new upgrade! drilled 12g aquapod

Hey man, glad you got a new tank going. How many leds are you talking with 18 watts?

 

I think you said it wasn't a good brand right? I don't think so Travis.

 

Good brand or cheap brand, I think you would want to shoot for at least 12 3w LEDs.

 

I knew the brand just didn't say. A year ago before I went with my AI I had 2 marineland leds over my 90 for 6 months and prob lost over half my stuff. I think marineland is better than beamworks. You might be ok with the mushrooms but idk about anything else. Just trying to help you out. Imo you might not be ok on 6.

 

Do a DIY

 

They do have solderless connectors

 

I would do it for you if I were closer. Check out stevesleds if your wanting to stay on a budget. I have used epistars from them with no problems and good growth, but have switched to the luxeons they carry. If you can find someone close to help you, you could put one together for around $50 on there and not have to wait 3 weeks like you would if you ordered ebay.

 

Use your lights! Try what you have! You will always get a great debate on here about lighting. And always about LED's. I have been told that the Odyssa T5 fixtures sucked and don't buy them, but I have had two and saved over 300.00 on them even buying new better bulbs to go in them. They are cheaply made,but do the job and look great. I also used a beamworks LED fixture on my 40breeder(24 3w leds) 36" long and it did an amazing job with my corals. It coast me 150.00 shipped, but to buy a Marineland that was not even 3 wtt led was twice the money. The only reason I went to t5 was the spread was just not right for such a wide tank like the 40 breeder. I would have needed another fixture. I also wanted to have separate power to blue and whites. The Led fixtures don't offer that and so I went with anther odyssa t5 fixture.


Try it and give us some feed back! you can always figure something else out if needed. It also depends on what you are putting in there. It would be fine for fish only for sure. If you add coral make sure there lighting needs are not as high. Mushrooms some leathers and so on...


Just my two cents!


KP