[Tinsnips]

Just sitting with my morning coffee and my light roasted a ballast. Lots of smoke and crackling bubbling noises. Fried real good. Unplugged and will pull it apart when I get home.

 

[VWD]

That’s a drag, know I have to go back and see what type light.

 

[Tinsnips]

It is a Sun Blaze 6 bulb T5. Running 54W Reef Master bulbs. My wife was home at the time and now doesn't trust the light. Apparently I am now looking for a new light...

 

[VWD]

That’s could happen to any ballast on any light fixture I guess. T5 are such great lights.

 

[Tinsnips]

Yeah. I was looking at LEDs due to the fact you can control them easily but they are beastly expensive here. T5 lights are half the price. I am thinking about going to a 4 bulb. One actinic and three reef bulbs. Dunno. Gotta shop a bit.

 

[VWD]

LEDs are ridiculous when it comes to price here also. By now you probably figured out I’m not a fan of LEDs. I love T5 and MH, but even the old power compact lights were great. But it like everything else, the suppliers push the LEDs and for the most part discontinued selling MH and sell very little T5’s.
leds can grow corals and do a good job . They are intense and produce little heat.

 

[VWD]

Not sure of what your economy is is Canada and price of gas, but I would buy really quick as I think the prices are going to jump up real soon.

 

[Tinsnips]

Regular gas is around $8.45 a gallon right now. It is $8.80 at the highway truck stops. Diesel is higher. I put $200.00 in my truck and it didn't fill. In that sense, I can get some lights for about the cost of a tank of gas. Sounds cheaper when you put it like that...it ain't though

 

[Tinsnips]

What is a good brand name for Reef lighting?

 

[VWD]

What is a good brand name for Reef lighting?

Really depends on budget. I like Reefbreeders, great lighting and not super ridiculous. I been using one of there early versions for years. I also have some Kessils which are great but would be expensive on a 75 gallon because you would have to go with multiple lights to get coverage. Then the ones Hack and Jerry use. Good lights , reasonable price but I think you only have the option to hang.

 

[jerryclunsford]

You can build a tank mount with good DIY skills not that hard.

 

[Tinsnips]

You can build a tank mount with good DIY skills not that hard.

I have the skills. Do you mean build a light or the mount? I already have a hanging mount set up. I did consider building my own light to be honest.

 

[jerryclunsford]

I was talking about a mount. However you can build your own LED lights it will not save any money if you use good quality parts though and there is not any point in doing it if don’t use good parts.

 

[hackshobby]

VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control 2pcs165W LED Aquarium Light For Coral Reef Fish Tank 640206933377 | eBay

165W LED Aquarium Light. Led Aquarium light series. - Can not program sunrise, sunset and moonlight. Pro series P600 led light. Pro series P1000 led light. Pro series P1500 led light. Pro series P2000 led light.

www.ebay.com

DISCLAIMER......I get NO kickback from these folks!

I have only had mine since January, so am far from an expert, or ready to claim what kind of longevity we're looking at. Jerry got me hooked on them.

I loved my t5's , but the coast of bulbs were just getting ridiculous, and finding them was becoming 'difficult'. If these last me a year, they're still cheaper than (16) 4' bulbs.....I'll be thrilled if I can get 3-4 years out of them.

Hack

 

[VWD]

LEDs last for years, if you have a par meter you can document on if they slowly degrade. I imagine they do overtime. But you can increase intensity if that was the case.
He getting a kickback for sure guys.

 

[hackshobby]

......sssshhhhhhhhhh.

But yes, I will be carefully documenting this journey with them Vinnie......PAR METER will travel.
Hack

 

[VWD]

Like I was telling Doug and Rick the other night in chat. I have never own or used a par meter. With vHO , T5 and MH really no need. The only reef I used LEDs in was my 120 that I lost in flood. It didn’t take long to get the light to grow SPS.

 

[hackshobby]

Whiskey sent me his when I had my 'dinosaur-lights'....the t12's and the t8's crammed into my hood covered in foil. Was curious about the output over my tank, plus I had a whole wall of windows to offset them. I have since went out and bought one like his......wanted it for when I got my new t5s, so I didn't burn all my Corals up. 😁

They did the trick for keeping my softies, but think my PAR from just my lights at the top of the reef was struggling to hit 100......and at the bottom may have been around 45 PAR.

The t5's spoiled me....(2) 8-bulb 4' fixtures.....YEAH, that was a PAR MACHINE!

Though these new LEDs would make them cry in envy!
Hack

 

[Tinsnips]

Well to rebuild the existing T5 light I would be needing 6 bulbs at $35.00 each and three ballasts at $40.00 each. That is around $350.00 and an expected $210 per year afterwards for bulbs replacements.

If I can find LED lights for $500 I will be 2 years to the break even point. Not including the energy savings.

 

[VWD]

You should be able to find lights for that.