chinese led lights

[Dobbs1101]

That's the exact response I was looking for. I really don't know what I'm talking about and your probably right. It's just that I'm very confused, itching to pull the trigger, and what you said makes perfect sense.. Hey, I'm not trying to steer anyone the wrong way at all. Please don't take me the wrong way.

After reading your response your right, if I'm only running the light at 50% it does make sense to add a few red/green and see if it makes a difference. I guess there's no real set in stone perfect ratio of colors.

The only point I was making from my observation is that you have many options with any of these light by just changing the % of white and blue knobs/controller. Be it 20k or 10k. Do allot of people run these lights at 100%?? That's a good question I would like to know.

hmm.. now I'm going to rethink what to do. I don't really have any idea what the reds or greens might provide. You know, it might be beneficial to add the red/green for pop and if I don't like them I could always switch them out.

I'll just go back to lurking... Sorry for any thing I said wrong...I didn't mean to throw a wrench into the very active conversation...I've learned allot but obviously not enough yet ...lol

 

[nynick]

Don't think anyone has learned enough yet about LEDs, we should all throw stuff out there even if it might be wrong. Good to challenge conventions especially on something that is developing this fast.

Chances are that 3 years from now we will revisit this thread for a good laugh but right now it is some very good insight. Hard to beat first hand experience and observations from 100+ users. I would be very surprised if people from all top of the line LED companies aren't following this thread.

Besides, show me someone who has learned enough and I will show you a moron.

 

[ali1]

I have to say after reading all these different color combo's and getting very confused, in the end The Evergrow 30b/25w I have currently have hanging/running on my 30g tank looks great. I can dial in any color combo i want. The 14k Phoenix was running is close to the same color I'm running now but the LEDS are much brighter. I have the blue at 50% and white at 40% and the growth and color is awesome. I don't know if I'll ever need to run the light at full power, but this is for a 17'' shallow tank.

What I'm saying is all the color combo's, red this, green that, etc... is almost irrelevant because you can dial in almost any color you want with the controller or knobs unless you plan on running at full power. JMO - but if UV, red and green do nothing for growth, for me, it's not worth sacrificing the extra bulbs.

I have been looking and reading for months now and the only thing I would do different is 34b / 17w / 4violet. The white on the Evergrow is really bright but 2:1 might be too blue. I added the violet for that reason and extra pop.
I think I'm going to get the following for the next 2 lights I purchase for my 120g http://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...iolet-with-Optical-Lens/317880_593824789.html Still not 100% sure though.

I have given up on Twilight with controller, thanks to Bhazard. Controller would be nice but on my 120g I presently run 2- T5 actinic bulbs and 2- 250w MH and they are controlled with my Apex. no slow ramp up and all the SPS corals I have in my 120g look great and I get crazy growth. (2-T5 actinics on then 45min later MH1 comes on, 30min later mh2 comes on and the just opposite at night)

I may be wrong or way off base. please let me know, I'm learning just like the rest of us.

Just my 2Cents

Can you show pics of your setup. I'm also leaning towards the evergrow d120, but now deciding if I should change the color layout or the default layout will suffice.

 

[bhazard451]

Can you show pics of your setup. I'm also leaning towards the evergrow d120, but now deciding if I should change the color layout or the default layout will suffice.

You'll tire of the default layout within a few months. It just doesn't provide the same color pop that a mixture of multiple color whites and violets would.

Red and Green is still subjective. Since they cannot be controlled individually on these (yet) and are tied to a blue or white channel, you cant really dial them in.

I have reds, greens, cyans, cool blues, and violets on a separate string in my DIY Nova, and they don't really change the overall color of the tank much when turned on/off or when I play around with the intensity (30w of colors vs 150w of whites and blues). The tank looks like a christmas tree when its the only channel on though.

 

[Dobbs1101]

Here's a picture of my 30g with D120. Not sure if it was on 100% both blue or white. I can snap another tonight.

Here is my 120g with 250w MH and 2 Atinic t5. Older pictures but I'll snap some new ones tonight. these were taken right after I built the wall unit around the tank.

 

[noneedforleads]

I just purchased the D120's replacing a current outer orbit (metal halide and T5) fixture. So far so good. Ill let you guys know how it works out!

 

[225reef]

I read this whole thread today it took a little over 10 hours ( I have alot of spare time lol ) so what i got out of this is I need at least 3 or 4 fixtures with 60 degree optics to get the punch to the bottom of a 30 in deep tank. I am just not 100% sure which fixture i want to go with.

 

[bhazard451]

I read this whole thread today it took a little over 10 hours ( I have alot of spare time lol ) so what i got out of this is I need at least 3 or 4 fixtures with 60 degree optics to get the punch to the bottom of a 30 in deep tank. I am just not 100% sure which fixture i want to go with.

How big is the tank? What color look are you going for? Is it in a canopy or open water?

 

[225reef]

How big is the tank? What color look are you going for? Is it in a canopy or open water?

The tank is 72 L x 24 W x 30 T, I have a canopy on the tank. I am looking for aleast 14k or little bluer.

 

[bhazard451]

The tank is 72 L x 24 W x 30 T, I have a canopy on the tank. I am looking for aleast 14k or little bluer.

You might not need optics inside a canopy. If you do get them, get 90 degree optics.. as the spread of a 60 is very narrow unless you hang it 10" above the water or more.

2:1 royal blue with an even mixture of cw:nw:ww and 4 or 6 violet 420nm leds can give a great 14k+ look.

 

[225reef]

so should i just go with the d120

 

[Hoity]

You might not need optics inside a canopy. If you do get them, get 90 degree optics.. as the spread of a 60 is very narrow unless you hang it 10" above the water or more.

2:1 royal blue with an even mixture of cw:nw:ww and 4 or 6 violet 420nm leds can give a great 14k+ look.

I have just received my 4 Twilight lights to hang over my 9ft tank. I have 20k and 14k whites and 3 different blues with a couple of reds and green and one uv.

Initial observation after putting two up alongside my 250w MH is the following:
1. Dimming feature is pretty cool, you can transition from one level to the next seamlessly.
2. The colour is very white compared to the MH ( MH lamp is 5yrs old)
3. With 60 degree optics and the light running across the tank 2'6" wide i have the light at approx 20" above the tank to get some decent spread. May have to remove them.
4. The shimmer in the tank is fantastic, although after the MH it looks a little artificial, this maybe due to the spread, I seem to have more shadows with LED than with MH, less spill of light outside the tank which supports the narrow beam theory. I still need to sort through the different levels/intensities on the different channels etc.

Will post some more details with pictures when i get all 4 up and working.
Cheers

 

[Zoanut]

What do you think of the brightness compared to your 250W halides?

 

[Hoity]

I dont think there as bright, it is hard to descibe. It is like the MH dump heaps of light everywhere and the LEDs are more directional. This is more than likely due to the 60 degree optics, I will wait until I have played with them a little more. They are up a long way above the tank which makes access into the tank easier etc, maybe 90 degree optics would be the go. Little premature to make any definitive statements. They certainly provide that fluorescent look/shimmer which is quite eye catching.

Will provide some pictures etc later.
Cheers

 

[bhazard451]

I dont think there as bright, it is hard to descibe. It is like the MH dump heaps of light everywhere and the LEDs are more directional. This is more than likely due to the 60 degree optics, I will wait until I have played with them a little more. They are up a long way above the tank which makes access into the tank easier etc, maybe 90 degree optics would be the go. Little premature to make any definitive statements. They certainly provide that fluorescent look/shimmer which is quite eye catching.

Will provide some pictures etc later.
Cheers

I think its the 60 degree optics they used. If you remove them, it gets a bit brighter, but the light wont be as focused (I thought it was too focused). You'll have to lower the lights a good 10"+ with them off. They aren't glued so they come right off once you open the fixture. Don't expect to put them back on though without taking a long time to line them up and sandwich them between the glass again.

What was the ratio you used? Did they arrange the leds evenly so one side isn't all blue and the other red?

 

[225reef]

Are the Twilight leds linkable? I have not looked into them to much.

 

[biecacka]

I have the the nova a4's and they are linked together 225reef. I also have the same tank as you do and I went with 90* optics and it looks good to me. I don't have a par meter to get a reading for you but it gets plenty of light on the bottom of my tank
Corey

 

[Hoity]

i posted earlier what the make up was, i have 14 @ 20k + 6 @ 14k + 2 @ Red 660 + 2 @ Green 530nm and 1 @ uv 405

I think with a little more blending I will very happy, the spread is very even. I sent an email to Mlott maybe he can post the layout for me. It seems to be encrypted with chinese stuff and wont let me cut and paste. Although it maybe a forum knowledge issue on my behalf.

 

[animalkingdom]

wow lots of info here

 

[225reef]

I have the the nova a4's and they are linked together 225reef. I also have the same tank as you do and I went with 90* optics and it looks good to me. I don't have a par meter to get a reading for you but it gets plenty of light on the bottom of my tank
Corey

How may are you running? Is your tank divided into 3 sections?