Got my paycheck yesterday and I've got $200 left over, so that's my budget.

Questions:
1. What are good LED manufacturing companies? What wattage LEDs will I need for a 3 gallon? Kelvin rating?

2. The light fixture currently attached to the tank is a cheap low-quality LED set that seems better suited as a moonlight (I've been using it as such for awhile now). Can I remove the LEDs from the existing fixture and drop some high powered LEDs in instead, or are they soldered onto a PCB (printed circuit board) and will require me to bust out my soldering gun?

3. If I have to go with an external LED fixture, where can I find a good light for a 3 gallon nano?

Thanks all!

__________________
Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

Shenzhen ***** Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd.

LEDs are soldered into a board. I would just get a whole new fixture.

__________________

29g Tall FW: Many Swordtails: 1 lemon, 6-8 neon/pineapple, 1 Gold Tuxedo, ? fry; 1 Clown Pleco; 3 Otocinclus Cats, and MTS.
Planted: Amazon Swords.

The only place where success comes before work
is in the dictionary.

This link might be helpful.

__________________

29g Tall FW: Many Swordtails: 1 lemon, 6-8 neon/pineapple, 1 Gold Tuxedo, ? fry; 1 Clown Pleco; 3 Otocinclus Cats, and MTS.
Planted: Amazon Swords.

The only place where success comes before work
is in the dictionary.

That's an awesome link, thanks!

I just got going with *****, talking to them on a quote for my 29 gallon and 3 gallon. Looking for 50/50 6700K and 5500K or 10000K and 5500K. My contact is discussing things with the company engineer tomorrow. I'll keep you guys posted.

__________________
Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

Glad I could help.

__________________

29g Tall FW: Many Swordtails: 1 lemon, 6-8 neon/pineapple, 1 Gold Tuxedo, ? fry; 1 Clown Pleco; 3 Otocinclus Cats, and MTS.
Planted: Amazon Swords.

The only place where success comes before work
is in the dictionary.

Msn:​ ​ ​ ​ *****sales22@hotmail.com ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Msn:​ ​ ​ ​ *****sales22@hotmail.com ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

?

__________________

29g Tall FW: Many Swordtails: 1 lemon, 6-8 neon/pineapple, 1 Gold Tuxedo, ? fry; 1 Clown Pleco; 3 Otocinclus Cats, and MTS.
Planted: Amazon Swords.

The only place where success comes before work
is in the dictionary.

***** sales reps are all over this forum. I'm currently talking to salesman #57

He's also saying I need 90 Watts over a 3 gallon....

__________________
Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

They seem pretty desperate with trying to sell on an aquarium forum, and then telling you that.

There must be a reason no one is buying from them, so clearly that is a warning.

__________________

Yeah definitely gave me the o.0.

__________________

29g Tall FW: Many Swordtails: 1 lemon, 6-8 neon/pineapple, 1 Gold Tuxedo, ? fry; 1 Clown Pleco; 3 Otocinclus Cats, and MTS.
Planted: Amazon Swords.

The only place where success comes before work
is in the dictionary.

Just found a guy on my local classifieds that builds LED fixtures and lives about 5 miles from my house. Selling a 250 Watt LED fixture for a 210 gallon marine tank for $3.5k, but says in the ad he'll do custom fixtures for other tanks as well. Sounds pretty legit...

__________________
Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

Update - the guy near my house that does custom LED fixtures quoted me $1,375 for a fixture to go over my 29 gallon, and $550 for one to go over my 3 gallon. The 29 gallon would be two panels, 10" by 8.75", each with about 15 Cree 3W LEDs on them, 50% 5500K red LEDs and 50% 10,000K daylight LEDs. 90 Watts total for the 29 gallon. Both panels have independent reflectors and lenses for each LED, heat sinks, cooling fans, and controls to turn on and off the red or white, and to dim them to simulate sunrise and sunset.

He's super professional and really awesome to work with. However, I'm dropping $1300 on maintenance for my car first, I told him I would keep his contact info and hit him up in 4-6 months when I've got that much saved up again.

Anyone care to contribute to the "Guy gets an awesome LED fixture for his birthday" fund?

__________________
Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

Sure, lemme just win the lottery first... :p

__________________

550 for a 3 gallon. No offence but. Better be an amazing system. Does his stuff come with a timer?

__________________

29g Tall FW: Many Swordtails: 1 lemon, 6-8 neon/pineapple, 1 Gold Tuxedo, ? fry; 1 Clown Pleco; 3 Otocinclus Cats, and MTS.
Planted: Amazon Swords.

The only place where success comes before work
is in the dictionary.

Pretty sure, but don't quote me. He also didn't give the specs for the 3 gallon, just gave me the ballpark quote and said if I was interested he could build it as well.

__________________
Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

Thats alot of money,lol.My husband would never let me buy something like that.

__________________
http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

What can I say? I love my fishes and plants

I am an electrical engineer though, maybe I'll build it myself now that the guy has told me what I need....O.o

__________________
Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

How about a bunch of LED flashlights from your local harbour freight?



naaaaaaaaaaa

I'l just stick with the twisty type bulbs.

my .02

__________________
fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden