LED Module Comparison - ReefBrite / Illumilux / TrueLumen Pro

[Jeremy B.]

1. Which would you recommend given that only 2 strips will fit (unless I remove the moonlights, which then 3 would fit) - also considering that ReefBrite has a 15" strip that would give a bit more coverage than the 12" strip by Illumilux?

2. Which strips run cooler?

3. Assuming I go with only 2 strips, what combination - 1 all white and 1 all blue or 1 50/50 and 1 all blue?

Thanks again.

I would probably go the route of the Illumilux, however the ReefBrite's would work just fine for you as well.

Both run very similar to one another in terms of heat. The Illumilux is probably slightly warmer, but not by a whole lot.

I would suggest use 1 x 50/50 and 1 x Blue for this.

 

[shags7]

I would probably go the route of the Illumilux, however the ReefBrite's would work just fine for you as well.

Both run very similar to one another in terms of heat. The Illumilux is probably slightly warmer, but not by a whole lot.

I would suggest use 1 x 50/50 and 1 x Blue for this.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Assuming I go with the Illumilux, how would I mount them - I want to mount them directly to the existing hood of the Biocube, but all I find is the bracket to mount to the tank or the hanging kit to mount to the ceiling - does the fixture itself have a method of attaching it directly to an existing hood?

Also, if I want to make them dimmable, what would I need to purchase in addition to the LED fixtures themselves and do you sell that at your site as well?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Are you somewhat handy? If so, the Illumilux have a channel molded into the aluminum body itself (the housing), which you would use some machined bolts upside down through your existing hood to slide them onto, essentially making your own little track. It would just take very basic tools to do this. If you really wanted to rig it, zip ties work magic!

Right now they are not dimmable until the inline 0-10v input device is avaiable for retail. I know there are a few in North America now if I'm not mistaken, but they're not ready to start selling them yet.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[shags7]

Thanks. I actually decided to go with the Reef Brites as they can be easily mounted and can then be adjusted (angled) in whatever direction that I may prefer. More importantly, what really sold me were the dimensions - being a little thinner, I can add a 3rd if need be, and because they are longer (15"), I can get a bit more spread. In fact, instead of a 3rd Reef Brite, I purchased a Panorama RGB so that I can add more white or blue as desired or even some additional colors as accent lighting (although not as great as the Illumilux or the Reef Brites, I have read that the Panorama LEDs are decent). In any case, I purchased all 3 from your store a few days ago. Thanks again.

 

[ryanb69]

Hey, I am starting a 20g tank that is 12'' by 24''. I was considering a vertex Illuminux II LED 50/50 fixture. Will this give enough light? I am new to this, so any advice helps alot!

Thanks!

 

[davidgnome]

hey

hey

I was actually going to add a 48' Reefbrite strip and mount it onto my tek elite 6 bulb..Would this work? and would the 50/50 produce better shimmer? or all white? and if so could i have all 6 bulbs and 2 seperate strips..one on the back of the fixture and one on the front?? and maybe what bulbs would i use? alot of questions but ive been looking for a thread like this for a few weeks

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hey, I am starting a 20g tank that is 12'' by 24''. I was considering a vertex Illuminux II LED 50/50 fixture. Will this give enough light? I am new to this, so any advice helps alot!

Thanks!

As long as you were keeping all low light corals I think you'll be fine. If you're wanting to do anything that is moderate to higher light I would suggst using two modules, preferably a 50/50 and an all blue. HTH!

 

[Jeremy B.]

I was actually going to add a 48' Reefbrite strip and mount it onto my tek elite 6 bulb..Would this work? and would the 50/50 produce better shimmer? or all white? and if so could i have all 6 bulbs and 2 seperate strips..one on the back of the fixture and one on the front?? and maybe what bulbs would i use? alot of questions but ive been looking for a thread like this for a few weeks

It would work, you would just have to mount the module directly to the fixture itself. An all white will give you the most shimmer, but the all blue gives you the best pop in coloration. As far as which T5 lamps you use that will be dependent upon which LED you choose. If it's shimmer you're after then I say go with the all white on both RB's, then use all blue plus and a couple pure actinics in the T5 fixture. If it's coloration you're after, I would use all blue RB's and then use a couple of aquablue special T5's in conjunction with a mix of Blue plus and pure actinic for the rest of the lamps.

 

[jason2459]

I think I've only seen one recommendation in this thread for a 72" tank. I'm getting my 180 setup now. I'd like to eventually have some lps and some softies. Maybe a clam or two or possibly a rbta.

I currently have 2 36" 50/50 reefbrites w/ a lens over each LED, 1 48" 50/50 reefbrite, and 1 48" all blue reefbrite. All original reefbrite. Not sure what the lens angles are as I bought the two 36" strips used.

What recommendations could I get to either add or replace if anything?

 

[zyphen]

Finally got my 2nd Illumilux strip mounted. Found that 36" 50/50 (Marino Bianco 50/50 Royal Blue(450nm) "“ White(7000K)) was not enough light for the frag tank (36" x 12" x 16" tall), so I added the recommended Blue (Marino Blu 50/50 Royal Blue(450nm) "“ Blue(470nm)) strip. The tank looks pretty blue now, but as expected, the colors pop on my zoas, and everything looks happy.

Here are some pictures of the hanging kit / bars and the bracket to hold both together:

 

[Jeremy B.]

I think I've only seen one recommendation in this thread for a 72" tank. I'm getting my 180 setup now. I'd like to eventually have some lps and some softies. Maybe a clam or two or possibly a rbta.

I currently have 2 36" 50/50 reefbrites w/ a lens over each LED, 1 48" 50/50 reefbrite, and 1 48" all blue reefbrite. All original reefbrite. Not sure what the lens angles are as I bought the two 36" strips used.

What recommendations could I get to either add or replace if anything?

Are you using any of the existing modules for the new tank?

 

[jason2459]

Yep I have them all setup now. I got the 2 48" strips from you a while ago for my 55g and I'm surprised how much spread they have in the 180. I think I could use one more strip of something. Definitely not an all blue.

 

[jason2459]

Here's how I have them setup right now.

Front 48" 50/50, middle 2x36" 50/50 w/lens, back 48" all blue.

 

[Jeremy B.]

I think I'd go with another 50/50 if you're not wanting to use an all blue. The photo didn't show up, so I can't see what type of color you have in the tank right now with that setup.

 

[jason2459]

I think I'd go with another 50/50 if you're not wanting to use an all blue. The photo didn't show up, so I can't see what type of color you have in the tank right now with that setup.

I'm looking at the 50/50 72" reefbrites. Any reason not to get the full 72" compared to two 36"? I see they have the 72" in both the original and xho. How much hotter do the xho's run? I currently don't have a fan in my hood and don't really want to put one in. Do I really need xho for softies, LPS, and possibly a dursa clam?

Here's kind of a far away full tank shot but this actually gives a good representation of the color. My other pictures close up are much bluer then what it looks like.

This was the picture that shows how I have them setup in the hood right now.

 

[Jeremy B.]

I would just do the 72" units. The XHO's do get hotter than the standard units, but I would think the standard would be more than enough for what you're wanting to keep, including the Deresa.

On another note, did you retrofit optics on the the two middle 36" strips? That's the first I've seen that done before. What angle are you using?

 

[jason2459]

I would just do the 72" units. The XHO's do get hotter than the standard units, but I would think the standard would be more than enough for what you're wanting to keep, including the Deresa.

On another note, did you retrofit optics on the the two middle 36" strips? That's the first I've seen that done before. What angle are you using?

Thanks for the feed back. I'll probably go with the original as I don't want to over power things and I really like how cool they run. I'm trying to keep the heat down as low as possible so I can keep a blue spot jawfish with out having to get a chiller.

The reefbrite has some awesome coverage, more then I thought it would with the 48" on the 72"x24"x24" tank. Those are 90 degree optics and have the light about 10" high and it still covers the tank front to back really well but gives a lot more focus in the center. The setup right now makes a great sunset to sunrise effect and a forth strip would nail it in well I think.

I have the moon lights on all night they were the 1st gen current usa. I think they're replaced by the truelumen lunars now. At 10am I have the back all blues turn on. 11am the front 50/50. 12pm the 2x36" 50/50's. Then scale back down at 8pm the 2x36" 50/50s go off. 9pm the front 50/50 goes off. 10pm the all blues go off. Really seems to scale well. With the 4th strip I think I would setup them up with no optics side by side with the 2x36" strips and go on at the 12pm hour and then the 2x36" w/ optics to go on at 1pm to really give the full sunrise high noon effect with stronger focus.

Now I just have to save up for another strip.

 

[DDRR]

Any idea when the dimmable units for the Illumilux will be available?

 

[gorally]

Any timeline for the illumilux dimmer?

 

[Jeremy B.]

No definite date on the Illumilux dimmer yet, I'm sorry. Once we have them here I'll be sure to post.