 1 AI Hydra 68 Edge, figure out how to mount it between my AL fixture. Using the bracket I have for my Hydra 52s and attaching it to the bracket from AI for the edge. Then, Send the 1 AI Hydra 52 in for repair that the edge replaces, and replace one light LED at a time and end up with 4 LEDS fully functional. Reduce the brightness from the 90% I'm currently at to say 70% and retest Par. The cost of shipping one at a time, may not be economical.

A second option is to sell the Hydra 52s as is for cheap: $100-$150 each and bite the bullet and replace all three Leds.

A third option is to wait until the Hydra 52s die further and take no action now before doing anything.. Risk here is Par continuously reduces and corals start to suffer and the shock of a new light could be more extreme and cause disruption to the entire mixed reef.

If it was your money - what would you do?

Picture of my mixed reef for attention.

 

[jsmkmavity]

The reefbreeders new light just came out, And they are giving one away here on r2r. Contest ends this month. A lot of people here like noopsych lites, and they are affordable?

 

[jsmkmavity]

Tank looks great by the way!

 

[Hooz]

Also, it would be worth reaching out to @luxdium as they make new LED "pucks" and lenses for the lights you have. Upgrading might be a viable, less expensive alternative.

 

[Tamberav]

Are they actually burnt out or is it just the lenses are melted? Melted lenses will turn black and the led will look dead but it is easy to replace the lenses yourself if that is actually the problem.

And no, money doesn’t equal quality in this hobby. Money often means more spent on marketing.

If you are looking for quality LEDs, you want to check out more hobbiest created ones, reefi (3 year warranty), reef breeder meridians (new but the photon have a good track record), or quanta lights.

 

[Science/G]

Tough call. I would probably just eat the cost and upgrade to the new Reefbreeder Meridians or Reefi's . I do like AI, but these problems occur too regularly. the lenses melt, and some of the diodes go bad when you jack them up.

 

[Treefer32]

It's not until I search for lights I realize the cost differences in size of tanks. Take Meridian lights for example. I could throw away my $2500 Aquatic Life T5 fixture and the AI Hydra LEDs and replace with 3 35" lights and hang them perpendicular to the tank (front to back) since the tank is 36" wide.

That would require 3 x 35" Meridian Edge Lights. One over each section of my 6' x 3ft tank.

3 X $1900 = $6,000.

Now the edge might be overkill and just 3 x 35" meridians might be o.k. (Not sure if that would be true or not. )

If I could get away with 3 Meridian 35s that's $3,000 + hanging kits for all.

I question if something like that could replace the output of my 4 80 watt T5s and 3 AI Hydra 52s?

I'm not opposed to keeping the T5s and trying to get something to work with the existing light fixture. However, it seems LED manufacturers have shoved aside the concept of Hybrid lighting and just went their own direction. Very annoying.

 

[Science/G]

3 Reefi Unos would work. I would keep the hybrid T5 fixture though. $1500. Upgrade much easier to deal with. You could probably match your existing par and spectrum and run the lights at a lower output, which may extend the life of the lights.

 

[Treefer32]

3 Reefi Unos would work. I would keep the hybrid T5 fixture though. $1500. Upgrade much easier to deal with

I reached out to Reefi per this group's recommendation and they were fast to respond. They recommended the 2.1 pros. I'm waiting on confirmation that 1 per section (so 3 units or if 2 per section are needed - 6 units).

 

[twentyleagues]

I reached out to Reefi per this group's recommendation and they were fast to respond. They recommended the 2.1 pros. I'm waiting on confirmation that 1 per section (so 3 units or if 2 per section are needed - 6 units).

As you probably know the Reefis come with a 90 and 120 degree option for reflectors. Personally with the t5s (you would have to figure out how to mount the reefis to your al fixture) 3 of the reefis with 120 reflectors would probably work 6 with 90s would be better though. I am sure Daniel will get you sorted though. Hes pretty great.

 

[Science/G]

 

[KrisReef]

It's a reef tank. Spend the money and don't tell your significant other.

Hope you find a nice upgrade! I need to swap bulbs in my MH and I keep wondering when the last, best light for a reef tank will finally appear with a built in PAR sensor to report what's getting lit in the tank, with how much. :cool:

 

[Science/G]

It's a reef tank. Spend the money and don't tell your significant other.

Hope you find a nice upgrade! I need to swap bulbs in my MH and I keep wondering when the last, best light for a reef tank will finally appear with a built in PAR sensor to report what's getting lit in the tank, with how much. :cool:

Built in Par meter......great idea!

 

[Treefer32]

I love the built in Par meter Idea. I would also love a fish mountable go pro pen camera with light. That somehow auto attaches to the fish as they graze on the veggie clip. The attachment have a built in Par meter to record par levels based on where the fish swims - Auto mapping the inside of the tank similar to a roomba! Actually as I was thinking.. I realized. attaching a small par meter to a snail would be far easier than a fish. oooh.. I like this idea a lot. The snail could map the tank over a couple days!

 

[Hooz]

It's not until I search for lights I realize the cost differences in size of tanks. Take Meridian lights for example. I could throw away my $2500 Aquatic Life T5 fixture and the AI Hydra LEDs and replace with 3 35" lights and hang them perpendicular to the tank (front to back) since the tank is 36" wide.

That would require 3 x 35" Meridian Edge Lights. One over each section of my 6' x 3ft tank.

3 X $1900 = $6,000.

Now the edge might be overkill and just 3 x 35" meridians might be o.k. (Not sure if that would be true or not. )

If I could get away with 3 Meridian 35s that's $3,000 + hanging kits for all.

I question if something like that could replace the output of my 4 80 watt T5s and 3 AI Hydra 52s?

I'm not opposed to keeping the T5s and trying to get something to work with the existing light fixture. However, it seems LED manufacturers have shoved aside the concept of Hybrid lighting and just went their own direction. Very annoying.

You could do 3x 24" Meridians and get good coverage for a lot less money.

I'd still suggest refurbing the 52HDs, though. The LuxEngine pucks have (IMO) the best spectrum out there, and their new lenses are unmeltable. It'd be about $40 per fixture to get all new LED pucks and new lenses (included).

 

[KrisReef]

I love the built in Par meter Idea. I would also love a fish mountable go pro pen camera with light. That somehow auto attaches to the fish as they graze on the veggie clip. The attachment have a built in Par meter to record par levels based on where the fish swims - Auto mapping the inside of the tank similar to a roomba!

Everyone loves the idea, but no one wants to pay for the R&D and/or the final price tag in tomorrows lights today. :face-with-hand-over-mouth: :smiling-face-with-sunglasses:

 

[Treefer32]

You could do 3x 24" Meridians and get good coverage for a lot less money.

I'd still suggest refurbing the 52HDs, though. The LuxEngine pucks have (IMO) the best spectrum out there, and their new lenses are unmeltable. It'd be about $40 per fixture to get all new LED pucks and new lenses (included).

I'll check with them. Sounds reasonable. It looks like their Hydra 52 inserts are $100 a pieces. If I need 9 of them that's $900 unless I'm missing something?

 

[Science/G]

I'll check with them. Sounds reasonable. It looks like their Hydra 52 inserts are $100 a pieces. If I need 9 of them that's $900 unless I'm missing something?

That's steep.

 

[Science/G]

You could do 3x 24" Meridians and get good coverage for a lot less money.

I'd still suggest refurbing the 52HDs, though. The LuxEngine pucks have (IMO) the best spectrum out there, and their new lenses are unmeltable. It'd be about $40 per fixture to get all new LED pucks and new lenses (included).

These are two really good options! I would still go with three Reefi Uno Pro's and call it a day.

 

[Oldreefer44]

It's a reef tank. Spend the money and don't tell your significant other.

Hope you find a nice upgrade! I need to swap bulbs in my MH and I keep wondering when the last, best light for a reef tank will finally appear with a built in PAR sensor to report what's getting lit in the tank, with how much. :cool:

ATI Stratons give you PAR readings based on their height. You can adjust the intensity to get the PAR you want.