Led light

[charlie13]

Mars aqua 165w LED light does anyone have any experience with this light I am thinking about getting one any input would be great

 

[mcarroll]

For what size of tank?

They have a super-intense bright spot - too bright, really - where all the LED's overlap in the center, but very low intensity just a few inches off-center because not enough LED's overlap. People try to make up for it by running multiple fixtures, but that's not ideal AND kills some of the value of the low-low price tag. It can still work out depending on the tank, layout and livestock you have in mind, but the are cheaper, better DIY options...just for the record. ;) Just know what you're buying.

Oh, and get a lux [HASHTAG]#meter[/HASHTAG] (free apps; $15 handheld model "LX-1010B") to help you get the [HASHTAG]#intensity[/HASHTAG] right during setup.

20,000-80,000 lux is a good range to consider. 40,000 or so seems to be a sweet spot....many corals seem to do better with "moderate" light vs high intensity light. FYI, some corals we keep can reach their compensation point with only around 5000 lux. I keep an SPS tank at around 15,000 [HASHTAG]#lux[/HASHTAG].

 

[charlie13]

For what size of tank?

They have a super-intense bright spot - too bright, really - where all the LED's overlap in the center, but very low intensity just a few inches off-center because not enough LED's overlap. People try to make up for it by running multiple fixtures, but that's not ideal AND kills some of the value of the low-low price tag. It can still work out depending on the tank, layout and livestock you have in mind, but the are cheaper, better DIY options...just for the record. ;) Just know what you're buying.

Oh, and get a lux [HASHTAG]#meter[/HASHTAG] (free apps; $15 handheld model "LX-1010B") to help you get the [HASHTAG]#intensity[/HASHTAG] right during setup.

20,000-80,000 lux is a good range to consider. 40,000 or so seems to be a sweet spot....many corals seem to do better with "moderate" light vs high intensity light. FYI, some corals we keep can reach their compensation point with only around 5000 lux. I keep an SPS tank at around 15,000 [HASHTAG]#lux[/HASHTAG].

It is a 45 gallon tank

 

[mcarroll]

Is that the extra tall model? If I recall correctly, that's a 36" x 12" footprint? I'm pretty sure that's too big for one fixture (ends would be pretty dark) and too small to fit two fixtures. I don't know if they exist, but two 18" fixtures would theoretically be better.

 

[charlie13]

Is that the extra tall model? If I recall correctly, that's a 36" x 12" footprint? I'm pretty sure that's too big for one fixture (ends would be pretty dark) and too small to fit two fixtures. I don't know if they exist, but two 18" fixtures would theoretically be better.

Yes that is the footprint I will look into getting 2 then