Lighting that won't need upgrading

oreo54 · Mar 13, 2021

stephj03 said:
Going back to your actual goal. Maybe you should ask some of the LED champions on this thread what the best LED light was of 2015.....

Cuz, you know, you're looking for a light you won't have to upgrade or replace.....

If I went back 5yrs, ATI sunpower/powermodule would still be the T5 light of choice for an sps tank.

Time is funny isn't it..

ATI Sunpower and Power Module review

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk

T5 reef renaissance

In the six years since that launch, however, technology for T5 has galloped forward. Spectra have got better, choice of tubes has greatly increased and number of tubes used to get the best results has also gone up.
This item was first published in the September 2009 issue of Practical Fishkeeping
Good

Bright enough for SPS

Fan cooling

Nice looking light spectrum

In vogue

Bad

Circuits and fans failed on one unit, two lamps failed on the other...

Ceiling mounted only

stephj03 · Mar 13, 2021

sde1500 said:
Started my tank just over 5 years ago now. With a reef Breeder photon v1. Still using it as I convert the tank to SPS dominant with no definitive plans to change it.

@OP, this is fully valid, and you should also consider. Almost any commercial light made today can be configured to grow just about anything. If it doesn't bother you to not have the newest/hottest light then pick whichever light you like most asthetically and buy enough of them now to configure for SPS when you get there.

JL15219 · Mar 13, 2021

sde1500 said:
Started my tank just over 5 years ago now. With a reef Breeder photon v1. Still using it as I convert the tank to SPS dominant with no definitive plans to change it.

I ended up going with the Reef Breeder photon 24-V2+. I got a good deal on it and read many good things about it....hope it works out

JL15219 · Mar 13, 2021

stephj03 said:
@OP, this is fully valid, and you should also consider. Almost any commercial light made today can be configured to grow just about anything. If it doesn't bother you to not have the newest/hottest light then pick whichever light you like most asthetically and buy enough of them now to configure for SPS when you get there.

Yeah that's what I kind of got from all the discussions and research I have done....

sde1500 · Mar 13, 2021

JL15219 said:
I ended up going with the Reef Breeder photon 24-V2+. I got a good deal on it and read many good things about it....hope it works out

You won’t be disappointed. It’s an excellent light. I have one waiting for a new tank I’m setting up shortly as well.

JL15219 · Mar 13, 2021

sde1500 said:
You won’t be disappointed. It’s an excellent light. I have one waiting for a new tank I’m setting up shortly as well.

Awesome! I haven't gotten to use mine yet because I'm still cycling my tank but I'm excited to try it out....I have had a lot of people tell me that I wont be disappointed. Did you do the ceiling mount or use the legs? Just curious

sde1500 · Mar 13, 2021

Legs for my current one. TBD if I use legs or mount the one for the new tank in a hood

JL15219 · Mar 13, 2021

sde1500 said:
Legs for my current one. TBD if I use legs or mount the one for the new tank in a hood

What size tank are you using it on?

sde1500 · Mar 13, 2021

JL15219 said:
What size tank are you using it on?

Photon v1 is on my 65g. Got a 16”v2 to go over probably a 20g.

Nonya · May 1, 2022

oreo5457 said:
That's a pretty broad brush you are using there.
"People" don't say that.. at least not in the spirit you present it as.

There may come a day that that is true but market factors will decide.

Or governments will decide. RoHS deadlines are looming. In Europe, that's Feb 28, 2023.

oreo54 · May 1, 2022

crit21 said:
Or governments will decide. RoHS deadlines are looming. In Europe, that's Feb 28, 2023.

My understanding is this applies to 175W or lesser merc. containing lighting.
Thing is the market will gradually eliminate the >175W bulbs as tech and costs improves.
Market will shrink (slow or fast??)

Aquariums (commercial/hobby) will not be a large enough market to sustain it.
Though running 1 lot per/yr say may keep it on life support for awhile.
You don't survive on 1 lot/yr.

Signify in their "plea" wants it global or nothing (my cynical interpretation) though they say they are in philosophical agreement with the ban.
GE will make it as long as gov and customers want it.

t5's and the like are the "low hanging fruit" atm though.

Messy,messy,messy