Looking for a good led strip fixture

Ron Reefman

Ron Reefman

Active member
I have a Reef Breeders Photon V2 that is 50" long over my 60" tank. I like to keep it pulled forward over the tank as it helps reduce the shadows under rock and coral overhangs and ledges. But I also have several sps corals attached to the back glass (started as frags on magnets) and because they are only 6"-12" deep the light from the Photon just doesn't get there. I'm looking for a 48" or two smaller 16"-24" strips to mount behind the Photon to light the back glass.

All blue is OK, I'd rather have control of white and blue channels but I don't think I'm going to find that in a strip. I'd do a t5 but all the fixtures are to big and look very unfinished. The Photon is only 1" tall so the additional strips need to be as small as possible from top to bottom so they don't stand out too much and look like crap. You can see how streamline and clean the Photons look in the FTS below.

I wish BuildMyLEDs was still doing aquarium lighting! Any suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks.

 
Reefbrite XHO's! I've used those as the sole illumination on a couple reef tanks that had low profile canopies and the tanks are growing everything from soft corals to SPS without any issues. You can order them with optional inline dimmers or 0-10v control. The XHO's are terrific LED's and VERY powerful. They also include nice little mounts that allow you to angle them for best coverage. Those mounts could be easily attached to the sides of your existing fixtures if need since you don't have a canopy.
 
maddmaxx said:
21ledusa.com
Click to expand...

Maddmaxx, great suggestion! Thank you so much for bringing this line of fixtures to my attention! I was totally unaware of this company until now.These have just about everything I wanted. Small size, clean lines, mix of more blue than white, good 3w leds and 2 channel dimmer control. And at very reasonable prices! These may well be the units I end up with.

oreo57 said:
https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-Aq...1490559435&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=beaswork+48"

A little "white" but oddly one of the few times one could use a filter I suppose.
Click to expand...

I think 0.5w leds are too weak and the fixture is way bigger than I wanted. But thanks for bringing them to my attention.

slief said:
Reefbrite XHO's! I've used those as the sole illumination on a couple reef tanks that had low profile canopies and the tanks are growing everything from soft corals to SPS without any issues. You can order them with optional inline dimmers or 0-10v control. The XHO's are terrific LED's and VERY powerful. They also include nice little mounts that allow you to angle them for best coverage. Those mounts could be easily attached to the sides of your existing fixtures if need since you don't have a canopy.
Click to expand...

Steve, thanks for the info. I've been looking at the Reefbrite strips. They are the right size and would look good in my application. It has 2 channel dimmers and the mounting bracket has potential to make it easy to mount to my Photon. I was a bit surprised when I read in your post that they have 2 channel dimmers because I looked at these on 2 different big name online store websites and they didn't offer that info.

But at nearly twice the price of the 21ledusa price, it's a serious contender, but I'm leaning toward the 21ledusa strip.

So I'll do more research and I'm still open to any other suggestions.
Thanks to maddmaxx, oreo57 and slief for their help.
 
Ron Reefman said:
Steve, thanks for the info. I've been looking at the Reefbrite strips. They are the right size and would look good in my application. It has 2 channel dimmers and the mounting bracket has potential to make it easy to mount to my Photon. I was a bit surprised when I read in your post that they have 2 channel dimmers because I looked at these on 2 different big name online store websites and they didn't offer that info.

But at nearly twice the price of the 21ledusa price, it's a serious contender, but I'm leaning toward the 21ledusa strip.

So I'll do more research and I'm still open to any other suggestions.
Thanks to maddmaxx, oreo57 and slief for their help.
Click to expand...

The dimmers are in line. They are single strip LED's so the dimmer is actually single channel and it is optional. While they are more expensive, they are also much more powerful than most strip lights and they are very well made and heavy. My friend Jim has been running them on his reef for a couple years now and his coral is doing great under only XHO's. If you have any questions about the lights, contact Tullio at Reef Brite. He is the designer of those light and loves to talk :thumbsup:
 
lol, yes sorry, it was for you. Thanks for the reply. I have been looking at these for my new build to supplement my T-5s.
 
slief said:
If that was a question for me, the answer would be no. Instead you need the optional 0-10v driver with the Apex RJ45 connection.
Click to expand...

how about clarifying that.. All the above mentioned lights look to be all constant voltage arrays. Need to "pulse" full current..like that dimmer (6A max)...
A TC-420 will automate any that are under 4A per channel (fixture in this case unless split into channels..)
 
oreo57 said:
how about clarifying that.. All the above mentioned lights look to be all constant voltage arrays. Need to "pulse" full current..like that dimmer (6A max)...
A TC-420 will automate any that are under 4A per channel (fixture in this case unless split into channels..)
Click to expand...

Reefbrite sells a the power supply and 0-10 drivers to match the lights. If you contact Reefbite, they will tell you exactly what Reefbrite part numbers you need for 0-10v control. They also have a number of different power supply options from the standard power supplies that are included with the XHO's to larger ones that can drive several XHO strips as well as other 0-10v drivers that can control multiple independent channels.
 
slief said:
Reefbrite sells a the power supply and 0-10 drivers to match the light
Click to expand...

Hmm tacks another $150 on to the light.. TC-420 is cheaper.. ;)
Though won't interface w/ an Apex..
The Reef Brite LED controller interface can handle up to 10 amps per channel. It allows plug-and-play control and plugs in line between the LED fixture and power supply. Another exciting feature is that the LED interface plugs directly into the 0-10V dimming port of your Neptune Systems APEX controller (or similar) controller and does not require any additional modules or software. The Reef Brite LED controller is also APEX certified to ensure seamless integration. Available in single or dual channel.
Click to expand...
Interesting.. thanks..
 
I'll have an Apex set up soon, but other than turning these on and off, I don't need more control. The Reef Breeders Photon V2 is the primary light and these strips would just be additional lights on from about 10am thru 6pm. The RB Photon does a great job but I have corals attached high on the back glass and with the RB Photons pulled forward over the tank to reduce shadows some when viewed from the front, I could use some extra light at the back of the tank. The extra strips are just to add a look of depth, front to back of the tank (more blue at the back) and to help the corals on the back wall grow.
 
Ron Reefman said:
I'll have an Apex set up soon, but other than turning these on and off, I don't need more control. The Reef Breeders Photon V2 is the primary light and there strips would just be additional lights on from about 10am thru 4pm. The RB Photon does a great job but I have corals attached to the back glass and with the RB Photons pulled forward over the tank to reduce shadows some when viewed from the front. The extra strips are just to add a look of depth to the tank (more blue at the back) and to help the corals on the back wall grow.
Click to expand...

any "bridgelux" type blue bar will work.. Should be dozens on eek bay..
If you want some control just hack in a $3 PWM LED dimmer..
Will take 12-24V power supplies and up to 8A 96W Roughly..
http://www.lightinthebox.com/pwm-di...214575482234&gclid=CPz1ku6R99ICFQQwaQodCVkMjg
16" CREE-ish(;)) Add your own lenses if you chose.
 
Last edited:
maddmaxx said:
21ledusa.com
Click to expand...

I use these on both my 150g and 90g.

I have one that is 2 channel, one all blues, the other with a mixture of warm whites and uv. I use their controller with this strip for the dusk to dawn affect, and control of the light. You have to ask for this strip, as it is not sold on their website.

I also use an all blue light, and a BML Super Actinic, both on mechanical timers.

The 21ledusa strips have been used since 2/2015. I am very happy with them.

I use these led strips with a pair of T5HO ATI Coral Plus bulbs. I have the same setup on both tanks. This combo really rocks.

20170318_192953_zpsbmwdtw7w.jpg

20170318_193007_001_zps9kwdxegu.jpg
 
Wildman926, thanks for the info on even better 21ledusa fixtures and the review of your experience with them. It really helps to hear good things about a company I knew nothing about. You input is much appreciated.
 
Sure looks like 21ledusa just resells the same Chinese stuff available all over ebay/amazon..
:shrug:
 
mcgyvr said:
Sure looks like 21ledusa just resells the same Chinese stuff available all over ebay/amazon..
:shrug:
Click to expand...

Could very well be. But the RB unit does come with mounting hardware that is made for the RB Photon V2 . I just got back from vacation and haven't done the comparison yet. See pics and story at: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25097155&postcount=367 and the following 3 posts!

I did get a 4' Sun Blaster Nano t5 fixture. I was seriously disappointed with the 10,000K and 15,000K t5 bulbs. I ended up using a Bio Tek 20,000K and UV led retro-fit bulb. It looks OK, but trying to make it hang on the Photon V2 and not look diy trashy is an issue.

And I still intend to get a couple of blue led strips for the back side of the V2. They may be 21ledusa or the new RB units. More to follow.

BTW, thanks Coyote slayer for the heads up about RB. I knew they were coming, but Logan didn't even do a release announcement in the RB sponsor forum!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

beckya
for a 40 gallon breeder
Replies
2
Views
173
griss
griss
D
DIY Stand Help
Replies
6
Views
280
kharmaguru
kharmaguru
M
Refugium for 20 gallon
Replies
7
Views
2K
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
Dogs442
New Build xxl900 lighting question.
Replies
2
Views
422
Dogs442
Dogs442
C
Maxspect jump led issue
Replies
0
Views
1K
Cruzersmith
C
Back
Top