wow..LED is expensive!

What are you trying to keep, will decide what LED you'll need? They start at about $350. for 2'x2' coverage for anything under it or $200 for softies. Just ball park figures.

What size tank do you have? 

To keep any kind of coral in your 55, each fixture covers about 24" x 24".

Ecoray 60D $300

StarkLED 60W $369

Aqua Illumination SOL $ 399

Eco Tech XR30W $750

I personal do no not have any of these fixtures I only have softies and LPS run a 1w LED fixture. But have read good info from others about these fixtures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid 

To keep any kind of coral in your 55, each fixture covers about 24" x 24".

Ecoray 60D $300

StarkLED 60W $369

Aqua Illumination SOL $ 399

Eco Tech XR30W $750

I personal do no not have any of these fixtures I only have softies and LPS run a 1w LED fixture. But have read good info from others about these fixtures.

Hey there....I have been looking into the LED lights myself, replacement bulbs seem to be a problem...5000 hours is only 15 to 18 months. (same life as T5HO bulbs) Some units have more expensive replacements than others, some cost over $16.00 per two so if your unit needs you to replace bulb per bulb, that can really add up  or if you have a whole panel at a time to re-purchase, which is just as expensive as the light itself.

The only true advantage is that they run 100% cool and won't heat the tank...but T5s really don't either.

I would go with a nice 4 bulb T5HO unit if I were you. $300.00 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Quills 

Aye...ok. first off leds are rated for 50,000 hours not 5,000 so thats pretty significant. Ofcorse not all of them will last that long. You also have to take into consideration about the placement of a fixture. Inside a moisture ridden canopy is probably one of the worst places you could put a fixture if you expect them to last. True they dont transfere heat to the tank. But theu are more energy efficient. And they dont lose efficiency like every other type of lighting system does. If you find that you have to replace a couple leds after a couple years its still far cheaper than anual bulb replacement of t5 or halide.

 Hi, the thing I read said 5000 and another said 4500...but maybe a typo on their part. (50.000 = 5 years)  I can't find replacement bulbs for any unit I see advertised. Acrylic51 showed me a panel, so I checked to see what they wanted for them and it runs as high as the original lights, I figured that's because the DIY guys are using them. The ones Florida Joe posted run 2 for $16.99 if you have a unit that has 140 bulbs that's a redicules amount of money to replace them.

Maybe nobody has had to replace them yet so nothing is on the market....but that just makes no sense. If they last 5 years, are they considered toss outs? I'm weird like that, I look to see what it costs to maintain anything. An RO unit needs filters, and lighting systems need bulbs.

Flower I talked to my buddy today during lunch, and if you can get them disassembled good luck were his exact words.....My buddy is a tight wad that will nickel and dime everything and if he says it's not worth the hassle, than honestly to the trash and start again!!!!!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by acrylic51 

Flower I talked to my buddy today during lunch, and if you can get them disassembled good luck were his exact words.....My buddy is a tight wad that will nickel and dime everything and if he says it's not worth the hassle, than honestly to the trash and start again!!!!!!!!

Wow, so my moonlight Leds are toss aways, I feared as much... Oh well, at least I know where to get them for a replacement, I only used them 2 years and only at night, I unplugged them during the day...what about the expensive LEDs that folks are getting for their tanks...surely they don't expect to toss out those lights.
 

I'm sure the expensive ones are replaceable but the question is or has to be seen the cost to replace.  I know Corey had mentioned about the cost with the AI units.

Sent you a PM Flower.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by patti w 

i want to do this but i am not a handyperson with DIY. is there an affordable light system already to plug and play?

RapidLED.com now has plug and play systems. No solder. All you do is connect the connectors and screw down the LEDs.

Heres a picture of the kit for the 29 cube.