LED Module Comparison - ReefBrite / Illumilux / TrueLumen Pro

[aquaman67]

I found the Currnets at the LFS and they are cheaper than anywhere I've seen online by a lot.

I'm going to trade a bunch of corals in tomorrow for store credit and get two 24"ers.

I plan to retro fit them into a NOVA Extreme fixture. (this way the wife will never know)

It was time to replace the bulbs so why spend $40 when I get the LEDs and never change bulbs again...

 

[michael_cb_125]

Hello Jeremy!

Would a 24" Vertex fixture have enough light spread for a 48x20 tank? I am not concerned with intensity.

Thanks

~Michael

 

[Jeremy B.]

If you just want the tank to light up for Fish Only system it would probably do the trick for you, although I think the 36" would be more appropriate for it though.

 

[michael_cb_125]

Basically it is a fish only system. Would the 24" leave major dark spots at the end of the tank?

~Michael

 

[Rockys_Pride]

Jeremy, how did you take the PAR readings? Besides the obvious I mean. I've read about PAR meters not correctly measuring the PAR from blue LEDs. The sensor needed a blue filter on it to correctly measure the PAR. Do you have any experience with this? Better yet, would it be possible to compare the blue filter PAR readings to the non filtered PAR readings? Supposedly, the blues have a lot more PAR than the meters read.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[DDRR]

Michael cb, I have two of the 36" vertex strips over my 46" x 30.5" tank and the coverage is very good all around.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Jeremy, how did you take the PAR readings? Besides the obvious I mean. I've read about PAR meters not correctly measuring the PAR from blue LEDs. The sensor needed a blue filter on it to correctly measure the PAR. Do you have any experience with this? Better yet, would it be possible to compare the blue filter PAR readings to the non filtered PAR readings? Supposedly, the blues have a lot more PAR than the meters read.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

PAR was measured in a room that was completely dark, with nothing more than the LED modules running. I"ve never heard of a PAR meter not measuring blue light correctly, do you have a link to more info on this? I can tell you that spectroradiometer will not measure kelvin correctly once the light source starts getting blue, but nothing to do with PAR.

 

[ToLearn]

Jeremy the press releases and the reports on some other website said the Illumilux would be dimmable with any of the controllers that do 0-10v control. Then when I got it I was told they will be dimmable... eventually when they release another part and I put out more money for it. Now you are saying it will be dimmable... with the Vertex controller.

I know you didn't make these, but I'm kinda feeling ripped off at this point because I already have an Apex controller and I purchased an Illumilux specially because it was supposed to work with it. Is there no chance of these ever working with my Apex?

 

[Jeremy B.]

You could easily swap out a 0-10v Meanwell driver for this module and have it up and running right away with any control device that will output a 0-10v signal. If you do not want to swap the power supply though you would only be able to control these out of the box with the Cerebra controller. HTH!

 

[ToLearn]

Thanks Jeremy much appreciated. I kind of suspected that may be the case, but I am not expert on these things and was hesitant to experiment. Greatly appreciate the response, very helpful. Thanks again!

Is there a particular Meanwell you would recommend?

 

[NanoReefie]

I just picked up and installed 2 of the 12" modules in a BC29, it looks incredible! Lots and LOTS of shimmer. I'm using an Ecoxotic Stunner in blue for actinic/moonlight. One note though, open the box before you leave the store. I left the store and was midway with the install (after store hours), only to realize that I was missing one of the power cords! Needless to say a very VERY frustrating moment. I will admit that this was one of my best investments so far. Take note that the mounting brackets are not available yet, and neither are the dimming cords to make use of the dimmable feature.

 

[mkorolev]

Hi

This is for a 20g tall tank so, 24x13x17 dimensions..
I'm considering switching from my 4x24w T5s to some LEDs. What would you suggest? I was hoping to switch to MH, but it's just not practical for a tank that size, given the current heat and evaporation as it is...i'll just be making fish soup.

It seems depth-wise TrueLumen should be enough? There's not much in the tank other than zoas and mushrooms. Would LPS be possible with those lights, or would I need to go up to reef brites/vertex? Of course, there's always the issue of "future" proofing and going with better lights..

would I need 2, 3 or 4 lights? What would be the better combination of colors?
1 or 2 50/50 and 1-2 blue? 1-2 white, 1-2 blues? all 50/50? some other combination?

Thanks!

 

[Jeremy B.]

If you go TrueLumen Pro then I would do at least 3 modules in the 24" length, although 4 would be better in my opinion. LPS should be fine with 3 of them, although just keep an eye on placement (i.e. depth). If you go with the RB's or Illumilux then I think 2 modules would be more than plenty for you.

Coloration would be dependent upon what you want the tank to look like.

 

[wildman926]

You can see questions and answers, or submit your own to their tech support, at Current USA's website. There are some good suggestions there.

 

[mkorolev]

thanks!

currently i have 4 t5s.
1x ATI - 12000K Aquablue Special
2x ATI - Blue Plus
1x Korallen Zucht - Fiji Purple

I like the color, but I guess I wouldn't really be able to match it with these LEDs in terms of purple.
I guess i'm leaning towards 1x8000K and 2xMarine Fusions. How is that for color? is it too blue, not blue enough?

 

[wildman926]

Here are 2 pics of someone that posted their Current True Lumen LED Pro lights. There are only one 48" 453 and one 48" 12k light on a standard 55g tank. He compares them to cfl and T5's. There are 2 videos. I took the pics of the second. You can see the video HERE of the pics I am posting.

 

[Tracey2]

I have been comparing researching reefbrites and illumilux fixtures, it sounds like in this thread vertex would be the way to go.

I am running 4 80w T5's with individual reflectors, would I need 2 illumilux fixtures for a 72Lx18Wx26D mixed reef front and back or could I do one in the middle of the tank?

 

[Jeremy B.]

2 x Illumilux would be a nice setup on that tank, however I think that either 2 or 3 of the 72" ReefBrite's might be the better way to go. I think you'll see higher par numbers down towards the end of the tanks doing that instead of the 48" Illumilux.

 

[mkorolev]

Hi, me again...
After some thinking, I guess 2 vertex illumilux would be better, and not that much more $$ than 3 TrueLumen pros...and actually cheaper than 4 TrueLumen Pros + 2 power supplies (since I can only string 3 of 24" models on one power converter).

* Does the Illumilux come with the power supply/converter, or do I have to purchase one separately?
* Do I need anything special to connect 2 modules together? Power cables, splitters, etc, that are not included in the module "kit"?
* How would you go about mounting Illumilux to the inside of a home-made canopy? Technically I've yet to build it..so at this point there are a lot of options. The information mentions a bracket or hanging kit, but I guess they're not yet available?
* What would you suggest in terms of spacing between the 2 strips? Should they be next to each other in the middle, or each centered at about 1/3 of the 13" width, etc?
* Is it better to go for 2x 50/50 Blue/White (Marino Bianco?) or one Marino Bianco, and one Marino Blu? Would that be too blue? I do like the blue look, but I wouldn't want it too blue either.
* I don't yet have a controller, but how would I go about aquiring a "Optional inline 1-10v module for dimming"? any suggestions for brands, prices, etc.
* For future reference (in the very near future), I'm thinking of changing the lights on my freshwater tank as well...do you have the all white or the red/white versions of the light as well (24")? I didn't see them listed on the web site. I guess I can go with the TrueLumens for freshwater, but again...it seems slightly cheaper for 1 Illumilux vs 2 TrueLumen Pro + power supply

 

[Tracey2]

2 x Illumilux would be a nice setup on that tank, however I think that either 2 or 3 of the 72" ReefBrite's might be the better way to go. I think you'll see higher par numbers down towards the end of the tanks doing that instead of the 48" Illumilux.

Thanks Jeremy, I am thinking down the road I will get the Illumina fixture, so if I go with the Illumilux 48" for now I can use them later with the fixture right?