Maxspect LED owners!!!

[Adam_T]

Well dang...haha.

Would the G2-110w be sufficient enough for my 20x20x20in 34g Solana? I like how it DOESN'T have the 30w yellow ones in it, haha.

Problems I have come across on the Maxspect include the ballast, timers, temp control, fan not working, and LED's flickering.

The one thing I have seen reading this thread is that the LED's are only "recommended" for 1 year of use? Is this true? Can these LED's be replaced by CREE's? I read in this thread a quote from the manufacture that the cree's would be too hot for the maxspects and are NOT to be used.

 

[sammy113]

What feel fishy to me about those KEY LED lamps is that says CREE Chips 12,000K
I don't know of a 12K CREE Chip. You might want to get pics of the actual LEDs cause these days companies are using CREE brand as a catch as they are one of the most recognized LED company at the moment.

I didn't read the whole specs though, correct me if I'm wrong

 

[sammy113]

Well dang...haha.


The one thing I have seen reading this thread is that the LED's are only "recommended" for 1 year of use? Is this true? Can these LED's be replaced by CREE's? I read in this thread a quote from the manufacture that the cree's would be too hot for the maxspects and are NOT to be used.

huh? 1 year? then what's the whole point of LED lighting other than efficiency and running cooler than any light? It should last AT LEAST 3-4 years before replacing an LED

 

[esco]

The 30w bulbs aren't too yellow IMO. They put out a very nicely crisp white light. If you're concerned about the color, just switch out some of the white 3w LEDs to get the desired color temp you want.

With the 110w, you will have a good balanced 12-13K look, but only 2 channels. The advantage of the 160w is that you have three channels to play around with. You can still get the same look of the 110w (with only the 3w blue channel and 3w white channel on). In addition to the 110w "look", you can also achieve another look when the 30w LEDs kick on. If you don't like the 30w LEDs, you can program it so that they don't turn on. Essentially, you will have more flexibility with the 160w in regards to photoperiod and adjustment via LEDs, but it'll also cost you. It all depends on how willing you are to play around with your choices, and LEDs.

Your LEDs should last more than a year.

And lastly in regards to the service, Maxspect has so far been very quick to respond to issues. I personally had a broken G1 which I had sent back for repair. The overall experience was very cordial and all my questions were answered. The drawback is that they are based overseas so shipping (one way) may be expensive depending on the method. Besides that, if you're covered under warranty, you won't have to pay a dime out of your pocket to have it looked at and repaired.

 

[Adam_T]

huh? 1 year? then what's the whole point of LED lighting other than efficiency and running cooler than any light? It should last AT LEAST 3-4 years before replacing an LED

Exactly! On their website, under LED replacement bulbs...it says that their bulbs should be changed out after 1 year of use. I saw this mentioned in this thread, looked at it myself and was like :worried:

 

[bqwertpl]

Exactly! On their website, under LED replacement bulbs...it says that their bulbs should be changed out after 1 year of use. I saw this mentioned in this thread, looked at it myself and was like :worried:

I think it has more to do with making extra money than anything else.. I do not see any reason why would U have to change them after a year. Right now I am still apart between Maxspect and Aqua Illumination... Like the flexibility of Maxspect and access to change some of the LEDs to get the nice/right color.. but at the same time lack of full control over these LEDs.. AI of course nice quality but no option to change LEDs to something different and more custom.. but pretty much full control over LEDs dimming/sunrise/sunset etc.... great customer service and much cheaper if U have to send it back for repair.. but then price..

 

[KumiClaws]

g-2 170

g-2 170

Just ordered the G-2 170 from fishstreet
unit shipped the same day i ordered it.
i am hoping for delivery soon.
I did a lot of research on these lights before buying.
seems to be the best led available for the price.
I chose the 170 due to some peoples feelings on the color of the 30 w leds
i would have hated to be one of the people who hated them!
i am replacing cf lighting so im hoping for a big improvement.
i have a 75 gal 48x18x18 tank.
these photos are what it looks like now with 4x 65w 50/50 cf bulbs and 1 12w. led strip
i will post pics of the light ans new setup as soon as i recieve them... hope thats soon!!!
:dance:

 

[willp2]

I was told they were 60 degree optics. As I'm not very knowledgable with leds. I toke his word for it. I don't see any reflective marerial in them either. The lenses are cone shaped smaller where they fit on the led and angle out. Not knowing much about leds. I figured it directed the light out through the cone. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm the dude that sold the optics and SemiLED's and yes they are 60 degree optics. Very curious to hear more results about what you think of these.

Thanks!

 

[maddog2002]

This what I found from Maxpect:
160W open form 8 hours. LED baseboard will be 46-48 C (Room temp: 28-30 C)
3W White: baseboard is 50 C lost 3% every 1000 hours, if open 10 hours a day, one year will be 3650 hours, will lose 11% , Three years will be lost 33%.
3W Blue will lose 1/2 OF 3W white.
30W 5% lost every 1000 hours at (50 C temp) , after a year will lose 18% (Open 10 hour a day).

 

[willp2]

I've been reading the same stuff about Maxspect losing power that rapidly, but honestly I don't know why they are saying that. I worked direct with SemiLED's north American reps and direct with manufacturers and from the info I have the numbers are totally different.

For instance on the 3W SemiLEDs are getting more like a 2% loss per year on the whites. Very odd. Perhaps they are using some bargain version of the standard emitter?

 

[maddog2002]

I think it's maybe under different Temperature.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

AI of course nice quality but no option to change LEDs to something different and more custom.. but pretty much full control over LEDs dimming/sunrise/sunset etc.... great customer service and much cheaper if U have to send it back for repair.. but then price..

AI recently announced new tri-color pucks (one each Cree white blue and royal blue) that can be easily swapped out to adjust the color. I'm planning on replacing the inner 8 pucks with the new tri-colors to balance the pop of the royal blues while avoiding the purple color.

 

[willp2]

I think it's maybe under different Temperature.

Perhaps, but I think most numbers are based on 50c which is not all that hot.

Any chance these guys are over driving 1W LED's? That would probably account for the shorter life.

 

[bqwertpl]

AI recently announced new tri-color pucks (one each Cree white blue and royal blue) that can be easily swapped out to adjust the color. I'm planning on replacing the inner 8 pucks with the new tri-colors to balance the pop of the royal blues while avoiding the purple color.

any idea how much more it will cost ? or how much You will have to pay to exchange it on Your own? I am ready to buy my lights soon.. next week or so.. but would hate to see something new in next two months and pay couple hundreds $$$ just to upgrade it..

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

any idea how much more it will cost ? or how much You will have to pay to exchange it on Your own? I am ready to buy my lights soon.. next week or so.. but would hate to see something new in next two months and pay couple hundreds $$$ just to upgrade it..

Pricing and availability date not announced yet - Hopefully you'll be able to specify the color combination desired at order. The Gen1 upgrade kit which included most every part (LEDs, system board, optics, fans, power supply...) was $250 so I'm guessing the new tri-color pucks will be considerably less. Also, I believe there is still a waiting list for AIs so you've got time to decide.

One other thing to consider and accept- No matter what brand/model you buy, be prepared for something better, cheaper, more efficient to be released shortly thereafter. LED technology is advancing very quickly, anything we buy now will be quickly surpassed, perhaps even antiquated in just a few years.

2 years from now, we may be comparing plasma-arc performance in hopes of ditching our inefficient LEDS

 

[Garage1217]

Just a quick note on my post about the thermal paste "or lack of" on the 30W leds. The fixture that I cleaned / added a proper amount of thermal paste to runs 3 celsius hotter than the other. They were always identical temp wise until I did this mod. Shows how much more efficient the 30w units are transferring heat into the heatsink now. To note, I used artic silver 5 as I always have some laying around. Very good thermal paste.

Also I am almost on week 3 since I dropped the 30W leds down to 5 hours a day. No ill effects noticed, no color changes & no change in growth so far visually. On the 26th I still plan to cut the use down to 2 hours a day for the 30w leds and see how it goes.

Staggering the led timers like I have provides excellent color throughout the day. Just to note again, my current schedule is as follows...

11am - 9pm 3W blues on = 10 hours
11:30am - 4:30pm 30W white on = 5
4pm - 8pm 3w white on = 4 hours

On the 26th I will be changing it up as follows...

11am - 9pm 3W blues on = 10 hours
11:30am - 1:30pm 30W white on = 2
1:30pm - 8pm 3w white on = 6.5 hours

 

[jerome736]

11am - 9pm 3W blues on = 10 hours
11:30am - 4pm 30W white on = 5
4pm - 8pm 3w white on = 4 hours

On the 26th I will be changing it up as follows...

11am - 9pm 3W blues on = 10 hours
11:30am - 4pm 30W white on = 2
4pm - 8pm 3w white on = 7 hours

Forgot to change the 2nd set of numbers?

 

[Garage1217]

Forgot to change the 2nd set of numbers?

Good catch, botched the numbers *LOL* Corrected now. Been a long day, flew back to Az from Toronto, Canada starting at 1am Az time.

 

[Baja170]

How would a 110 and 160 do on a 30x30x24 93G cube. Mostly SPS, some LPS and a few softies in the darkest spots?

I just got the G2 170 for my 150XT FOWLR and it looks to be a great replacement for the 8 tube T5 that will not have me cutting up my canopy.

I am amazed at the heat reduction and ease of programming the Maxspect unit.

 

[androsbone]

My G2-230w unit is developing a crazing, or kind of sag on the splashguard under the
30w lights, Didn't someone else have a similar issue?