LED Lighting Questions

[jeebus]

Hey everyone, I've been out of the game for a while but looking to get back in, starting with an upgrade to my lights.

I currently have a 90 gallon freshwater African cichlid tank with a 4x48" T5 Chinese Coralife knockoff, but want to upgrade. I see that LEDs have come a long way in the last few years. I could use some friendly advice, feedback on the pros and cons of them.

(I tried searching for LED lighting, but the LED is too short so no results returned.)

[SunnyHouTX]

Howdy Jeebus.

Pros: lower smaller profile, less heat, more efficient, shimmer, long life
Cons: initial cost is a little higher, can't change bulbs to change color temperature as needed

I have Ecoxotic 8000K stunners on all my tanks. I actually had a 90 gallon a little while ago and one 48" LED strip was enough to light it up well.

[jeebus]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I'm okay with paying a little extra for all the extra benefits that come with them. Do you have any pics of your 8k's?

Do they actually give off the advertised "shimmer" effect like VHOs?

[jeebus]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I'm okay with paying a little extra for all the extra benefits that come with them. Do you have any pics of your 8k's?

Do they actually give off the advertised "shimmer" effect like VHOs?

[SunnyHouTX]

It does have shimmer like MH lights. However, it's a "finer grain" shimmer compared to the MH, since there are so many little point sources on the LED strip.

Two 36" strips sitting on the glass top on my 210:



LEDs:



Tank lit up:

[SunnyHouTX]

And my old 90 gal:

[johnnymisty]

Imo led is the way to go if your just lighting the tank for fish only cause you can get the knock off leds cheap and it cuts down on the electric bill if doing corals or plants you'll need to buy better quality led lights I was shown a 36" led fixture 3 watt leds with 2 rows I believe it was 24 leds for $103 plus shipping that's what ill do for my tank soon enough

[jeebus]

Thanks for all the replies and pictures. I think I will be going with LED. I think I just need to find the right temp. Thanks!

[SunnyHouTX]

What Africans so you have in the tank? 8000K works really well for almost all Africans

[eklikewhoa]

go with higher wattage LEDs and they will give you the shimmer you want.