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LED Lighting for under a hood of a custom 60CM

Aeropars

Aeropars

Member
Joined
9 Jul 2007
Messages
818
Location
Leicester
Hi Guys,

I've only ever had a Juwel Rio 180 and its probably a bit too big for me being able to keep the tank how I want it.

I'm going to get a custom TMC Signature clone from Aquariums Ltd as I'm only allowed a new tank if it has a hood to prevent the cats getting in it!
mat%20stadia%20cabinet%20TT1.jpg

The lighting will therefore be mounted on the underside of the hood. I was thinking of the TMC range of LED lights for this.

So what would you go with? The Grobeam 600 or the Ultima 1500? I was thinking the Ultima might not give enough spread on the 60cm width.

Whats your thoughts?
 
Hey. I am not familiar with the tank so can't comment on which unit to get.

What I will say, as a Grobeam user, make sure you budget for the controller. The lights are incredibly bright at 100%.

If you are just using 1 or 2 Grobeams, you can get the 2 channel controller which is about £80.

Aaron
 
Are you saying its 60cm long?

For me the decision here is whether you can get away with one grobeam 600, or whether you should buy a twin pack. The 1500 is slightly more than the price of a twin pack, and from what I've read the extra power isn't going to be something you can make use of, as it's like a deathray at 100% anyways. I think it's more suited to suspension above the tank. As you've said, the 600 will have more uniform spread, too. You can save ~£20 by buying twin 600s, vs ~£40 if you realise you only need to buy one.

edit: http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/showthread.php?t=106998

there is also mention here of a single grobeam 600 being ~35 micromols at 40cm from the light, which is "medium" light. Two would be high light, and you'd need your CO2 spot on before you could crank them up to full.
 
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I have a TMC 600, I plan on using 2 of these as a lid. I actually have one at home but haven't tested it to see if it fits, I'm sure it will though.
 
Aeropars said:
I was thinking the Ultima might not give enough spread on the 60cm width.
Click to expand...
I agree, I don't think a single tile a few cms from the surface is going to work for you. You need some distance between the light and the surface to get a nice, even spread. You'll end up with dark corners and a spotlight in the middle.
 
Thanks for your comments guys.

Perhaps something to help quell the debate as to 1 vs 2 Grobeams then...

I'll be injecting pressurised CO2.
Filter will be a Eheim Pro 3 2080 running on full whack and I'll have a Koralia in standby if needed.
I'm not going for high light however having the option is appealing.
No idea on plants yet. Probably a mixture of stems and crypts and i'd like to have a go at a HC carpet or something like that.
 
Aeropars said:
tank if it has a hood to prevent the cats getting in it!
Click to expand...
You must have intrepid cats, mine only went for a swim once before concluding that she'd reconsider the tank as a perch ...
(the glass top was off that day ... now I can safely forget to replace the glass ;))
 
Hi all
alto said:
You must have intrepid cats, mine only went for a swim once before concluding that she'd reconsider the tank as a perch ...
(the glass top was off that day ... now I can safely forget to replace the glass ;))
Click to expand...
<"Our cat"> isn't so keen on the 2' tank since she knocked the light unit off, but she spends most of her time perched on the small tank. She is quite a "playful" cat so this has the advantage of putting her at head height where she can "pat" unsuspecting passers-by.

cheers Darrel
 
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