PL for me.
As titled, would like to find out your preferred lighting choice
PL vs T8 vs T5 vs MH vs LED
“Frogs have it easy, they can eat what bugs them”
"If you have no critics you'll likely have no success."
- Malcolm X
Glory Glory Man Utd!
DeZ aka Desmond
PL for me.
Advice from boss Felix
I think LED will soon take over from T5 n MH as cost gets lower and also LED produce far less heat than any of the other lights
I'm using LED for my 4 footer.
Heat transfered to heatsink, water temp below 29 degC without fan.
mk
Hi smk, may I know which brand of LED set you're using?
And yes LED will likely take over the rest as LED becomes cheaper and there're wider choices of LED sets available in the market.
“Frogs have it easy, they can eat what bugs them”
"If you have no critics you'll likely have no success."
- Malcolm X
Glory Glory Man Utd!
DeZ aka Desmond
i voted for LED. really very low in heat emission. most of my plants are moss so there's not much problem.
CRS - CRazy about Shrimps
- Alan Phang -
You can't explain it simply, you don't understand it (well enough )..." - Albert Einstein
Hi,
I'm using 3 sets of AQUA Lumen.
mk
Wow bro smk, how much did your 3 set of Aqua Lumen cost and any reviews on it? Cost wise? Performance wise? Any thing you would like to see better or change?
I'm seriously considering changing all my T5s to LEDs too
“Frogs have it easy, they can eat what bugs them”
"If you have no critics you'll likely have no success."
- Malcolm X
Glory Glory Man Utd!
DeZ aka Desmond
Hey Limz, how much would you pay for a Cree LED fixture? I know a Cree Par38 is already about $150-$180...
“Frogs have it easy, they can eat what bugs them”
"If you have no critics you'll likely have no success."
- Malcolm X
Glory Glory Man Utd!
DeZ aka Desmond
Hi,
Other US or Japanese brand LED light set price is about 3 x to 4x of what i paid for. And the rest, IMO is more for Marine, I feel that they are over powered for the type of plant i have (maybe i will have other algae problem .. hahah).
i tank size is 4ft x 1.5ft x H1.5ft.
mk
Limz: what price point are you thinking of? I think the capabilities/pricing has improved tremendously from the few years that these lights have been used. IMO, it's almost like buying computers - there's a "sweet spot" for price, and capabilities have gone up for the same prices..
You may want to take a look at my DIY if you haven't already- I started looking/designing with the CREE XR-Es, then XP-Es and Gs came along when I was ready to order, and now the XM-Ls are 'standard'... at roughly the same or slightly higher prices - but much brighter (Lm/W)
I think at the end of the day, the choice goes back to how much effort and time (and $s) you'll want to spend on tweaking this to make it work. All technologies have pros-and -cons. Me, I've settled for LEDs cos it's low(er) power and little/no heat.
Not only are they capable of being much brighter, to generate the same lumens, XM-L bulbs require lesser power, which translate into lesser heat, which translate into longer LED lifespan. For example: to generate
an Q4-binned Warm White XR-E generates 170-ish lumens at 700mA of wattage (power)
an R3-binned Neutral White XP-G generates 228 lumens at 700mA of wattage (power)
an T5-binned Neutral White XM-L generates 260 lumens at 700mA of wattage (power)
In other words, if you only need around 100+ lumens per diode, you can roughly approximate how much cooler & lesser electricity required, if you use an XM-L diode.
@neverwalkalone, do you remember me? I once approached you to DIY an LED set for me. In the end, I went to go through the learning process by myself. It proves to be, "challenging". But I think I roughly got it.
Learning the hardway, not the highway.
Photo Blog - impervious-endeavors.blogspot.com
Semi-Active currently
"if he cant be bothered to take the time to write his question properly, why should I take the time to answer him."
Already possible:
Solderless CREE XP-G Cool White LED
BJB Solderless LED Connector
not implemented in off the shelf sets... the 1st link (no offence) is just cree star with a soldered connector..
the 2nd on however, is what i am mentioning... but replacements parts for LFS sold sets (off the shelf sets) which or less burden on pocket will take some time.
Learning the hardway, not the highway.
Photo Blog - impervious-endeavors.blogspot.com
Semi-Active currently
"if he cant be bothered to take the time to write his question properly, why should I take the time to answer him."
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