What are your favorite "best Value" LED's?

[mystersyster]

Used AI Prime HDs. Probably not the answer most people will want, but they're more light than you'll ever need. They are controllable through phone apps and over the cloud. You have all the control you'll ever need. If you find them used you'll have to act quick. They're extremely popular and one of the few reefing goods that has a great resell value.

 

[Stang67]

I am working on an upgrade to a "frag tank" that is more shallow then a "traditional" tank. Since i don't need a super strong light to penetrate deep in the water column do you think this would be a good option vs getting another CBB? I am strongly considering it based on the cost and the coverage ie Length.

Current Marine Orbit. The lights aren't the greatest, but if you plan on mostly LPS/Softies. You also get a temp probe and PH for 230 bucks for a 4-5 foot light fixture. This newer one even can control all pump/powerheads. Has ramp up, down, scheduling, alarm,etc. Best budget light for beginners or those into LPS/Softy tanks not caring for the best light/trying to break the bank, while also getting all the bells and whistles.

amazon link

Aquarium LED Lighting

Shop for Aquarium LED lighting to keep your reef shining bright - Free shipping on orders $75 and up at Bulk Reef Supply!

www.marinedepot.com

 

[Fishurama]

I am working on an upgrade to a "frag tank" that is more shallow then a "traditional" tank. Since i don't need a super strong light to penetrate deep in the water column do you think this would be a good option vs getting another CBB? I am strongly considering it based on the cost and the coverage ie Length.

I would think it would work fine. I grow a Goniopora at the sandbed, posted an older video below, where these lights aren't rated so great, so im on the impression the par on these lights are under-rated, which is a rarity, since most are over-rated. My tank is 24 inches deep, I have a more cove style, my rocks don't make it past half tank, using these lights, I still can grow anything but SPS(which need to be within the first top 12 inches or so with these light IMO.(Ive seen some post SPS all over though, I forgot who though, it was a woman on this forum)

Found it. @Sarah24 is her name. So you can do SPS with these lights.


[/QUOTE]

 

[Bryknicks]

I have the reef breeder photon's and they are great. It comes with a wireless controller that you can program all six individual channels over 24 increments (each hour). Now I would have to say this is one of the better "bang for your buck" lights. If we are talking about "budget friendly" that is up to the discretion of the purchaser. I would say there are better options out there on that end but you may need to sacrifice some controllability or build quality. In that aspect I would say black boxes are the only way to go. Personally, when I think budget friendly, I think the cheapest possible on a relative reliability scale.

 

[MnFish1]

Ok, so let me set some criteria for this. What we're looking for are recommendations that would be considered "budget-friendly" (so those of us who use radions, and more expensive lights shouldn't be recommending those in this thread), but that are controllable WITHOUT having to buy an APEX or some other third-party controller. We're looking for lights that have functionality like multi-channel, ramp up/down, scheduling, etc. built into an app (so this would exclude most black boxes, etc. that won't have more than manually adjustment capabilities).

What are your favorite options for functionality/affordability...the best BANG for your BUCK so to speak?

The question is partly - though - don't you get what you pay for? if not why would anyone buy radions or others?

 

[southerntnreefer]

SB Reef lights. I have 3 older 16 basics over my 220, and i have a 45 extreme wifi on order ( my lfs is a dealer and gets them directly from SB) that should be in shortly. They grow Coral like nothing ive ever seen, and more money to be spent on coral.

 

[S2G]

I think viparspectra is about as budget friendly as it gets

 

[cvrle1]

The question is partly - though - don't you get what you pay for? if not why would anyone buy radions or others?

While for a lot of items this is true, I will disagree for lights. What majority of folks are paying for is features that dont help grow corals any better than other lower cost lights. Dawn, Dusk, WiFi and so on will not grow your corals any better than CBBs. For some people they are a must, which is fine, but they are not mandatory for coral growth.

I think viparspectra is about as budget friendly as it gets

VS is great light, but they dont have any features that OP stated. As such, they shouldnt be included in this thread.

 

[george51349]

Current Marine LED PRO.
They are discontinued, so you can sometimes find them cheap.
I know some people have issues with their own, but mine has always worked.

 

[Acrophobia]

Budget friendly $75 Lominie Pixie 30
4 channels you can control

 

[Daniel@R2R]

The question is partly - though - don't you get what you pay for? if not why would anyone buy radions or others?

Yes! I do agree with that (at least to a point). My goal in this thread is to find some options that can be recommended for people who may not have the budget for radions, but who want more than a black box with turn dial tuners.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

How much area of a tank dose one of those cover?

I'm not totally sure, but I bet @noopsyche, @Manose, or @ScottW could help us with that question.

 

[Manose]

I'm not totally sure, but I bet @noopsyche, @Manose, or @ScottW could help us with that question.

24x24 for lps and some mixed reefs but 18x18 on a sps main tank.

 

[ScottW]

How much area of a tank dose one of those cover?

You will get 24x24 on anything under 18" deep, anything over 18" they suggest it's more of a 18x18 spread. I was an Ecotech user since gen 1, and made the switch and have never looked back. I am beyond impressed with the K7, looking past the cost savings (b/c that is worth it alone), the quality is top notch, the look is very good out in the open, and they have done wonderful for me. I am setting up a 24x24x12 tank for the kids and will run 1 K7 over that tank, and will be able to grow anything I put in it. I run 2 x 36" Hybrid with 6 K7 over my 83x35x15 grow trough and I had to dial the K7's down a LOT. @Manose is running a 36" Hybrid with a pair of K7's over his 36" rimless tank and it is beautiful.

There are so many great lighting options out there. if you check out the noopsycheusa fb page there are a lot of users posting photos. @Dana Riddle did a great review on them here as well.

Best bang for the buck without giving up quality IMO, Noop's are hard to beat!

 

[cvrle1]

I'm not totally sure, but I bet @noopsyche, @Manose, or @ScottW could help us with that question.

From what I remember 1 light has coverage of 18x18 (45cm x 45cm, so 17.7 inches to be precise)

Edit: I see that ScottW beat me to it.

 

[ScottW]

From what I remember 1 light has coverage of 18x18 (45cm x 45cm, so 17.7 inches to be precise)

You for sure can get away with 24x24 on a mixed tank under 18" tank depth. If you are 100% SPS I would agree 18x18 is what I would run or size them for.

 

[acer]

I’ve always like the SB Reef Lights design and reviews. The 18” WiFi right now is $230 which seems like a really good price to me if I were looking something with good track record and Wifi connectivity. *I personally have not used them but have seen some stellar tanks in person that utilize them.

I tried to order this exact light, paid via PayPal, they assured me it was "in stock" and I would have my light in a week. After 10 days , I started emailing and texting after nearly 3 weeks, I gave up and cancelled the order and got my money back. I never heard from them.

 

[NanoDJS]

The Reefspec Redsea 90 is hands down way out in front of leds that are much more money ... I have been using them for 4 months now and its night and day with basically any LED produced until now , for reefing and coral health , color , and growth. Ive owned Prime's , black boxes , hydra , radion , some home made fixtures , MH , and a few T5 and PC hoods , these things rock , the control is the best easiest to use in the industry and has every bell and whistle you could want plus accurate moon phasing and SHIMMER !!!! with no disco ball effect. For the price it will be a long time coming till somebody out does them. BRS has a phenomenal video on them I suggest everyone go watch , the numbers dont lie

 

[Homebrewer]

I’ve had success with TMC Aquaray. A little more than $200 a tile, no moving parts, and a 5 year warranty. I have two of the NP 1500’s over a 65gal and keep softies, LPS, and plenty of nems.

 

[LadyMac]

I would think it would work fine. I grow a Goniopora at the sandbed, posted an older video below, where these lights aren't rated so great, so im on the impression the par on these lights are under-rated, which is a rarity, since most are over-rated. My tank is 24 inches deep, I have a more cove style, my rocks don't make it past half tank, using these lights, I still can grow anything but SPS(which need to be within the first top 12 inches or so with these light IMO.(Ive seen some post SPS all over though, I forgot who though, it was a woman on this forum)

Found it. @Sarah24 is her name. So you can do SPS with these lights.

[/QUOTE]
I also have this light, the pro version. So two of them. My tank is 21” and I have the lights the lowest they go in the mounts. Do I spy a BTA? Does it do ok with the light? What’s your settings? Right now on the daylight my whites are 75 and everything else is 100.