Chinese LED Lights

I've been reading through this thread and many others over the last few weeks as I try to pick an LED fixture(s) for my newly set up 150tall mixed reef, currently running T5. I did a spreadhsheet comparison of 11 fixtures from ReefBreeder, ReefRadiance, and OceanRevive, comparing cost, blue:white ratio (with higher ratio of blue getting more points), controllable and warranty, with the first two factors weighted higher. Happy to share if anyone's interested.

For my needs it ranked the RB Value fixture (x2) highest, followed by OR D120, RB Photon32, OR Arctic 26, and RD Photon48. I don't need the controller necessarily, but the Photon 32 would only be $50 more. MY concern is the Photon32 would not provide enough light on my tank. Any thoughts here? If I went with one of non-controlled units is there any recommendation on the RB Value vs OR Arctic? Any companies I'm overlooking completely that I should consider amongst the "value price" LEDs?

Thanks for any help!
 
You should probably check out Ledzeal as well. Also, why do you compare Blue/White ratio when with most of fixtures you can get the spectrum you want?
 
acabgd said:
You should probably check out Ledzeal as well. Also, why do you compare Blue/White ratio when with most of fixtures you can get the spectrum you want?
Click to expand...

I was planning to include the Malibu-S from Ledzeal, but their online shop has been down all week and I haven't been able to find pricing or what accessories are included. If anyone has this sort of info I'd love to hear it. As for the blue/white ratio, it looked like Reefbreeder and ReefRadiance will customize, but I'm already having enough trouble just sorting out the stock units! I'd probably customize the OceanRevive Arctic unit to the Reefbreeder layout if OR offered customization.
 
TavisB said:
Think I found the problem. I tested each LED independently and found one that is bad.
Click to expand...

Follow up:

I contacted the seller and they were very helpful. The sent out 6 replacement LEDs (3 white, 3 blue) and were shipped promptly. I soldered in the replacement and all was good until yesterday. A second white LED burnt out. I swapped it for one of the replacements and it's back up and running again. I wish I knew why I am losing LEDs though. I checked the drivers and they both seem to be putting out within 1V of each other. Maybe a bad batch of LEDs?
 
TavisB said:
Follow up:

I contacted the seller and they were very helpful. The sent out 6 replacement LEDs (3 white, 3 blue) and were shipped promptly. I soldered in the replacement and all was good until yesterday. A second white LED burnt out. I swapped it for one of the replacements and it's back up and running again. I wish I knew why I am losing LEDs though. I checked the drivers and they both seem to be putting out within 1V of each other. Maybe a bad batch of LEDs?
Click to expand...

Make sure the fans are working. Heat will kill your leds.
 
TavisB said:
Fans are all spinning along just fine. I was thinking of exploring the possibility of adding a heat sink.
Click to expand...
the evergrow d2040s (the replacement to the d120s) that i got from ERC include heatsinks now at the same price if heat really is an issue for whatever reason.
 
The EverGrow d2040? What is that? I know of an IT2040 and a D120 but I've never heard of a d2040? What's the difference? Any links?
 
Fish_Freek said:
Anyone know if these are EG lights or are they a Chinese knock off?
Click to expand...

the EG lights are a Chinese knock off but they seem to be excellent lights...

reef radiance does sell an EG light but their other lights are not EG, not sure of the exact manufacturer but they seem to be excellent lights as well...

I have 2 of the DM132e lights and am well pleased with them...

hope that was some help :)
 
TavisB said:
Follow up:

I contacted the seller and they were very helpful. The sent out 6 replacement LEDs (3 white, 3 blue) and were shipped promptly. I soldered in the replacement and all was good until yesterday. A second white LED burnt out. I swapped it for one of the replacements and it's back up and running again. I wish I knew why I am losing LEDs though. I checked the drivers and they both seem to be putting out within 1V of each other. Maybe a bad batch of LEDs?
Click to expand...

it's not so much the voltage as it is the amperage from the drivers, and heat plays a big factor in LED endurance, it could be that the thermal transfer from the LEDs to the heatsink is not up to par too, make sure you use a good thermal paste/grease between the diode and the heat sink
 
Ron Reefman said:
The EverGrow d2040? What is that? I know of an IT2040 and a D120 but I've never heard of a d2040? What's the difference? Any links?
Click to expand...
evergrow isn't making the d120 anymore i am told. they replaced the popular d120 unit with a model called the d2040. the d2040 comes in white or black, has the same LED count and PCB design of the d120 just re-homed in a IT series case which i think looks a lot sleeker (i have a few IT2060s), with heatsinks, and comes with the "premium" hanging kit (IT series) and at the same group buy pricing the d120 sold for. i got two through a local forum group buy but exotic reef creations is a vendor here too which is awesome so i'm sure you can just PM them here if interested. i think other vendors don't sell the d2040s or talk about them because they are still trying to get rid of the old d120s they have stocked and if folks knew there was a better/shinier/new model fixture out they wouldn't be able to sell the d120s but that's just my guess. i'll post up some photos of them when they arrive but basically an IT2040 without the controller and can come in white if one desires. i can post some of the images from the GB but i dont know if that is allowed here.
 
Has anyone seen these Sosci lights? I'm interested in the SL-A001 Luxury model as they call it (the 900mm version). Seems a very decent light and got a really good deal on them. I'm just looking for someone who uses them and their experience.

http://www.soscigroup.com/en/productview.asp?id=263

Here is the layout they've sent me:


And here are the photos of fixtures:

20137151016390.jpg


201371510516345.jpg
 
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