LED Fixture Owners...

RoGeTa

RoGeTa

Member
I'm so conflicted on what I should be getting. One fixture doesn't have everything that I want...Annoying. And I don't really want to DIY. I would like to do it, but I know how I am...I would start and not finish. I'm good for that.

Anyway, this is all I am asking of the good people of RC...What do you use? and Are you happy with it?
 
What is it that you are looking for in one fixture that you haven't found?

I recently switched from MH/T5 to Orphek-PR156WUV Nilus fixtures and so far so good. My corals seem to be responding very well.

Personally my choice was based on the results of users of the lights not necessarily all the bells and whistles that some fixtures provide.

Even though I have an electronics background, making my own fixture was not a project I wanted to take on for my size of tank.
 
So be perfectly honest, I like the Orphek Nilus for it's LEDS and the Radion for it's versatility. The wifi and vortech integration is a huge plus since I am not running a controller...nor will I be for a long time after a major lighting purchase like this. It will also be over a rimless tank, and the radion seems to be a little bit more sleek lined. But the radion doesn't have uv....or as nice of a coverage area. It's a tough call. Plus, I also Like the AI's and the Mazzara P's. I also like the vertex illumina...but it's even more pricey that the rest.

So that's why the thread. Just want to gauge everyone's happiness with various LED systems.
 
I can tell you the upgrade of my lights to LED was the single most expensive (and toughest to convince the wife) purchase I have done to date considering I have a things like a custom made acrylic tank, BK Supermarine skimmer and an Aquatronica system.

I personally want to "set it and forget it' when it comes to the lights and pretty much most things on my tank. I like autopilot and only deal with things that need my attention on my system when it is necessary. Lighting is a very important aspect to the success in this hobby especailly if your plans are to go SPS.

I've read a lot of info on LED lighting before I made my purchase descision and it came down to this. Find the tanks that people have jumped into the LED lighting commitement and monitor their success. I'm personally not interested in people that build their own LED fixtures mostly for smaller setups which seem to cloud the forums with LED knowledge. I will never assemble my own LED lighting for a tank of my size. You are right there are so many choices and features on buying into a new technology.

At the end of the day for me there is one stand out forum member that is local to me named Nineball. I have been lucky enough to see his setup in person and it is amazing. He is using these fixtures, so am I.
 
take a look at the new pacific sun pandora hyperion r2. Fully dimmable led and t5, 8 ch across 9 colors, amazing software and a droid tablet for bluetooth control. IMO this is the best of the best on the market right now.
 
I use a single Kessil W150 Ocean Blue (15000K) pendant over my 4 gal pico, I keep it about 6 inches above water level and never regreted the purchase. I've had it in for 2 months now and I've already noticed changes in coloration, literally had some yuma's turn from a mustard yellow to neon orange. Overall expantion of coral is at it's best. Goni's have a very vivid color since the change. I use to use dymax led lighting, 36 HO 1watt led's. The difference was immediatly noticable.

Only downside to the light, is that it's a bit too blue for a 15000K bulb.
 
I love my AI Sol Blue. The programmability of it, the random lightening storms, the real moon phases...it's pretty neat. My corals love it.
 
Welcome to Reef Central Tuna! Maybesomeone else can come along with the sweet banne?. I don't have it...

The Hyperion looks interesting as well. Another fixture to look into....

And I actually rediscovered oddballs tank when looking into the orphek fixture...That's a very strong testimonial to it!
 
AI sols I have direct experience with because my dad runs them...

But to the Orphek and Radion users...Do you get a pronounced 'discoball' effect from these LEDs?
 
RoGeTa said:
AI sols I have direct experience with because my dad runs them...

But to the Orphek and Radion users...Do you get a pronounced 'discoball' effect from these LEDs?
Click to expand...

There is no disco ball with the radion. Nice even spread with 130 optics. I am like you and wanted a plug and play and have been very happy with it. The spread is as advertised 24x24. Though it does dim on the edges so livestock placement is important. I am having good sps success thus far. Good luck.
 
I can also say that there is no "disco ball" effect with my radions. I have 3 over my 6 foot long tank they are roughly 10 inches above the water and i have no visible spot light effect. These lights are great in my opion.
 
Thank for the replys on the Radion guys. Very good to know. It's a large purchase and just want to do my best to get it right!

Unfortunately I have no way to see either the radion or orphek fixture in person...so it's a bit of a guessing game.

Guillaume: My dad loves his. He had one over his 34g solana and is currently upgrading to a 70g gallon (in inches: 36x20x20 something close to that) and has bought two more units. He uses all 70 degree optics...I highly recommend this as the 40s spotlight like crazy. He hasn't done much SPS and has met with a bit of success on that point. However, he keeps zoas, RBTA, and lps quite successfully.
 
I love my Orphek and don't have any of the disco ball....rock solid fixture. No gimmicks or gizmos to go wrong. Very good growth. very good coloration.
 
I run 2 Ai super sols over my red sea 34g. 2 is over-doing it, but i wanted a good spread. the timers are great and the sols are very intense/concentrated light. i am quite pleased with them.

the one thing that gets under my skin- some (sps) WILL NOT color up under them. i have a buddy that is running experiments with his (had 20+ years experience in the hobby). corals that are pink and green, red corals will not be a "deep" red, and very blue corals like hoeki won't develop their "deep" color either- i'm having issues keeping my hawkins a solid blue, my buddy's fire/ice echinata wont color up either.

that was a bit tangential and only my experience and his (sorry)

all in all though i am happy with the AI's, cant beat the extent to which you can customize the timers, they are solid lights- especially for the price. if you do decide to go the ai route, be sure to get as many modules as you foresee yourself needing in the future. the crees vary from batch to batch. (i went through this hell and it took 3 months and some serious luck to find a module made around the same time my original was- even now only the whites and royal blues match, but ill settle for that).
 
Take a look at reef tech.... Just got mine... iPad/iPhone app, pc access, unlimited customizing.

Best part dead silent.... The fans can not be heard.....

The Prometheus is the model I got.... Take a look you cant go wrong.
 
RoGeTa said:
Thank for the replys on the Radion guys. Very good to know. It's a large purchase and just want to do my best to get it right!

Unfortunately I have no way to see either the radion or orphek fixture in person...so it's a bit of a guessing game.

.
Click to expand...

Purchasing LED lights can be confuse. maybe you can look from another angle. UV Led *use can be a little bit tricky. very few companies can produce those LEDs for our use.
From my personal experience. make sure before you spend thousands of dollars the product you're buying have a good reputation, good warranty-in writing and seller will always stand behind his product.
From what I know leading LED lamps companies testing LED*lamps for long time before start*selling to the public.*
Happy reefing and good luck with your decision
 
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