I recently upgraded my lights to the bigger Orphek PR-156. My corals are looking better in the last 4 weeks since the upgrade. Here are some pics. I was very excited when the fixture arrived and couldn't wait to get home to install it.

How do LEDs compare to other forms of lighting? Such as output, efficiency and price. I'm in the market for a new light, but do not know very much about the LEDs.

LEDS are the future of reef lighting. If you can afford it starting out, that's the way to go. It will pay for itself in electric savings, and bulb replacement savings over the life of the product. Also, the light output doesn't promote algae growth as much.

I'll be spending the coin when I have it on LED lighting, but I'll probably do a DIY setup. I only have a 55gal setup now with a PC light, but before my 180 gets turned on, I'll be doing LED on that.

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10 gallon fresh setup with 1 giant danio, 3 placos, and 1 guppie.
30 gal bare bottom QT
55 gallon salt setup with a bunch of crabs and snails. false perc clown, diamond goby, lawnmower blenny, a green mandarin, and 1 cleaner shrimp. And a few corals
180 gallon acrylic not setup yet. (Need a few more things before it gets filled with water.)
Tanks not setup, 10, 30, 55 with stand. Either 30 or the 55 will be the sump for the 180

Im in the process of setting up a 75 gallon reef any recommendations for an adequate LED fixture?

You'll have to hope for someone else to pipe in on that one. I started looking, and was kinda put off by the prices of the whole units. And have been checking out and researching the DIY setups instead. I'll be doing a DIY for mine.

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10 gallon fresh setup with 1 giant danio, 3 placos, and 1 guppie.
30 gal bare bottom QT
55 gallon salt setup with a bunch of crabs and snails. false perc clown, diamond goby, lawnmower blenny, a green mandarin, and 1 cleaner shrimp. And a few corals
180 gallon acrylic not setup yet. (Need a few more things before it gets filled with water.)
Tanks not setup, 10, 30, 55 with stand. Either 30 or the 55 will be the sump for the 180

Well when you do you should post how you did in the forum. I would be very interested in seeing how a DIY version of this is made.

I looked at DIY and decided that I didn't want a fixture that looked homemade since I am not running a canopy.

As for how the light looks...I never had MH on this tank but did on others and I like the look of the LED much better. The coral coloration under this light is better than any of the other brands IMHO.

DIY Can be done, and look clean. It doesn't have to be crude. But mine will be in a hood. I like a nice wood hood. I don't like the bleed out that occurs with a hoodless tank.

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10 gallon fresh setup with 1 giant danio, 3 placos, and 1 guppie.
30 gal bare bottom QT
55 gallon salt setup with a bunch of crabs and snails. false perc clown, diamond goby, lawnmower blenny, a green mandarin, and 1 cleaner shrimp. And a few corals
180 gallon acrylic not setup yet. (Need a few more things before it gets filled with water.)
Tanks not setup, 10, 30, 55 with stand. Either 30 or the 55 will be the sump for the 180

Making a DIY led light that looks nice above a tank is WAY beyond my abilities....hahahhaahahaha

this really looking cool but can we put these lights behind the aquarium please tell me where would it be looking tidy
LED Retro Fit

Im not worried about making it look pretty. Im a welder it will have a nice polised stainless shroud over it. Im just interested in the guts.

service life Ordinary lamp Led lamp
institutions Afraid of vibration No filament, does not fear the vibration
Health spectrum 5000 hour 50000 hour
luminous efficiency
High luminous efficiency 50% High luminous efficiency 90%
Price Low High

sweetness!