briscoe Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Does anyone have experience with cheap LED lights? I'm on a tight budget and was thinking of buying one. But I'm a firm believer in the ol' "you get what you pay for." Was looking at these two: http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-5W-LED-Light-12-18-24-30-36-48-72-Aquarium-Marine-FOWLR-Blue-White/281892429332?_trksid=p2060778.c100276.m3476&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140725133649%26meid%3D7ee57f7212d141a7a3e44ec7ae605956%26pid%3D100276%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D301144436717 http://www.ebay.com/itm/291651103215?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&var=590684955005&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Anyone ever use one of these? Any opinions on these in general? Thanks in advance. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlantDude Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I know a few people that have used those and liked them. It all depends what your goal is? Do you plan on growing plants, just better lighting for your shrimp etc? If it's the latter of the two, then you should be fine. If you're looking to have a scape demanding plants + shrimp you may need to look at a different light option. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briscoe Posted February 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I know a few people that have used those and liked them. It all depends what your goal is? Do you plan on growing plants, just better lighting for your shrimp etc? If it's the latter of the two, then you should be fine. If you're looking to have a scape + shrimp you may need to look at a different light option. It's for a 29 gallon well-planted shrimp tank. So I guess these lights aren't that good for plants? Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vpier Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Does anyone have experience with cheap LED lights? I'm on a tight budget and was thinking of buying one. But I'm a firm believer in the ol' "you get what you pay for." Was looking at these two: http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-5W-LED-Light-12-18-24-30-36-48-72-Aquarium-Marine-FOWLR-Blue-White/281892429332?_trksid=p2060778.c100276.m3476&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140725133649%26meid%3D7ee57f7212d141a7a3e44ec7ae605956%26pid%3D100276%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D301144436717 http://www.ebay.com/itm/291651103215?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&var=590684955005&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Anyone ever use one of these? Any opinions on these in general? Thanks in advance. I use similar kinds from china and they work just fine for plants that require low to maybe medium light. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlantDude Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 It's for a 29 gallon well-planted shrimp tank. So I guess these lights aren't that good for plants? I should probably edit my original post. Like Vpier's comment, you'll find more success with low to medium demanding plants and these lights. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I have the same lights and my low lights plants grow well in my shrimp tanks. But i also have the same brand of lights for my 40b heavily planted and with ferts and diy co2 grew a nice HC carpet. Louie, Shrimp Life and PlantDude 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I forgot to add that the LEDs with the red and green will make your greens and browns more deep and that light isnt as bright as the ones without. I prefer the ones without the red and green LEDs for shrimp viewing but if you plan in doing like a heavily planted tank that LED would definitely make the plants look better. Louie and Shrimp Life 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimp Life Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 I forgot to add that the LEDs with the red and green will make your greens and browns more deep and that light isnt as bright as the ones without. I prefer the ones without the red and green LEDs for shrimp viewing but if you plan in doing like a heavily planted tank that LED would definitely make the plants look better. I agree, I use the ones without the red/green Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctaylor3737 Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=390885496493&alt=web I actually use these for freshwater now. I got them initially for a salt tank and they grew coral great. Needed a light one day as my t5 burnt out. These black boxes make my ludwigia red. Turn the deepest red I have ever seen. They make all my plants look great. I actually ordered this larger one for my 75g. There is a smaller cheaper one too for smaller tanks. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayphly Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 I have about 7 of the Beamsworks lights which I purchased from the second Ebay seller in your link. Some of them I've had for several years now and haven't had any issues with them. They grow low-med plants nicely.I haven't used them for high light plants so I can't comment there. Can't beat their price. Shrimp Life and Louie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briscoe Posted February 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 I've got some ludwigia and rotala that need need high light to show off their red, so maybe a cheap LED isn't a good idea. Thanks all for the info, guys. Much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 http://m.ebay.com/itm/EVO-18-6500K-LED-Aquarium-Light-Freshwater-Plant-Tropical-Fish-Discus-10x-3W-/301198334979?nav=SEARCH I have the 36" version. Bright enough to make my ludwigia Atlantis and p kawagoemum show off their red hues. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louie Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 http://m.ebay.com/itm/EVO-18-6500K-LED-Aquarium-Light-Freshwater-Plant-Tropical-Fish-Discus-10x-3W-/301198334979?nav=SEARCH I have the 36" version. Bright enough to make my ludwigia Atlantis and p kawagoemum show off their red hues. The entire ludwiga Atlantis shows their red color or just near the light ? Ludwiga repens with CFL . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louie Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=390885496493&alt=web I actually use these for freshwater now. I got them initially for a salt tank and they grew coral great. Needed a light one day as my t5 burnt out. These black boxes make my ludwigia red. Turn the deepest red I have ever seen. They make all my plants look great. I actually ordered this larger one for my 75g. There is a smaller cheaper one too for smaller tanks. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk You lay them on glass or just open tank/no cover ? ctaylor3737 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briscoe Posted February 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 http://m.ebay.com/itm/EVO-18-6500K-LED-Aquarium-Light-Freshwater-Plant-Tropical-Fish-Discus-10x-3W-/301198334979?nav=SEARCH I have the 36" version. Bright enough to make my ludwigia Atlantis and p kawagoemum show off their red hues. Hmmmm, interesting. I'll have to look into that. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctaylor3737 Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 You lay them on glass or just open tank/no cover ?Just lay them on the glass is all I do. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louie Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Just lay them on the glass is all I do. Thanks . I asked because was under impression that you couldn't just lay led on glass, etc without some space in between or it would over heat but noticed that fixture did not have legs . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 The entire ludwiga Atlantis shows their red color or just near the light ? Ludwiga repens with CFL . LUDWIGA REPENS.jpg The whole plant showed its red hue. But after the tank filled in and especially after adding frog bit only new growth from the top half of the tank was reddish anything that grew below that was green with smaller petals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louie Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 The whole plant showed its red hue. But after the tank filled in and especially after adding frog bit only new growth from the top half of the tank was reddish anything that grew below that was green with smaller petals. I kept Repens and Atlantis outside and bright beautiful red but just like inside I noticed that after few inches they were not red which is why I asked you . When I used DIY C02 in my 55 gallon the Repens certainly had way more red . I'm a fan of ludwigas and actually have repens which I discarded because I had so much growing on lawn without water . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I kept Repens and Atlantis outside and bright beautiful red but just like inside I noticed that after few inches they were not red which is why I asked you . When I used DIY C02 in my 55 gallon the Repens certainly had way more red . I'm a fan of ludwigas and actually have repens which I discarded because I had so much growing on lawn without water . Man i wish i could grow aquatic plants outside! I feel bad every time i do a big trim and have to throw away a big bucket full of plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctaylor3737 Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Thanks . I asked because was under impression that you couldn't just lay led on glass, etc without some space in between or it would over heat but noticed that fixture did not have legs .It has fans built on the backSent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louie Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Man i wish i could grow aquatic plants outside! I feel bad every time i do a big trim and have to throw away a big bucket full of plants. You could sell, trade, give away extra plants . I have been able to grow a few aquatic plants on soil by accident like ludwiga, water sprite ,anubias, java fern and crypts and they might disappear when its hot and dry for weeks, months but they return when it rains for few days . svetilda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louie Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 It has fans built on the back Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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