Thoughts on FLUVAL Marine & Reef 2.0 Lights?

[125gSW]

Hey everyone,

What's everyones thoughts on the lights below:
http://fluvalaquatics.com/us/saltwater/aquarium-lighting/series/marine-and-reef-2/

I know they're not super high end, but I am slowly trying to transition into reef. Looking for something that's at a good price range, can sit right on top of the tank, and can allow me to keep beginner/easy corals. I would rather buy a high end light setup when I'm prepared to actually utilize its full function.

 

[Mike N]

You can get various chinese black box style LEDs for close to that price that are proven to work. I would do that before buying one of these marine and reef lights.
However, I have no experience with the fluval leds so I'm speaking out of ignorance. Following along for people with actual experience.

 

[125gSW]

You can get various chinese black box style LEDs for close to that price that are proven to work. I would do that before buying one of these marine and reef lights.
However, I have no experience with the fluval leds so I'm speaking out of ignorance. Following along for people with actual experience.

Any recommendations? Where may I find these LEDs?

Also saw your location, hope you and your tank mates are doing okay form Harvey!

 

[Mike N]

Any recommendations? Where may I find these LEDs?

Also saw your location, hope you and your tank mates are doing okay form Harvey!

Luckily, the flood missed my house by about an 1/8 of a mile. My guys and I are A-OK, thanks.
What size tank are you trying to light? Do you plan on keeping LPS/SPS coral?

 

[125gSW]

Luckily, the flood missed my house by about an 1/8 of a mile. My guys and I are A-OK, thanks.
What size tank are you trying to light? Do you plan on keeping LPS/SPS coral?

Wow that's close, good to hear!

This is for a 125 gal tank thats 72 inches long, so I'd have to get 2 36" light strips.
As for corals, really just aiming for low maintenance hardy corals, so whatever is the best between them. Zoanthids, GSP, etc... willing to take recommendations as well. Because this is purely new for me, I dont want to get anything super expensive or anything if I cant handle it.

 

[tdileo]

I haven't used the Fluvals but I have a GalaxyHydro 55x3 LED (Chinese black box) and it cost me $80 on Amazon, and it even grows high light corals like acropora only on about 55% power total. For a 72" long tank I would reccomend you get 3 of these, but of course you can start with 1 or 2 if thats all you can afford and leave the other areas without corals until you are ready for the extra light. I currently just have 1 but am thinking of either getting a second or adding two T5s to help get slightly better spread and reduced shadows.

 

[Mike N]

Theres a few site sponsors here that make some great lights and generally low cost:
http://sbreeflights.com/
http://nanoboxreef.com/
http://reefbreeders.com/
The above are considered to be higher end than your typical black box LED.

 

[Test led]

After looking up the specs on these lights you may want to think about a different fixture. Fluval advertises a par of 55 at 18 inches of depth, that is using their mounting legs pretty much sitting on top of the tank. Your tank is about 24 inches, this means par would be maybe 10 or less by the way it falls off on their chart. This would make growing any corals at or near the bottom of your aquarium very hard. And the complaints on the controls may leave you regretting your purchase. For the price they are asking you could buy 3 Mars Aqua black boxes from ebay and have better coverage and better light penetration into your tank.

 

[jerseypete]

I used galaxy hydro for a frag tank. Worked great. I have hydras over main tank. Much better. Programmable. Really think about what your going to buy
It's sometimes cheaper to buy what you really want. Then to go cheaper and upgrade later.

 

[125gSW]

I haven't used the Fluvals but I have a GalaxyHydro 55x3 LED (Chinese black box) and it cost me $80 on Amazon, and it even grows high light corals like acropora only on about 55% power total. For a 72" long tank I would reccomend you get 3 of these, but of course you can start with 1 or 2 if thats all you can afford and leave the other areas without corals until you are ready for the extra light. I currently just have 1 but am thinking of either getting a second or adding two T5s to help get slightly better spread and reduced shadows.

Thank you, I will definitely look through them. Is there a place to find "Chinese black box"? Can they rest right on top of the canopy or do they need to be suspended? Only issue is there's relatives with kids that visit often and lets just say they have 0 boundaries lol

Theres a few site sponsors here that make some great lights and generally low cost:
http://sbreeflights.com/
http://nanoboxreef.com/
http://reefbreeders.com/
The above are considered to be higher end than your typical black box LED.

Awesome, I will go through all of these. Anything personal you've tried form these?

After looking up the specs on these lights you may want to think about a different fixture. Fluval advertises a par of 55 at 18 inches of depth, that is using their mounting legs pretty much sitting on top of the tank. Your tank is about 24 inches, this means par would be maybe 10 or less by the way it falls off on their chart. This would make growing any corals at or near the bottom of your aquarium very hard. And the complaints on the controls may leave you regretting your purchase. For the price they are asking you could buy 3 Mars Aqua black boxes from ebay and have better coverage and better light penetration into your tank.

Good catch, I didn't see that. You're right, I need light penetration properly. One of the main reasons I looked at the Fluval one was the advertisement of being able to place the lights right on top of the canopy instead of suspending them. Trying to find something similar but more effective.

I used galaxy hydro for a frag tank. Worked great. I have hydras over main tank. Much better. Programmable. Really think about what your going to buy
It's sometimes cheaper to buy what you really want. Then to go cheaper and upgrade later.

I have all the capability to blow money on the lights right now, but to be honest, I feel like I would be wasting the power of the lights for beginner corals. So I'm looking for something in between. Currently I travel a lot, so sometimes I have to trust family or friends to feed the tank. That's why I would like beginners, because I would rather not put the pressure of more advance corals on others if I'm not there.

 

[Test led]

I would look at Orbit Marine Pro. Can sit low and has the power to grow coral.

 

[zuri]

I use these on a frag tank and have 20l in planning for yuma/softies very good price...I also have apair of bb on my dt wish I had t5... but again saves on bulbs/heat
edit: it's late what Test led said^

 

[tdileo]

I have mine suspended from the ceiling. I know a few stores sell black box LEDs but its uncommon, you will likely have to order them on Amazon.

 

[125reef_AnnaElyse]

I know I’m late to this thread, but I hope you didn’t buy these lights. I bought three at separate stores at different times, and all three of them go through periods of time where they flicker between the light settings. Only reason I still have them up is because I can’t afford a new light setup for the tank right now.

 

[125gSW]

I know I’m late to this thread, but I hope you didn’t buy these lights. I bought three at separate stores at different times, and all three of them go through periods of time where they flicker between the light settings. Only reason I still have them up is because I can’t afford a new light setup for the tank right now.

I did not, thanks for your review tho i will definitely avoid these at all costs. I'm going with Current USA lights