New LED Modular lighting at Ken's

[DelawareJim]

Watched a couple of so called "reviews" of the Aqueon on YouTube (basically taking it out of the box and setting it up). The fixture is all plastic. What's up with that?

The Finnex is looking better. I like the Ray 2 but it doesn't come in a 30 inch length. FugeRay comes in 30 inch but wastes good LED real estate on moonlights. Hmmm.

Cheers.
Jim

[krisw]

Not any cheaper, but check out Andrey's tank journal. I believe he's using the AquaRay GrowBeam LEDs...

[DelawareJim]

I've read Andrey's journal, and I like the GroBeams but price is a consideration. Also have to think about mounting to something. I don't think the GroBeams have legs like the fixture it's replacing and I don't know how mounting the LED strip in the old fixture would work. Tank is also in a room with a cathedral ceiling, so hanging is right out.

This is what I'm replacing.

http://www.innovativelights.com/esu-53015.html


Cheers.
Jim

[krisw]

The Aqua Rays have leg accessories, but you're right that they're pricey. I've had decent luck with Current USA Truelumen fixtures. Not as bright to the eye but grow plants well.

[DelawareJim]

After about a full day researching LED fixtures yesterday, I've narrowed it down to either the AquaRay GroBeam 500 from Green Leaf Aquariums or the Finnex Ray 2 from AquaVibrant. Now I just need to decide on size. From watching videos from the reefers on YouTube, about half say to go full-length for maximum light coverage, and half say to go shorter because the light dispersion will cover the ends.

For a 30 inch tank:

1. Finnex Ray 2 Dual 7,000 k 24" - $95.
2. Finnex Ray 2 Dual 7,000 k 36" - $143
3. AquaRay GroBeam 500 6,500 k single - $136.
4. AquaRay GroBeam 500 6,500 k dual - $266.

or...

5. AquaRay GroBeam 500 6,500 k single + AquaRay AquaBeam 600 14,000 k single - $279.

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com ... .html#cart
http://www.aquavibrant.com/index.php/fi ... 7000k.html

Uff Da! My head hurts!

Okay all you LED gurus. If money were not a consideration, which would you choose and why?????

Cheers.
Jim

[jweis]

I don't know which fixture would be best regarding the light output. I will say I also have a 30" wide aquarium and I have four 24" T5s over it. The corners and sides of the aquarium do not get as much light as I wish. If the 24" fixtures could be staggered then, that problem could be solved. My fixture has all the tubes in a tight row, so I don't have that option.

Do you think 2 LEDs will be enough? How deep is your tank?

[DelawareJim]

The tank dimensions are 30 x 12.5 x 19. Substrate is 17" from the top of the plastic trim.

What blows my mind is that the AquaRays have only 5 individual emitters while the Finnex have 288 emitters in the 36" for practically the same price.

Cheers.
Jim

[krisw]

The Aquarays use higher wattage LED clusters, but you may or may not have concerns about the spread. For a similar cost, you could do a diy unit from RapidLED with whatever spread you want, but you would need to build the legs/mount yourself. From everything I've read though, there are lots of happy customers with both finnex and Aquarays, so whichever best suits your pocketbook and look.

[Aaron]

The emitters one the Finnex are about 0.10 watts each and the AquaRays are 3 watt emitters. If you look at the total wattage for each fixture it's about the same if I recall.

I would go with the 36" fixture whichever one you choose. They also have 30" Fuge Ray fixtures. You could do two of those for about the same PAR and it would look nicer.

[DelawareJim]

I just received an email from AquaVibrant an they are expecting 30 inch Finnex Ray 2's sometime mid January. They don't know price yet but if you average the 24" and the 36" it should run around $119. They think it will have 192 emitters like the 24".

I think I just found my next fixture!

Cheers.
Jim