BuildMyLed Reviews, thoughts, etc

[mess7777]

Good day all,

What's the feeling on these lights. I saw the review on advanced aquarist (are they paid for these reviews? don't often see a negative one) and it intrigued me to be sure.

It's hard to search for reviews or information because if folks put spaces between the words it is pretty generic! do a search of "build my led" and you will find a lot of threads that have nothing to do with this company.

I really like that they are waterproof, have a lot of customization, and that they sit close to the tank with the optional mounts, allowing them to be angled potentially reducing shadows and improving the look.

Anyway, they seem to offer outstanding support but are still fairly new and unproven.

They claim that 3 fixtures would light a 90g tank with enough PAR to grow anything. Their philosophy is to get the maximum light with the least possible watts for energy efficiency. This defintely bucks the trend of a 'more is better' approach that we normally see.

I look forward to hearing anyone's experiences with them.

 

[wildman926]

On another forum, there are some examples of a person using them on their 75g tank. Here are the pics. The first pic is their 6x54w T5. The other 3 are pics of a single LED strip. The strip is the "Custom Reef" strip with one UV LED in the center of each 12" section, using 75* optics -

T5s

BML -

 

[sfbayview]

I like the light except for the splash guard; diffuses the light to cause more shimmer than needed and also scratched easy ... other than that seems like a quality light fixture ... 1 48" fixture on a 5ft 120g

24uv 18 deep blue 18 royal blue 8 warm white 4 660 red

 

[Ron Reefman]

I talked with them quite a bit at MACNA last Fall in Dallas. They were just getting started into the aquarium market after years in the plant light market. They seemed like smart guys who understood led lighting pertty well. I was just about ready to buy from them when I came across the 'Chinese led' thread here on RC and went that way instead. I think they are a quality outfit, but like too many other led fixture manufacturers, like the big profit margins too much.

 

[wildman926]

I like the light except for the splash guard; diffuses the light to cause more shimmer than needed and also scratched easy ... other than that seems like a quality light fixture ... 1 48" fixture on a 5ft 120g

24uv 18 deep blue 18 royal blue 8 warm white 4 660 red

Beautiful pics. This is your own layout, correct? Do you have any light sources?

I just ordered a 6' strip of their preconfigured 14k version for my 150g LPS tank, and it will be added to some Current USA Pro LED strips (12k, Fusion, and 453nm), and some T5 HO dual bulb lamps with ATI Aquablue Special and True Actinic. I would like to be able to purchase one more to remove the Current 12k led strips and T5 fixtures.

 

[sfbayview]

I run a 20k 400w mh with a wide reflector for 5 hours to encourage growth ... was off for pics

yeap my own color combo .... is less bright due to the uv's also could maybe add two greens ....

 

[wildman926]

I run a 20k 400w mh with a wide reflector for 5 hours to encourage growth ... was off for pics

yeap my own color combo .... is less bright due to the uv's also could maybe add two greens ....

Can you post a pic of all lights on? I really like your layout for the color. I bet the tank looks awesome with all lights on.

 

[sfbayview]

I will need to get another fixture if I want to use them exclusively for viewing; while the tank is evenly covered in light looks more dim; like evening brightness / 20k ...

Currently I need to change out the mh bulb so the color isn't exactly right ... with the led it's tolerable now

 

[power boat jim]

I recently got one of their 60 in custom full spectrum fixtures and found it to be excellent in quality. I will probably get one more with more violet and deep blues to offset the brightness this one produces. It accents my AIs very well.

 

[wildman926]

I recently got one of their 60 in custom full spectrum fixtures and found it to be excellent in quality. I will probably get one more with more violet and deep blues to offset the brightness this one produces. It accents my AIs very well.

Do you have a pic? Very interested to see the light in action.

 

[sfbayview]

Just for kicks here is the one with the year old halide ... should hv a new bulb when I have time to run to the store ...

 

[sfbayview]

Here is a pic with the 20k radian

 

[agv180]

looks great

I have a question


this lamp can controllar with apex?

 

[wildman926]

Wow, what a difference with the new bulb.

 

[fishyguy7]

Yes the lamp is controllable with an apex. It has a 0-10v input on one side of it, buildmyleds also sells a cable premade for cheap.

looks great

I have a question


this lamp can controllar with apex?

 

[GroktheCube]

I LOVE mine. I run two 48" strips in tandem with an ATI 4x54w (2 actinic, 1 purple, 1 blue plus). I configured them same as the custom reef spectrum, but with one UV led. They are VERY bright, crisp, clean white light. If I were running them alone, I'd probably want more blue and violet than what their custom reef spectrum has. I'd probably swap out one or two of the greens or cool whites for RBs and UVs.

Their new purple strips look great!

 

[wildman926]

I LOVE mine. I run two 48" strips in tandem with an ATI 4x54w (2 actinic, 1 purple, 1 blue plus). I configured them same as the custom reef spectrum, but with one UV led. They are VERY bright, crisp, clean white light. If I were running them alone, I'd probably want more blue and violet than what their custom reef spectrum has. I'd probably swap out one or two of the greens or cool whites for RBs and UVs.

Their new purple strips look great!

Their 14k strip actually does what you are speaking of. You can see that in the pics above.

 

[xxjrealxx]

Would any body use these with sps?

 

[xxjrealxx]

Anyone?

 

[wildman926]

Would any body use these with sps?

Anyone?

With this type of par, why wouldn't you?

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