Starting Amazon Style (journal perhaps)

[thebaldingaquarist]

Consider metal halide lamps? 150w? 100w mh lamps seems to be rare. You have a capable chiller, so I am thinking... Maybe 5 inches off the water surface? Haha.

Jokes aside. Do consider something along 120w. The tank is 45cm tall, so anything less than 100w, I will suggest some sort of projection or focused lamp.

[Henlek]

Consider metal halide lamps? 150w? 100w mh lamps seems to be rare. You have a capable chiller, so I am thinking... Maybe 5 inches off the water surface? Haha.

Jokes aside. Do consider something along 120w. The tank is 45cm tall, so anything less than 100w, I will suggest some sort of projection or focused lamp.

You are right! I'm short of about 40w I suspect (to achieve 3wpg). MH is so expensive, since its 40w short, do you think I can add a good clamp-on-behind LED to do that? A focus lamp is also a good idea but I worry it adds heat, not to mention electric bill. I will do some shopping, impulse aside, I might just come home with some strange add-on, post a picture and let you good bros wash me silly. You got me going here... now I want 120w minimum, especially that I want a jungle in there.

Anyway, I will flood the tank in a month's time, regardless of how the those little green men are doing. This is the 8th time I'm doing DSM with and without success, its time to lay my own time line and let them know who daddy this..

[qngwn]

Consider the MHX EVO36 from EOA, the 3W leds can penetrate great depths, and i have friends that have proven to grown HC with those 3W LED lights.
Quite pricey, but worth the investment in my opinion.

[jamonbutter]

Believe it would look great once it spread the whole branch!

[Henlek]

Consider the MHX EVO36 from EOA, the 3W leds can penetrate great depths, and i have friends that have proven to grown HC with those 3W LED lights.
Quite pricey, but worth the investment in my opinion.

Yes bro, serious trouble now, didn't consider lights properly. I like my Hagen GLO hanging there nicely, to think of changing it to EVO36 very disheartening. By the way, the EVO36 stands at around 72w, not much difference from current 2x39w T5HO, maybe the LEDs can penetrate deeper? Maybe to add on the EVO24 at the back of the tank...

Believe it would look great once it spread the whole branch!

I am so sorry to tell you that I took out the moss from the branches because they turned dry and yellow when I didn't moist it enough and under heat from the lights. No fear, just before I flood, will tie new batch again, this time on more branches than before. Thank you for your encouragement!

[Zeonic]

Bite the bullet and get the razor LED. Spend one time. Not to mention the timer and dimmer function. I'm sure your wife will like the design haha.

[qngwn]

Bite the bullet and get the razor LED. Spend one time. Not to mention the timer and dimmer function. I'm sure your wife will like the design haha.

Yes do go for maxspect if you have the budget. Timer not so much of an issue, but the dimmer, as well as in built in fan and heat sink ensures that the set is keep cooled and enhance the durability of the set.

Dimmer helps when you turn on and off the lights. This is great as it does not stress your livestock. Mine is from pitch black, to bright. Fishes always jump when the lights suddenly turn on.

[Henlek]

Bite the bullet and get the razor LED. Spend one time. Not to mention the timer and dimmer function. I'm sure your wife will like the design haha.

Yes do go for maxspect if you have the budget. Timer not so much of an issue, but the dimmer, as well as in built in fan and heat sink ensures that the set is keep cooled and enhance the durability of the set.

Dimmer helps when you turn on and off the lights. This is great as it does not stress your livestock. Mine is from pitch black, to bright. Fishes always jump when the lights suddenly turn on.

Googled your recommendations, this one? This is seriously poisonous...



My head just got bigger for lights issues. Noticed that there are 2 models to go for. The size 69cm one seems perfect for my 75cm long tank, but produces 160w, this is too much for my 150L (40G) tank? The smaller 52cm one produces 120w, sounds ideal, but have to agree a little smallish looking above my tank.

Speaking of light, I have never used LEDs. My current T5HO (total only 78w) spills a lot of light to the living room, now we don't even turn on the living room lights anymore and my wife complains the T5 is like stadium lights. Then what if razor 120w or 160w, just worried she will complain as if it was UFO lights. Is it true LEDs or MH are more focused, I don't have worry too much of light spills?

Really like this razor, with timer/dimmer and all... Bros, before I make another stupid mistake, which one would you go for in terms of my tank specs? Care to advise me on the damages expected of this 2 models?

[Urban Aquaria]

I've also been very keen on the Razor too... having great experience with LED lights on my tanks so far.

The dimming control feature on the Razor has alot of usability, especially when it comes to the fine tune adjustment of light intensity.

The traditional way to adjust light intensity in T5 or PL lights is to raise or lower the light set (which tends to result in alot of wasted light spill around the tank) or switching on less or more bulbs/tube (which are not as fine tuned and sometimes creates gaps in lighting coverage).

LED lights are more focused in their light so you'll experience alot less light spill from them... that's one of the reasons why when people switch from T5 to LED, they see less light spill and assume its less bright, but actually its because most of the light is more focused inside the tank rather than spilled outside.

Btw, here is the Razor page from Delighting:

http://delightings.com/index.cfm?GPID=111

Since the Razor light intensity can be adjusted, you might as well just get the largest 160W one (only S$100 difference in price to the 120W one)... if the light intensity is too high, just dim it lower accordingly.

In a sense you could even dim until become low light for anubias tanks too, so you have flexibility in usage across many different tank layouts.

[Zeonic]

You can checkout youtube for more info regarding the razor LED. Do get the one for planted tanks.
Like urban aquaria mentioned, no issue with too much light as you can dim down. Not but the other way!
Adjust the lighting intensity according to your needs in percentage beats raising and lowing the light fixture and on/off light tubes.

I'm not sure of the price but expect $600-$700 dollars. For $100 more I would say just go for the higher powered one. Worst case of light spill you can diy come kind of light shade.

[Henlek]

I've also been very keen on the Razor too... having great experience with LED lights on my tanks so far.

The dimming control feature on the Razor has alot of usability, especially when it comes to the fine tune adjustment of light intensity.

The traditional way to adjust light intensity in T5 or PL lights is to raise or lower the light set (which tends to result in alot of wasted light spill around the tank) or switching on less or more bulbs/tube (which are not as fine tuned and sometimes creates gaps in lighting coverage).

LED lights are more focused in their light so you'll experience alot less light spill from them... that's one of the reasons why when people switch from T5 to LED, they see less light spill and assume its less bright, but actually its because most of the light is more focused inside the tank rather than spilled outside.

Btw, here is the Razor page from Delighting:

http://delightings.com/index.cfm?GPID=111

Since the Razor light intensity can be adjusted, you might as well just get the largest 160W one (only S$100 difference in price to the 120W one)... if the light intensity is too high, just dim it lower accordingly.

In a sense you could even dim until become low light for anubias tanks too, so you have flexibility in usage across many different tank layouts.

Thank you bro Urban Aquaria for the detailed information on LEDs and razor, love your crash course. Very convinced now. Also want to let you know that your DSM HC (rock scape one) was my inspiration, along with a bro ralliart's one.

You can checkout youtube for more info regarding the razor LED. Do get the one for planted tanks.
Like urban aquaria mentioned, no issue with too much light as you can dim down. Not but the other way!
Adjust the lighting intensity according to your needs in percentage beats raising and lowing the light fixture and on/off light tubes.

Also not forgetting, so many so many thanks to bros qnqwn, Erctheanda and Zeonic for waking me up on my poor lightings, truly appreciate the many advise and recommendations, else I'll make mistakes after another. Yes I did a Youtube search, learnt that I should go for the plant one, 8000k. Like you good people said, this razor this really worth the dollar, can as good as customise. I should have started asking in AQ way before I bought all my accessories

The poison has overtaken me, I will source and try to pick up the razor 160w next week, the model for planted, if there is stock.

[limz_777]

i feel the design is nice and flat , but the placement of the leds seem far apart , will be nice if the end corners are fill up with leds too

[qngwn]

poisoned. YES! haha i'd wish to get a set as well, but not anytime soon as i'm not even working yet. Many have been satisfied with the spread and intensity of the razor, and i'm sure you would be as well.

[Henlek]

Courtesy of the following bros: qngwn, Erctheanda, Zeonic & Urban Aquaria. Thank you all for your precious inputs, made decision much easier and with confidence.

i feel the design is nice and flat , but the placement of the leds seem far apart , will be nice if the end corners are fill up with leds too

Its not far apart really, in fact clustered into 3 groups with 2 cooling fans in between. This design ok, if end corners have LEDs too, I think the light will spill out.

poisoned. YES! haha i'd wish to get a set as well, but not anytime soon as i'm not even working yet. Many have been satisfied with the spread and intensity of the razor, and i'm sure you would be as well.

Very very satisfied. Anytime better than the previous. Iwarna at Pasir Ris sold me at $100 off the listed price! Very friendly lady and uncle, have to ask though, it's not displayed.

[Henlek]

Also, like Urban Aquaria said, the razor dumps all the lights into the tank, so little spill, now I have to switch on my living room lights. Previously the T5 will illuminate the whole room, that means waste.

[felix_fx2]

Also, like Urban Aquaria said, the razor dumps all the lights into the tank, so little spill, now I have to switch on my living room lights. Previously the T5 will illuminate the whole room, that means waste.

You mount on ceiling? The R420r set comes with both mounts?

[Henlek]

Yes sir, ceiling mount. If I use the tank stand, it is so low, only about 15cm above the top of tank. I mounted mine 25cm above tank, more coverage and less shadows. The mountings are included in the set, very good quality mounts to boot. According to the instruction manual, the smaller 120w one does not come with the mounts, to take note.

[thebaldingaquarist]

NICE.

[Shadow]

nice light

[Cashflo]

Good choice on the lights! Is that the Razor Maxpect? I love the gradual dimming function to simulate dawn to dusk and also there is no glare when admiring your tank.