colorful1180
New member
Yes,I used 2 x 300w ramping led lights,you can set brightness and time on the light,so no worry about overkill.
I bought them from the Group Buy on FB,cost me $320 each.
Chinese LED Lights
- Thread starter cmac23
- Start date
Yes,I used 2 x 300w ramping led lights,you can set brightness and time on the light,so no worry about overkill.
I bought them from the Group Buy on FB,cost me $320 each.
colorful1180
New member
what length width height is your tank?
scubasteve3
New member
Which option (#1, 2, 3, etc) did you order? I want to order the equivalent of the reef breeder photon 32" and modify it to tie into an Apex. I am between Option 4 & 5
Reef Mortician
New member
The only option you can convert is the basic one (option 4 300w basic for 165)
The moderator there has a tweaked version of those which he will start selling soon under brand "SB Reef lights". He will have an Apex ready out the box light. He also claims those will have better spectrum than the group buy ones.
I'd go for the basic 300w and do the mod myself. With the money you save on not buying a timer, you can buy an Apex. That's my plan, just waiting to finish my degree.
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tank is 48"L x 24"W 150 gallon....so its a tall tank
colorful1180
New member
Yes,2 of them would be perfect,one of 32'' 300w timer light will be fine if your tank no center brace,great spectrum and cool features.
scubasteve3
New member
Whats the benefit of option 6 with the ramp vs 5 with just a timer
I have a center brace so i will go for the two....the one would be very clean looking though...thanks for the help
Reef Mortician
New member
The timer only tells the channels when to power up/shutdown, and the intensity is manually adjusted using a knob.
The advantage ramping has over timer is both time and intensity can be set on a timer. The timer has 48 storage banks, so one can create sunrise/sunset buy "ramping" the intensity throughout the day and back down at night.
Only draw back to ramping is the manner in which the ramping occurs, the intensity does not intensify gradually in between points. In other words, if at 12:00 to 12:30 you program the intensity at 25% and then program 12:30 to 1:00 at 50%, there will be a noticeable transition. Meaning you will see a flash as the led fires up.
Most people circumvent this by doing a 5% ramp over 10 minutes until desired intensity is achieved.( The 48 banks can be done in 10 minute intervals)
However, it was suggested to me by the group moderator to buy the basic model and mod it to run off of the Apex for the smoothest ramping up of LEDs. Using the Apex, you can tell the unit to fire up the fixture from 9:00 am to noon from 25% to 50%. Afterwards, you can have it order the channels to slowly dim to 30% from noon to 5:00 pm, giving you more control of the lights.
scubasteve3
New member
This is exactly what I wanted to know! Now just waiting for the basic to come back in stock. Altho I read the #5 with the timer has better spectrum
Reef Mortician
New member
The timer does from what I've heard, it includes 2 kinds of blue and I think warm whites. Check with Mike on availability, they may have it in stock. I don't know if that ad has been updated in a while.
I'm using this fixture as a DIY project since its cheaper and quicker than building one on my own. I plan on experimenting with different LEDs( Just for the hell of it). I hear people complain about the fans being loud. So, I think I will be swapping those out for quieter fans as well when I mod it to work on the Apex.
colorful1180
New member
If I decide to get a standard 180g tank which ones to use? Thanks
Also my 60g 4x2x1'h so shallow tank, what LEDs for that? Thanks for any help and I am sorry if this violates any rules
what is length width and height is your 180 gal tank?
I run 2 of black box 165w timer light for my 4ft tank,better spectrum and cool features,plus moonlight channel,it works great,I am happy with that.
Reefstarter2
New member
so been trying to read through this thread theres a lot of info and opinions here , what I want to know is this ....... well let me say what I am building
I am setting up a 180 mixed reef in my sunroom full canopy and a light rack inside that sits about 12-14 inches at highest placement ( its adjustable .) I will have fans one blowing in the other out . Since its in a sunroom I am thinking the natural sunlight the tank will get should take care of most of the photo needs of the corals . so I thought maybe getting some cheap Leds to give the corals some pop and viewing on dim days and at night . Are there any thoughts on this out there ? I also have 2 sets of halides to choose from I already own single ended and double ended . and its getting harder and harder to find bulbs for these , not to mention $300 or so every 10-12 months , heat isn't a big concern for me running a chiller . but would be nice to not have to
I am setting up a 180 mixed reef in my sunroom full canopy and a light rack inside that sits about 12-14 inches at highest placement ( its adjustable .) I will have fans one blowing in the other out . Since its in a sunroom I am thinking the natural sunlight the tank will get should take care of most of the photo needs of the corals . so I thought maybe getting some cheap Leds to give the corals some pop and viewing on dim days and at night . Are there any thoughts on this out there ? I also have 2 sets of halides to choose from I already own single ended and double ended . and its getting harder and harder to find bulbs for these , not to mention $300 or so every 10-12 months , heat isn't a big concern for me running a chiller . but would be nice to not have to
metrontech
New member
Fresh outlook....LED vs T5HO - PAR
Fresh outlook....LED vs T5HO - PAR
Ok, so I started with a T5HO setup...didn't see much growth (months 1-4). I know that is really young for the tank to do anything.
Went to a Chinese 300W light fixture, same thing...
Back to a 4 bulb T5HO and same thing...
Now back to using the 300W LED
I bought the Seneye Reef tool today...I just had to know what was happening in regards to the PAR ratings.
Here is my findings:
LED (100%)
TOP - 1200
Middle - 700
Bottom 350-450
T5 (100%)
Top - 550
Middle - 300
Bottom - 125
I know this thing isn't the best PAR meter, but I am wondering why I don't see "more" growth with a great PAR reading?
Also the LED is a more direct lighting, meaning in the corners or far right and left the rating drops significantly
The T5 covers more area of course, but the issue for me is the lower PAR rating...
I have a mix reef, SPS, LPS and softies - so its good to know where the higher PAR rating is
So I guess the question is why not the LED over the T5?
I mean isn't it all about PAR? OR is the spectrum as important?
Fresh outlook....LED vs T5HO - PAR
Ok, so I started with a T5HO setup...didn't see much growth (months 1-4). I know that is really young for the tank to do anything.
Went to a Chinese 300W light fixture, same thing...
Back to a 4 bulb T5HO and same thing...
Now back to using the 300W LED
I bought the Seneye Reef tool today...I just had to know what was happening in regards to the PAR ratings.
Here is my findings:
LED (100%)
TOP - 1200
Middle - 700
Bottom 350-450
T5 (100%)
Top - 550
Middle - 300
Bottom - 125
I know this thing isn't the best PAR meter, but I am wondering why I don't see "more" growth with a great PAR reading?
Also the LED is a more direct lighting, meaning in the corners or far right and left the rating drops significantly
The T5 covers more area of course, but the issue for me is the lower PAR rating...
I have a mix reef, SPS, LPS and softies - so its good to know where the higher PAR rating is
So I guess the question is why not the LED over the T5?
I mean isn't it all about PAR? OR is the spectrum as important?
Reefstarter2
New member
Par is important , but spectrum and PUR are just as if not more important google best PUR led and see what comes up and read it . It might confuse you more but after a while you will begin to see what it means
Ron Reefman
Active member
Since you can't measure PUR and every coral and it's associated zooxanthellae use a different kind of spectrum (therefore different PUR) it is more or less a useless term in this kind of discussion.
Carlos Roberto
New member
Someone help me here please.
What chinese led fixture should I buy on amazon, there are many of them.
- Gallaxyhydro
- Aquamana
- Euphotica
All of them are 55x3W but they have different variety of leds, Euphotica contains 8 purple leds while Aquamana just 4 for example. Also, GallaxyHydro is offering a Wifi unit programmable with an app but their spectrum looks different from the normal manual unit.
My tank is a 85g and plan to have sps, lps, zoos, anemones etc, so need 2 , but, what brand should I get? Im going to order this week, so please help out this noob reefer.
Cheers,
Carlos GarcÃa
What chinese led fixture should I buy on amazon, there are many of them.
- Gallaxyhydro
- Aquamana
- Euphotica
All of them are 55x3W but they have different variety of leds, Euphotica contains 8 purple leds while Aquamana just 4 for example. Also, GallaxyHydro is offering a Wifi unit programmable with an app but their spectrum looks different from the normal manual unit.
My tank is a 85g and plan to have sps, lps, zoos, anemones etc, so need 2 , but, what brand should I get? Im going to order this week, so please help out this noob reefer.
Cheers,
Carlos GarcÃa
colorful1180
New member
I would not like Wi-Fi light's spectrum,too much warm and red leds.I am running 2 of Chinese Black Box Timer led lights for my 90 gal tank,better spectrum and remote control and built in LCD screen with 3 channel timer,whites,blues plus moonlights channel,channel one and channel two are dimmable via dial,you can control or set off lights on the timer if you are not in home,it works great.I got them from the Manufacturer,cost me $133 each shipped,great spectrum and happy corals.
Raul R Badillo
New member
wow that tank rocks. Great tank.
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