Photon V2 vs Aquasanrise Plus

[Reef908]

Hey everyone. I am looking to upgrade the LED's I am running and I think I narrowed down to the Reef Breeders, but I am between the Photon V2 and the Aquasanrise. My tank is a 75 gallon and I have a mix of LPS, Softies and some SPS frags (which is why I am upgrading the lights). I currently have some older LED strip lights that have been doing well but I definitely need to upgrade the lighting now that I am getting more involved with corals. I have two questions that I have come up with to get people's perspective on between the two:

1. What are everyone's opinion on the Aquasanrise quality of the LED vs the Photon V2?

2. How is the Photon V2's programming/user interface compared to the app for the Aquasanrise (or is it the same app? not very clear from my research)?

Thanks!

 

[Ron Reefman]

They both use the same makes of leds, Cree and OSRAM. IMO the V2 has a tiny edge in less red and green and more violet and cool blue... but that's not a big deal.

I have lots of experience with the V2 and none with the Aqusanrise. I didn't even consider it when I bought and that may be to my detriment! I think the Aquasanrise has 2 bigger advantages. 1) The red and green leds are in very close proximity to other colors of leds (blues and whites) which will greatly reduce the 'disco effect' and the red and green shadow edging that I get with the V2. In fact, I turn off the red and green channels altogether. 2) The ease in changing the led pucks. I haven't looked into the cost or the availability of different assortments of pucks since I already have the V2 and I don't expect to be changing anything soon.

As far a build quality, i know the factory that makes the V2, and I suspect the Aquasanrise may be made in the same factory, but might be worth asking Reef Breeders at their website.

I have no idea what the Aquasanrise software is like. The V2 is OK, but could be a bit better. The remotes don't hold battery power as long as I'd like. So I keep mine plugged in all the time. That way if I want to showoff to somebody, I don't pick up the remote and find it dead and useless.

I hope that helps?

 

[jason2459]

The aquasanrise definitely has the advantage in ease of swapping out leds which is nice.

But I do want to point out they don't use the same LEDs or wavelengths.

The Sanrise doesn't use Osram or Semi and uses Epiled.

And the photon v2

The Violet SemiLEDs and Osram Reds are considered to be better then the EpiLED and even Cree and found in much higher dollar fixtures. The Epileds are ok and found in customized blackboxes to still keep the price low.

Also the wavelengths in the photon v2 I think are better. The deep red 660nm hits the chlorophyll peak better. And the lower the nm for LEDs in the deep to ultra violet range the shorter their life as the phosphors burn out quicker and the cheaper ones don't hold up well to the increasing amount of ultra violet. Epileds are ok but not considered in the top for this.

 

[Reef908]

Thanks guys! This is great. I saw a YouTube video with the Aquasanrise app and it looked cool. I'd rather have the LED quality to be better I think and I have not found much on here from users of the Aquasanrise unit.

 

[jason2459]

Keep in mind if an LED goes out on the Photon v2 the entire board would need replaced as they don't offer individual LED replacements unless you took it on yourself to try and buy and replace the individual LED which according the Logan is extremely difficult and not suggested. Each grouping of LEDs around the fan is a board.

I personally like the simple remote but those that want more control and flexibility in using your phone the Aquasanrise seems better there too.

 

[Reef908]

Good point about the replacement aspect. I would hope that I would not have to do this but the changeability aspect is nice to have. This is my conundrum! Changeability and phone app vs quality of LEDs. Price point is about the same so that is not a factor right now. Decisions, decisions....

Thanks for the great insight into the LED quality. That was my main question between the two.

 

[jason2459]

Good point about the replacement aspect. I would hope that I would not have to do this but the changeability aspect is nice to have. This is my conundrum! Changeability and phone app vs quality of LEDs. Price point is about the same so that is not a factor right now. Decisions, decisions....

Thanks for the great insight into the LED quality. That was my main question between the two.

Yeah, I was recently deciding between the two. I didn't care nearly as much about the controllability and wanted as few options as possible there to not confuse me or cause me to want to tinker to much and cause more harm then good.

I went with the Photon v2 based on LED selection, layout, slightly more LEDs, slightly costs less, and many great reviews. I also wasn't planning on driving the LEDs very high so expect a low rate of failure on them and would be fine replacing the board with several LEDs on it.

But the controllability and ease of LED swapping could be a bigger factor for others which the Aquasanrise is the winner there.

 

[jason2459]

Hey Ron while I think of it what did you end up doing to add to the photon v2 you have now? T5 or another LED?

 

[jason2459]

Reef908, FWIW here's a review thread I did on my photon v2 install. I went overboard and it's certainly not necessary to add as many fixtures as I did but I would totally do it again if I had to re setup my lighting. I love it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2626683

 

[Reef908]

Reef908, FWIW here's a review thread I did on my photon v2 install. I went overboard and it's certainly not necessary to add as many fixtures as I did but I would totally do it again if I had to re setup my lighting. I love it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2626683

Thanks! I actually read through this and that's one of the threads that got me into researching the V2. Then I saw the Aquasanrise and was intrigued but could not find much info on those. I am like you and will probably go V2 for your exact listed reasons and since my current lights is simple on/off with a manual dimmer haha.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Hey Ron while I think of it what did you end up doing to add to the photon v2 you have now? T5 or another LED?

Ha! Actually I'm considering adding both. Thanks for asking.

I just got a 48" t5 SunBlaster Nano about 3 hours ago from my local hydroponics dealer. I'll see about fitting it on the front side of the V2. Getting it attached may be the tricky part. When I held it up to the V2 it looks like it will fit together and it doesn't look bad ascetically. I haven't even plugged it in and held it up next to the V2 while turned on yet. And I'll probably need to tip it slightly toward the back or add to the shade in the front, because I don't want to see the bulb when it's turned on.

Logan told me that he'll have 24" blue led strips that are designed to clip directly onto the V2. He said mid May was when he is expecting them. I'm thinking of adding 2 on the back side of the V2.

But then who knows, I may just end up with a bare V2 fixture when it's all said and done? But my gut tells me I'll end up using both.

As I make any progress I'll be posting photos in my build thread.

 

[jason2459]

I started with tge T5s in front pointing back with my ocean revive fixtures and it still helped a good amount in the tank. Of course having a canopy helped hide that.

I didn't know they were coming out with a bar light. Those seem to be becoming a bit more popular with people combining all different kinds of lights now.

 

[Reef908]

I actually am using older ecoxotic stunner LEDs from my old planted tank lol. Been working ok but not great. I have a 24" blue strip I can leverage if needed.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I actually am using older ecoxotic stunner LEDs from my old planted tank lol. Been working ok but not great. I have a 24" blue strip I can leverage if needed.

By "planted tank" do you mean 'no coral'? Because if that's the case, blue won't help much. Some/most macro algae does photosynthesis better with warm white and red spectrum. Blue is better for the zooxanthellae in coral polyps.

 

[Reef908]

By "planted tank" do you mean 'no coral'? Because if that's the case, blue won't help much. Some/most macro algae does photosynthesis better with warm white and red spectrum. Blue is better for the zooxanthellae in coral polyps.

Nope. I mean my old freshwater planted tank that I had prior to getting into saltwater. I had them as moon lights to the daylight strips (which I also am still using).