chinese led lights

[ianrusso]

This is in reply to post #910:

I paid $178 for an LED fixture. Here are just a few par readings. This was with only one fixture 14" above the water surface when tested, i'm sure the par values are higher with multiple lught fixtures.
1" below - 640+
3" below - 420+
12" below - 280+

All my corals are growing and thriving well(only been 2 weeks), everything from softies, to monti's and even my red planet and other acros. The Ecotech Radion which costs around $400 per unit barely produces 200 Par at a few inches below the surface. This right here shows that a $150 light will be better than a $400 light.

It is not always you get what you pay for. Just because "Wong" (not to be racist) is willing to work for $2/hr in China and "Billy" here in the US needs $25/hr does not mean the product is any different if made with the exact same materials. An Epistar LED is an Epistar LED, and it will produce the same power if hooked up to a meanwell power supply. In China they might be able to get away with a cost of living of $500 a month, in the US that would never happen. Could this possibly be the reason they are so cheap. Maybe it is, I took the leap and I am extremely pleased.

I had the same misconceptions about these "chinese LED fixtures" as everyone else. I did my research and found a company in China and I ordered my lights from them directly. Mine came with Lenses and they were fully dimmable. If par values are not enough proof I do not know what is. I have only have these lights on the tank for 2 weeks and already notice growth. I will post pics with 30 days growth in a few weeks.

 

[kbell2433]

I had the same misconceptions about these "chinese LED fixtures" as everyone else. I did my research and found a company in China and I ordered my lights from them directly. Mine came with Lenses and they were fully dimmable. If par values are not enough proof I do not know what is. I have only have these lights on the tank for 2 weeks and already notice growth. I will post pics with 30 days growth in a few weeks.

Do you have a link for the light you orderd?

 

[ianrusso]

Do you have a link for the light you orderd?

Here is the link for the lights I purchased. Please let them know I sent you thier way.

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-g...th-lenses-Dropship-available-wholesalers.html

 

[salsipuedes]

Here is the link for the lights I purchased. Please let them know I sent you thier way.

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-g...th-lenses-Dropship-available-wholesalers.html

you dear sir are a life saver. While I agree that normally quality products cost a bit extra, the better choice is to spend your $$$ wisely and research before you buy. I am definitely going to be getting these units sometime in the near future. Finally a fixture with what i need, nothing I don't need. I put my lights on a timer - dont need a controller, i don't want them to bleach corals (dimming), and I want to save $$$ not buying bulbs and the extra electricity.

These fit the bill better then anything else I've seen so far. Thanks for the link!!!

 

[radbluesfan]

Here is the link for the lights I purchased. Please let them know I sent you thier way.

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-g...th-lenses-Dropship-available-wholesalers.html

While looking at these I saw that the description states that the body is made of iron---does that mean the case and if so do you think that rust will be a problem in the future. Also it says the brand of LEDs used is Epistar, Bridgelux, and Cree. Do you know which they used on yours? Also, do they dim all the way to zero light? Sorry for all the questions and thanks for your time. It seems like I am changing my mind every day. Gonna start cycling my tank this week so I need to get the lighting figured out in the next few weeks.

 

[Buzz1329]

I noticed that the http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs...olesalers.html site says: "Is Bulbs Included: No". I guess that's a translation hiccup (elsewhere on the same page, it references "120w cree led aquarium lighting"), but it would be pretty funny if the light arrived without the bulbs.

Also ianrusso, what size tank do you have? I wonder how many of these I would need over a 75 predominantly SPS tank? Even if I needed 4, the total initial price would still be LESS than a 2 x 250 watt MH + T5 fixture. And BTW, an EchoTech Radion goes for $750, not $400. So you could get four of these fixtures for less than the price of a single EchoTech Radion.

 

[Travis1787]

Wow those are nice... Wonder what there driven at wattage wise...

Now I'm torn between these and the ones I was planin on getting from aquariumleds the 120 watt non dimable 3 watt leds driven at a little over 2 and its 14k

Ianrusso can you post these lights running on your tank?

 

[Travis1787]

I know haha I saw the whole "bulbs included no" thing also and was like huh? Lol

 

[ianrusso]

While looking at these I saw that the description states that the body is made of iron---does that mean the case and if so do you think that rust will be a problem in the future. Also it says the brand of LEDs used is Epistar, Bridgelux, and Cree. Do you know which they used on yours? Also, do they dim all the way to zero light? Sorry for all the questions and thanks for your time. It seems like I am changing my mind every day. Gonna start cycling my tank this week so I need to get the lighting figured out in the next few weeks.

The case maybe iron, but I am about 14" off my tank so I am not even close to the water so I have zero residue on my fixture so far. They are definitley NOT Cree, they are most likely Epistar or Bridgelux from what I can see through the casing. They do dim all the way down to pretty much 2% and they also have on off switches so you can run just whites or blues. Right now I have my Blues at about 30% and whites around 10%.

 

[ianrusso]

I noticed that the http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs...olesalers.html site says: "Is Bulbs Included: No". I guess that's a translation hiccup (elsewhere on the same page, it references "120w cree led aquarium lighting"), but it would be pretty funny if the light arrived without the bulbs.

Also ianrusso, what size tank do you have? I wonder how many of these I would need over a 75 predominantly SPS tank? Even if I needed 4, the total initial price would still be LESS than a 2 x 250 watt MH + T5 fixture. And BTW, an EchoTech Radion goes for $750, not $400. So you could get four of these fixtures for less than the price of a single EchoTech Radion.

Technically an LED is a diode, not a bulb, so there are no bulbs. I have a 75 with 2 fixtures. I have a mixed reef. About 8 SPS, 5 Montis(Caps) and a ton of Softies. I am really new to Reef Central so I will post pics once I have time to figure it out.

In regard to Par and Brightness. 2 weeks in with the lights and I am running the Blue's around 30% and the Whites around 10%. I burned the crap out of all my chalices and 2 monti's(caps) with the Blue's at 50% and the whites 30%. I had to dim them down or else I would have fried a few things. Right now I repositioned all the chalices and the monti's(caps) are healing nicely under the lower light. In addition, I am noticing growth already on my birdsnest, hawkins echinata, and green acro. I only mentioned acro's because i'm sure that is your primary concern.

 

[ianrusso]

Wow those are nice... Wonder what there driven at wattage wise...

Now I'm torn between these and the ones I was planin on getting from aquariumleds the 120 watt non dimable 3 watt leds driven at a little over 2 and its 14k

Ianrusso can you post these lights running on your tank?

Here is a pic from last week. Since then I have moved a few things around. This is around the 30% Blues and 10% for the Whites.

 

[Travis1787]

That's bright for that low.... How much and often are you increasing the percentage up?

 

[aljan]

ianrusso im from philippines and i just ordered one for my tank using ur link thank you

 

[Travis1787]

Ianrusso when u do get those leds all the way turned up take and post another picture if you could thanks

 

[ianrusso]

That's bright for that low.... How much and often are you increasing the percentage up?

The funny thing is since I have dimmed them down, I have not increased them yet. I attempted to the otherday and noticed that my green cap was receeding again so I dialed down the lights back to the 30%, 10%. I plan on bumping them up a notch this weekend.

 

[wildman926]

Here is a pic from last week. Since then I have moved a few things around. This is around the 30% Blues and 10% for the Whites.

That is very bright for 30% & 10% of the available 2w per led as driven by the manufacturer.

Your testimony of the percentage you are running makes you think about how much "LED Wattage" you actually need to have a thriving tank, depending upon the depth of your tank. For example -

The manufacturer's pic shows 27 White, 28 Blue

Blue -
28 x 2w = 56w what they are 100% driven at by manufacturer
56 x 30% = 16.8w

White -
27 x 2w = 54w what they are 100% driven at by manufacturer
54 x 10% = 10w

 

[Lhewie]

Here is the link for the lights I purchased. Please let them know I sent you thier way.

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-g...th-lenses-Dropship-available-wholesalers.html

How many would i need for a 55gallon with a brace in the middle? 2 should be good right?

 

[ianrusso]

Ianrusso when u do get those leds all the way turned up take and post another picture if you could thanks

Here are pics of just the Whites at full blast on one side. Just the Blues full blast on one side. And the whole tank pic is the Blues at full blast.

 

[ianrusso]

Here are pics of just the Whites at full blast on one side. Just the Blues full blast on one side. And the whole tank pic is the Blues at full blast.

OK, so I tired posting pics from work and it's not working. I will get a few more pics up later tonight or tomorrow.

 

[ianrusso]

How many would i need for a 55gallon with a brace in the middle? 2 should be good right?

I have 2 on a 75 gallon which is 18" wide and a 55gallon is 12" wide. I think two would be perfect.