After some deliberation, I've settled on an LED lighting choice: a pair of PAR38 LED spotlights from nanotuners.com. I chose a pair of the 20k lights, in 40 and 60 degree optics. I'm hoping this will give a much bluer appearance to my aquarium compared to the 14k bulbs I've been using in my metal halide fixture.
These bulbs offer some important advantages over the dedicated LED fixtures I was previously considering. And after reading this thread from the light's creator, I knew that intensity and coverage would not be an issue. If anything, I can expect these LEDs to provide more light intensity than my current 150watt metal halide over certain focused areas.
Price
At $120 each, these LED fixtures cost just a little more than a metal halide bulb. When you consider a usable lifespan of up to 5 years, that works out well for the wallet.
Flexibility
Using standard lighting sockets, these LEDs can be adapted to any tank size, unlike a dedicated fixture. If I need more light in the future I can simply add another lamp. If one LED burns out, the entire unit doesn't need to be serviced. Flexibility in positioning is also a big win with these LEDs. By raising and lowering the spotlight, intensity and coverage area can be dramatically changed.
These bulbs offer some important advantages over the dedicated LED fixtures I was previously considering. And after reading this thread from the light's creator, I knew that intensity and coverage would not be an issue. If anything, I can expect these LEDs to provide more light intensity than my current 150watt metal halide over certain focused areas.
Price
At $120 each, these LED fixtures cost just a little more than a metal halide bulb. When you consider a usable lifespan of up to 5 years, that works out well for the wallet.
Flexibility
Using standard lighting sockets, these LEDs can be adapted to any tank size, unlike a dedicated fixture. If I need more light in the future I can simply add another lamp. If one LED burns out, the entire unit doesn't need to be serviced. Flexibility in positioning is also a big win with these LEDs. By raising and lowering the spotlight, intensity and coverage area can be dramatically changed.
Aesthetics
A focused spotlight beam will provide a completely different look to my aquarium. I plan on focusing the 40 degree light on the large Montipora in the center, and using the 60 degree bulb at a slightly higher position for general lighting. Given my shift to soft corals and LPS, this should provide adequate illumination. In general, the shifts in lighting intensity and shadow within the tank should be more interesting than the all-over illumination of a metal halide.
Only one problem remains: finding an appropriate and appealing light fixture to mount these LEDs within. One would assume that the standard lighting socket would make this an easy process, but it has actually been incredibly difficult. A pair of wall mounted Tolomeo Mega's would be ideal. ;)
