Maxspect Razor

Mike de Leon

Mike de Leon

New member
So what is the verdict people? I know this may be premature. I am sure there's a few out there who already bought this unit. How do you like it so far??
 
i have seen this thread already. I am hoping for a more in-depth discussion on color and spectrum and if this unit truly has potential. Not sure why the LED people that are so into it are not talking about this one....
 
I can offer feedback, if not a full on review.

I bought and received a 160W 16k unit about a week ago. It was missing the control knob but otherwise was complete and well packaged.

I set it up side by side with a 250 watt Radium driven by an Icecap ballast. The two fixtures were separated by a few feet over top of a 240 gallon standard dimension tank.

The LED fixture easily matched the Radium in terms of intensity. Spread was a bit less but I wasn't able to correct for the fact that the LED was lower than the Radium bulb, so there may be no issue there.

In terms of color, I was not exactly able to emulate the Radium. I found that the Radium was more white, and as I tried to up the white channel on the LED to compensate, that side of the tank developed a pinkish hue. Certain colors probably looked better, and others maybe not as good. That said, the color rendition while different than the Radium was perfectly acceptable to me.

I'm undecided on replacing 3x 250W Radiums on the 240.

I put the Razor LED over a 40B frag tank at 50%A/65%B for the moment, figuring higher power settings may be to much to start.
 
I've got one as well...just setting up a new 40b tank to use it on.
So far I'm just using the preset program and it seems brilliant! (p1)

The color and intensity at midday is stunning.

I took the 40b and drilled it for my gl*******s overflow and returns, then used Krylon "Ocean Blue" matte finish in a spraycan to cover the outside of the back wall. It turned out really beautiful.

I have a glass canopy on it right now, but am thinking about getting a reptile screen to replace it per what I've read on the forums about evap.

So far I'm really pleased with it...we will see how it works out in the long term with fish and corals.
 
The good thing about the maxspect is that it is addressing the 420nm range. Thats about all that is different. That and that it is a very affordable and attractive unit for what you are getting.

I do not have reviews for it. As I do not own it. That said, the specs of the unit are openly shared. And the specs look good.

My setup is DIY. If this light was available at the time that I diy'd, I would have bought it without a second thought. If anyone is on the fence and doesnt want to wait for reviews, I'd say that this unit looks like it has a ton of potential. There is no doubt that it will grow coral. My guess is that it will be much better than the offerings that the big dogs put out in the recent past.

Frankly, who really cares if a driver or a few LED's die over time (can happen with ANY unit). Just replace them! It's certainly not rocket science.
 
JVJordan said:
I can offer feedback, if not a full on review.

I bought and received a 160W 16k unit about a week ago. It was missing the control knob but otherwise was complete and well packaged.

I set it up side by side with a 250 watt Radium driven by an Icecap ballast. The two fixtures were separated by a few feet over top of a 240 gallon standard dimension tank.

The LED fixture easily matched the Radium in terms of intensity. Spread was a bit less but I wasn't able to correct for the fact that the LED was lower than the Radium bulb, so there may be no issue there.

In terms of color, I was not exactly able to emulate the Radium. I found that the Radium was more white, and as I tried to up the white channel on the LED to compensate, that side of the tank developed a pinkish hue. Certain colors probably looked better, and others maybe not as good. That said, the color rendition while different than the Radium was perfectly acceptable to me.

I'm undecided on replacing 3x 250W Radiums on the 240.

I put the Razor LED over a 40B frag tank at 50%A/65%B for the moment, figuring higher power settings may be to much to start.
Click to expand...

There will always be color differences. Much like when ppl started using T5s as an alternate to MH. I had a nice T5 fixture and grew corals well. I never got over the washed out look of my tank and went back to MH. I also din not like the fact that I had to replace my bulbs every 9 or 10 months. I spent over 200 bucks let alone having to tinker with the fixture again.

Would love to see a pic of your tank if you have one. Thanks both for the feedback.
 
insomniac2k2 said:
The good thing about the maxspect is that it is addressing the 420nm range. Thats about all that is different. That and that it is a very affordable and attractive unit for what you are getting.

I do not have reviews for it. As I do not own it. That said, the specs of the unit are openly shared. And the specs look good.

My setup is DIY. If this light was available at the time that I diy'd, I would have bought it without a second thought. If anyone is on the fence and doesnt want to wait for reviews, I'd say that this unit looks like it has a ton of potential. There is no doubt that it will grow coral. My guess is that it will be much better than the offerings that the big dogs put out in the recent past.




Frankly, who really cares if a driver or a few LED's die over time (can happen with ANY unit). Just replace them! It's certainly not rocket science.
Click to expand...

A lot of ppl who were dissatisfied with manufactured units was due to lack of 420 nm. Let's see how mine turns out. I can't wait to have something very sleek and less wires to deal with. Less heat and control ability are huge trade offs for me, and of course, not having to remove the lens on the fixture to change the bulbs for a while is also attractive...
 
Spiider said:
I've got one as well...just setting up a new 40b tank to use it on.
So far I'm just using the preset program and it seems brilliant! (p1)

The color and intensity at midday is stunning.

I took the 40b and drilled it for my gl*******s overflow and returns, then used Krylon "Ocean Blue" matte finish in a spraycan to cover the outside of the back wall. It turned out really beautiful.

I have a glass canopy on it right now, but am thinking about getting a reptile screen to replace it per what I've read on the forums about evap.

So far I'm really pleased with it...we will see how it works out in the long term with fish and corals.
Click to expand...

Can't wait to see a pic of you tank. Did you hang the light or use the legs?
 
JVJordan said:
I can offer feedback, if not a full on review.

I bought and received a 160W 16k unit about a week ago. It was missing the control knob but otherwise was complete and well packaged.

I set it up side by side with a 250 watt Radium driven by an Icecap ballast. The two fixtures were separated by a few feet over top of a 240 gallon standard dimension tank.

The LED fixture easily matched the Radium in terms of intensity. Spread was a bit less but I wasn't able to correct for the fact that the LED was lower than the Radium bulb, so there may be no issue there.

In terms of color, I was not exactly able to emulate the Radium. I found that the Radium was more white, and as I tried to up the white channel on the LED to compensate, that side of the tank developed a pinkish hue. Certain colors probably looked better, and others maybe not as good. That said, the color rendition while different than the Radium was perfectly acceptable to me.

I'm undecided on replacing 3x 250W Radiums on the 240.

I put the Razor LED over a 40B frag tank at 50%A/65%B for the moment, figuring higher power settings may be to much to start.
Click to expand...

Wait so you can adjust the Color?

I thought that they made 2 versions (One set in 10K and One set in 14K)?

Is it "tunable" like the Kessil A350 LED? :fish1:
 
It is dimmable so you can turn one channel (blue or white) up or down.
The available colors (10.000 and 16.000) are the colors with both channels turned to 100%
The difference with the Kessils is that this does also a nice automatic sunrise/sunset.
 
I won a GC from Hellolights, so I may use it towards one of these in the near future. I've been interested in it for awhile now.
 
Spiider said:
I've got one as well...just setting up a new 40b tank to use it on.
So far I'm just using the preset program and it seems brilliant! (p1)

The color and intensity at midday is stunning.

I took the 40b and drilled it for my gl*******s overflow and returns, then used Krylon "Ocean Blue" matte finish in a spraycan to cover the outside of the back wall. It turned out really beautiful.

I have a glass canopy on it right now, but am thinking about getting a reptile screen to replace it per what I've read on the forums about evap.

So far I'm really pleased with it...we will see how it works out in the long term with fish and corals.
Click to expand...

bhazard451 said:
I won a GC from Hellolights, so I may use it towards one of these in the near future. I've been interested in it for awhile now.
Click to expand...

Congrats. This unit may be new. But the parts are nothing new (this statement is coming from a LED noob). Seems like with the addition of 420 nm this should work. Mine should be over my new tank by the weekend.
 
So just received my 160 today. Being on vacation in SC I cant install it until I get home in the weekend. I bought the unit from Aquarium Specialty. Ordered yesterday and received it today at the condo we are staying at in Myrtle Beach. Service was excellent!
Plugged the light in. Seems very intense. Cant wait to see it over the tank.
 
Here is a pic as requested. I have the 16k - 27 inch version.

Tank is starting to come together. No fish in there yet...just a big piece of Pukani and a few bits I grabbed from my other nano to seed.

Hasn't cycled yet but it is only a week old.

Btw, this pic was taken at around 6pm and the light is running on preset 1.
So, it is already ramping down dramatically for a total lights out at about 9pm.
The preset 1 program holds the blue channel on a slower ramp down so it looks more blue than at midday.


40b.jpg
 
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