7.5 gallon fuge lighting question. (DIY Nano tower system)

I have about a 2inch gap in my current design top place a light for a fuge and have been gone from the hobby for several years I come back and see LED this LED that PAR here PAR there @.@ missed a lot of things in my time away from aquariums/forums etc. So to my question!

I found this nifty little Marineland LED 11inch light that would fit perfectly over the fuge but I dunno my elbow from my ******** when it comes to these new fangled LED light systems. I'm semi open to DIY LED (Building a Nano reef tower - reef overflow into sump and display fuge with a t off and ball valve for fuge - Fuge overflow into sump return plus an ATO) but as I said I have no clue about these new lighting systems so if I can find an effective nano size lighting unit that will work for what I need it to then shmeh on DIY. Me and electrical DIY don't mix to well XD.

So the Marineland 11in LED over a fuge $32 worth it or $32 waste?

Tank ya kindly!
Geoff

TL1000RSquid said:

Whats in the fuge? I've got doubts that little marineland will really grow chaeto the power output on it is rather small. Cheapest and easy solution would be a clip on lamp with CFL bulb, or a small t8/t5no strip light. If you want DIY LED check out the XRE/CREE kits http://reefledlights.com/

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The nano is going to be bare bottom so I was going to put 3-5" DSB in the fuge with chaeto maybe some rubble but not much I intend to throw base rock in sump not sure if I want to make it a drip plate sump or not I had a concept drawn for a vertical sump using a top drip plate over floss (or other) then a drip plate over LR resting on a slant baffle letting the water roll down over another baffle alla donkey kong style into the sump return. Wasn't something I was designing very hard just a jot down idea. It would need modification for a skimmer area before dripping. I might sketch it out a bit more I might not depends on if anyone thinks it could work or does work dunno if anyone has designed one similar or not.

Geoff

I think I found the perfect solution for the fuge lighting!

http://www.amazon.com/LEDwholesaler...t/dp/B002VP07VE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_41

Comments anyone?

Geoff

XanAvaloni said:

scroll down and read the reviews. Many people were deeply dissatisfied by the actual amount of light produced, at least for aquarium applications. I vote for "waste of $32".

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Yeah thats a different light I found just goofin' on amazon I got excited 12 x 12 would completely cover the fuge area and it was 1.5inch thick and says 6000k-7000k after I post the link I went through and saw the reviews ; ;

But I found a couple other nano sized LED like http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Reef-Bright-p/56210.htm and http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Reef-Bright-p/56211.htm seem to have potential for my needs and can't argue the price. Currently reworking my design for the tower to place a CFL bulb with reflector built in with 38par 5000k.

Geoff

TL1000RSquid said:

Not sure about the oddysea LED's, I own a T5HO fixture from them, the reflectors are garbage, the included bulbs were worthless, LED night lights burn out, the over all build quality is rather poor. Get what you pay for its a 4 bulb fixture but with the reflectors I'd rate its output closer to a 2 bulb fixture, it was cheap and grows my freshwater plants well enough but I wouldn't use it over a reef tank if I wanted to do more then soft coral.

Cheap 6500k CFL bulb is all you really need for chaeto.

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Yeah I am reworking my design keeping the older one in case I find a thin unit that will work. The only bulb I have found is 5000k http://www.lowes.com/pd_321682-7577...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

Hows that?

Geoff