chinese led lights

[AcroBluz]

Bhazard that is awesome work

 

[bhazard451]

Its basically a 3-4ft DIY fixture condensed into a 1ft one. I don't think there will be many shadows or spotlighting with this.

At near 180 watts, this thing will destroy any commercial fixture on the market. It's like putting 2 and a half AI Sols into one fixture for the same price as one of them... less even. I think I'm gonna call it the "Super-Nova A4" lol. It might be too bright, so I'd have to adjust intensity over time. Funny thing is... it's still 200 watts less than the 250MH/T5 combo I was running originally.

I really want to finish it soon, but I haven't had the time I need. There's never enough hours in the day.

 

[AcroBluz]

So is it going to be apex controllable by time you have completed it?

 

[A_CoupleClowns]

I thought the Nova A4 was really good quality. I tried a d120 without optics and wasn't as impressed. The Nova heatsink is nice.

Next I'm trying the twilight group light with built in controller. Those supposedly have heatsinks, and you can ask for an aluminum housing. No one has gotten one yet to confirm the quality.

Thanks I was hoping you would chime in bhazard.

So with my tank being 21 inches deep would I go no optics? What if the light is going to be in a hood above the water a bit, 90degree optics?

Thanks again!

 

[bhazard451]

So is it going to be apex controllable by time you have completed it?

Yes. The drivers are meanwells so they will be controlled by the Apex.

Clowns, if you are in a canopy, and the lights are only going to be a few inches above the water, you don't need optics. Use optics when higher than 6" up off the water, or for an open tank.

 

[TropTrea]

Thanks I was hoping you would chime in bhazard.

So with my tank being 21 inches deep would I go no optics? What if the light is going to be in a hood above the water a bit, 90degree optics?

Thanks again!

If your tank in 21 inches tall and you want your LED's at least 4" above the surface than your talking about 25" from the substrate to the LED's. With 90 degree lenses this would mean each would have a spread of 50" on the substrate. With 60 degree lenses you would have a spread of 29" from each LEd at the substrate. With a color mix of Whites and Blues you do want several LED's striking the same point on the surface to minimize color shadowing. I personly would not go with the 60 degree lenses for that reason but would pick the 90 degree lenses.

 

[TropTrea]

Here is what 2 d120's looked like on my 5ft tank. I think they have plenty of spread if they are not blocked by a brace

In your picture your lights are very high over the tank. If your tank is 24" tall it looks like the lights are almost 24" over the tank. If you lower than to 6" above the tank where many people put there lights to minimize loss is the tank still evenly lighted throughout?

 

[mlott132]

Now you guys have me worried about the lights I purchased. I went with two Twilight fixtures fitted with 60 degree optics for my 21 inch high tank. Should I try to contact Lyn and get this changed to 90? I was thinking of hanging these about 6 inches above the water if that makes a difference.

 

[bhazard451]

Now you guys have me worried about the lights I purchased. I went with two Twilight fixtures fitted with 60 degree optics for my 21 inch high tank. Should I try to contact Lyn and get this changed to 90? I was thinking of hanging these about 6 inches above the water if that makes a difference.

Shouldn't be anything wrong with it. You can always hang them a bit higher to spread them out a bit more if you don't like the spread.

 

[mlott132]

Are the optics glued in place? Just wondering how hard it would be to change them out.

 

[Hoity]

I know what lights you are talking about. I wouldn't suggest getting them. They won't confirm which bin of Crees they are using, so they might not be true Crees.

If you start going over $300+ per light for a chinese fixture, you're better off buying a commercial fixture in the US with a better warranty.

Thanks for the feedback, I did find the same light on on a US website for $650, I was quoted $350 & $60 for a remote controller that will control all the lights, ie you can program 2 lights with the one remote. I thought that was impressive but not sure what happens if it fails.

 

[AcroBluz]

In your picture your lights are very high over the tank. If your tank is 24" tall it looks like the lights are almost 24" over the tank. If you lower than to 6" above the tank where many people put there lights to minimize loss is the tank still evenly lighted throughout?

That picture is a bit misleading. That tank is only 12" high with the lights mounted 12" above the surface of the water. So of the tank was 24" tall and the lights sat 6" above the tank, I would believe the spread would be close to what is seen here. Unfortunately, this tank was sold before my move or I could play with the height to show spread

 

[bhazard451]

If anyone wants a d120 type unit with no optics and multiple colors, I'm selling my Reefbreeders fixture. Barely used. PM if interested.

 

[Trevenator]

I know what lights you are talking about. I wouldn't suggest getting them. They won't confirm which bin of Crees they are using, so they might not be true Crees.

If you start going over $300+ per light for a chinese fixture, you're better off buying a commercial fixture in the US with a better warranty.

I agree with you I think the ones in the $200 price rage are a great price.
But as soon as they start geting in the $300+ plus range i would spend more and go with the Maxspect Razor R420R It has the latest Crees with build in timers ect

 

[TropTrea]

Now you guys have me worried about the lights I purchased. I went with two Twilight fixtures fitted with 60 degree optics for my 21 inch high tank. Should I try to contact Lyn and get this changed to 90? I was thinking of hanging these about 6 inches above the water if that makes a difference.

If this is for your 75 gallon tank remember you tank is only 18" from front to back. So with the 60 degree lenses you still have a 29 inch spread with the lights 6" high at the substrate. At the surface you will have less coverage but the main idea is to light up the corals rather than the surface. If you end up with dark spots or shadowing to an excess you can move the light fixture further to the front of the tank and angle it to point at the bottom rear of the tank. This actualy creates an unbelievably nice shimmer effect as well.

 

[mlott132]

If this is for your 75 gallon tank remember you tank is only 18" from front to back. So with the 60 degree lenses you still have a 29 inch spread with the lights 6" high at the substrate. At the surface you will have less coverage but the main idea is to light up the corals rather than the surface. If you end up with dark spots or shadowing to an excess you can move the light fixture further to the front of the tank and angle it to point at the bottom rear of the tank. This actualy creates an unbelievably nice shimmer effect as well.

Thanks. I think I will still contact Lyn to see how hard it is to change the optics if I want to later.

 

[bhazard451]

I agree with you I think the ones in the $200 price rage are a great price.
But as soon as they start geting in the $300+ plus range i would spend more and go with the Maxspect Razor R420R It has the latest Crees with build in timers ect

The 20" R420R is great for the price. Especially with 10% off code at Hellolights.com $359.95. Wish it had the same amount of leds as the 27" fixture though.

 

[cmantis]

Would you like some green eggs?

 

[keihi20]

So the LEDs in the links posted don't come with any kind of controller?

 

[biecacka]

Sam said 199a4 through the 20th!
Troptea if I get 3 a4 on my 220 should I get 60-90 degree optics. It's 30 inches tall. I think 60. I don't understand the spread part of them you explained earlier
Corey