5 replies to this topic

[centrarchid]

I am going to renovate my fish room (personal, not lab) with particular emphasis on reducing the chicken related components.  Additionally, a 125 gallon aquarium will be added hopefully to support about 6 Swampfish where forage is largely produced in the tank in which they are housed.  Java moss will dominate the plant community.  Goal is to breed swamp fish using photoperiod manipulation and possibly temperature manipulation as well.  This will be third attempt.  

 

Lighting over last decade has been a problem with quality of florescent units really taking a nose dive.  Currently I am working with 8 units in public settings but non are over a few months old.  One unit I have in home.  Experience with aged units is what I am lolling for.  They cost a lot.  How long can I expect them to last?  Any suggestions on brand?

[Michael Wolfe]

I've got no experience with LED units large enough for a 125.  But I have had LEDs on my 75 for the last several years, and I would say that they are lasting a couple of years with no degradation of output that I can perceive.  After that, it seemed that I had some problems getting good plant growth form them and I added another unit which seemed to improve things.

 

I think they are well worth the investment based on my experience with fluorescents failing every six months or so. 

[swampfish]

I have had good luck with both eLive and Finnex LED fixtures. I have not noticed any decrease in plant growth in either unit. The eLive unit is about four years old and the Finnex unit is one and one-half years old.

 

On the other hand, I run fluorescent bulbs until they burn out after several years and don't notice any reduction in plant growth, so maybe I just don't look close enough. However, I read an article in a fish magazine last year where they measured fluorescent output and found no significant drop-off of lumens over several years. There was a shift in wavelength after a couple of years due to deterioration of glazes used in fluorescent bulbs. 

 

Phil Nixon

[Matt DeLaVega]

I may be able to sell some full spectrum LED lights pretty soon. They were developed for lettuce growing. Very efficient. Built for 4x4 illumination, but could be modified for high intensity 2x4 or lower intensity 2x8. 166 watts each. Almost twice the PAR as equal watt fluorescent. 45% efficient light. More to come if anyone is interested. Ideal for aquaponics the way they are. White light, not funky pink and purple.

[centrarchid]

I just purchased a Fluvial unit that covers half of tank.  Other half not be lit.

[Doug_Dame]

I bought an LED shop-light on 2/27 that I thought was a super-value. No idea of the PAR rating for plants, of course.

 

WinPlus brand

    * "2 bulb" enclosed design

    * 4000k color temp (bright white) - CRI 80 - 3800 lumens

    * LED life cycle - listed as 50,000 hours     

    * 48W - standby mode 1.5w

    * lumens per watt efficiency: 79.17

    * waterproof rating IP 65 (**)

    * operating temp = -4F to 104F 

    * dimensions = L 45.6" x W 4.9" x H 3.3"

         - so NOT long enough to balance on the ends of a 48" fish tank

         - comes with hardware for hanging or surface mount

    * and ... didn't realize this when I bought it, and not terribly useful for a fish tank light ... motion detection !

           - can be adjusted for sensitivity and duration, or the motion detection can be switched off

    * 3-prong power cord is close to 5 foot long. 

    * pretty good looking for a shop light. 

 

===> $39.99 at CostCo. (And their local flyer had a $8-off virtual-coupon.)

 

Being at Costco, it's not necessarily an item that's going to be in their permanent inventory.

 

** quote: "IP65 rating: Storm, sand and wind proof. The product is able to withstand splashed water from any direction (does not include being fully submerse in water or deep snow)."