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Which of these LED?

Archie

Archie

Seedling
Joined
28 Dec 2010
Messages
14
Location
Tunbridge Wells
I'm getting psyched about a new setup with a custom built tank. Previously I've only ever used T5/T8 tubes but it seems it's time to go LED now.

For a low tech planted setup, would this be a good choice? (Tank height 15"/38cm).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121260605...49&var=420228140716&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I've seen another that looks to be similar but has blue LEDs as well white:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390958722...49&var=660318590451&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I presume the blues are no benefit for plants, only for coral?

Please set me straight if these are not suitable. Have to say they look cheap compared to what I've had in the past. That's probably what makes me doubt them.
 
Personally I would be very very careful on the quality and lack of output from these lights. They give no lumen output and beam spread so you will really be on your own. I suspect will it not be bright enough for anything useful.

The type of LED they show, that has no external lens fitted, has a beam spread of typically 110' eg http://tinyurl.com/ny643sp shows 120' and I suspect over stated lumens, the current best Cree LED's are about 100Lm/W, so I doubt it from China. T5 HO tubes are 20-50Lm/W.

If you want LED to be better than T5 with reflector, then you are really looking for something with Cree LED's preferable 3W or 5W or 10W Cree LED's as these are the most efficient. Also external lenses to direct the light and controller to control brightness.

So any of these would be OK, using 10W LED's so decent output and LED's have external lenses to put the light in the tank. Also nice table of PAR values and comes with controller/timer to keep those light levels under control, so no light level risks here.
http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/fis...ica-otl-led-light-unit-freshwater-540727.html
http://www.arcadia-aquatic.com/classica-otl-led/

TMC also do some nice LED's and controllers, but need an external PSU/controller and don't quote PAR values, though many members have had great planted success with these (and controller).
http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/fis...-600-ultima-natural-daylight-twin-250068.html
 
At such a fraction of the price I would try the cheap ones (not if you have the money for the other ones of course). Specially for a low tech. I would go for the second option (a bit more expensive) since Ive grown plants with that type of leds. Although they will probably loose half the light intensity in a years time. I would really go for t5s though.
 
have a look at this cree option: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Qual...-DC-9-30V-Pure-White-Square-New-/181273768982

(tmc grobeams have 5 or 6 of these very same emitters) so this will be very similar in performance. I have a diy cree LED fitting using these cree xbd, and it performs perfectly, but these floodlights would probably do the job really well too and at £18 you are getting all the power of the 6 crees
 
Last edited:
ian_m said:
Far too white, at 10K plants will look washed out due too lack of red in the spectrum.
Click to expand...
Not in my case Ian. I use them in my blackwater tanks and blue light is very much necessary to balance out the orange/brown tint to the water. Cheers
 
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