Ok I'm having trouble adjusting my photon 16 series..been on tank for 3 months now.. Have the light ramping up to 25 blu/15 white max.. My duncan/blasto are great but my sps frags, birds nest/acro/monti digi seem all same.my cal/alk/mag been staying same for 2 weeks,no water changes during that period
Reefbreeders/(Evergrow OEM) Fixtures D120/IT20** series
- Thread starter bhazard451
- Start date
phenom5
Member
Curious what you guys think.
I'm working with Logan, since I got the wrong lights. But I'm not sure what I want to do. I have no idea what the layout of the lights that were sent to me is, and looking at the sticker on the boxes, I'm guessing there's a mixture of 120 & 90 optics.
But I was completely underwhelmed with the light. It looks nothing like the pictures I've seen of peoples tanks, or nothing like the various LED setups I've seen locally. It doesn't look bright at all, even with both channels at 100%, and it didn't seem even close to covering half my tank (24x18).
So I'm debating 2 photon24s.
Would 120* optics be a better choice?
Would those give me good par throughout? I have SPS down to the sandbed, tank is 20" tall.
I'd like to mount them ~8" off the waterline, but I'm really having second thoughts. I don't have an issue with my T5s, I'm just sick of constantly replacing the bulbs at 130 buck a pop.
I'd typically prefer something a little bluer, Radiums would be my light of choice just based purely on the look. Should I stick to the standard layout? Something else?
I'm working with Logan, since I got the wrong lights. But I'm not sure what I want to do. I have no idea what the layout of the lights that were sent to me is, and looking at the sticker on the boxes, I'm guessing there's a mixture of 120 & 90 optics.
But I was completely underwhelmed with the light. It looks nothing like the pictures I've seen of peoples tanks, or nothing like the various LED setups I've seen locally. It doesn't look bright at all, even with both channels at 100%, and it didn't seem even close to covering half my tank (24x18).
So I'm debating 2 photon24s.
Would 120* optics be a better choice?
Would those give me good par throughout? I have SPS down to the sandbed, tank is 20" tall.
I'd like to mount them ~8" off the waterline, but I'm really having second thoughts. I don't have an issue with my T5s, I'm just sick of constantly replacing the bulbs at 130 buck a pop.
I'd typically prefer something a little bluer, Radiums would be my light of choice just based purely on the look. Should I stick to the standard layout? Something else?
LuckyLefty3106
Member
Been looking into these lights and I'm wondering is anyone getting good growth on sps with this light?
Which light did you get? It seems like a 16 should be great for a 24x18 tank. Does Logan know which optics you have?
DavidinGA
Active member
Yeah really which lights do you have? My two 32's on my 6ft tank are BLINDINGLY bright!
Sent by Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Tapatalk 2
phenom5
Member
I got 2 of the 16" value fixtures. My tank is 48x18, I was talking about looking at one fixture over half the tank. Boxes say 120s + 90s, which I assume is referring to the optics, but I have no idea of the layout.
Issue Is that they are not consuming any alk/cal/mag and no growth
Remember, LED's are a single point of light source. T5's are a diffuse light source. It may be just the look of the type of light that you're having problems with.
phenom5
Member
It may be hypnoj. But I have seen LED setups in person locally. That combined with what I've seen online (FWIW with looking at pictures online), it just doesn't seem like it's even the same light. I'm going to look at the other unit when I get home from work. I assume its the same, but figure I should check...that's how different it looks to my eye vs what I've seen.
I have to admit, the first time that I went with LED's, I felt I had to put tons of them on my corals in order to get the look I was after. I melted everything. I'm really hoping with these that I will be able to get the look and spread I want and still not melt stuff by dimming.
VoiceInTheDeser
Member
My understanding of the tech is that LED's are much more concentrated light and as a result, have a higher "intensity" while actually being dimmer than their conventional counterparts. Might be worth it to get a PAR meter, dial in to what your intensity was before and then slowly up it to the brightness you want.
hillscp
Soylent Green is People!!
My understanding is that these LEDs have less of the spectrum that our eyes perceive as "brightness". That doesn't make them dim though. If you want proof try hanging out under a pure UV light. You can't see the light but it will sure as heck damage your skin. Same with infrared. The blue shift of the LEDs we choose makes them appear dimmer because our brains evolved under the spectrum of our nearest star (SOL)
KrazyOnetime
New member
I'm currently running 4 400w Radiums w/ 4 80w T-5's on my Marineland 250g Deep Dimension Tank. (SPS only) I really want to switch over to LED's for many reasons one being that verry soon i'll need to replace my bulbs which is 350/400 dollars alone, so why not invest that in LED's, right? Well i've read several threads on different LED fixtures and really can't decide which fixtures will be best for SPS growth and color as i'm getting 1/4"-1/2" a month growth in my SPS with the MH/T-5's. My issue is the Marineland tank is 60" (left to right) 36" (front to back) and 24"/26" (top to bottom) but it has a 3" brace running down the center that will block light. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated. I really don't need any controllers for the LED fixtures as I plan on using them like my MH's they'll come on at a preset time from my RKE controller and off at a preset time. So hopefully that can save me some $. Here is a full top view pic of the tank w/brace.
(Left side)
(Right side)
So I basically end up with two 27" (left to right) by 36" (front to back) rectangles on each side to light, but the brace is deffinately going to cause a shadow unless there are some type of optics that solve issues like this. I really don't know much about the optics and which are best for my situation. I was considering value D120's or the IT2080's but I really don't need the controller function. Are these kind of lights available without the controllers, which i'd think would be cheaper? Also if there is any group buys happening or about to happen please PM me as i'd much rather get a GB price. Thanks in advance for all your help in determining a LED layout for my tank.
(Left side)
(Right side)
So I basically end up with two 27" (left to right) by 36" (front to back) rectangles on each side to light, but the brace is deffinately going to cause a shadow unless there are some type of optics that solve issues like this. I really don't know much about the optics and which are best for my situation. I was considering value D120's or the IT2080's but I really don't need the controller function. Are these kind of lights available without the controllers, which i'd think would be cheaper? Also if there is any group buys happening or about to happen please PM me as i'd much rather get a GB price. Thanks in advance for all your help in determining a LED layout for my tank.
Last edited:
ridetheducati
20 and Over Club
Get four P16's with 90 degree optics mounted 6-8" from water surface.
Ron Reefman
Active member
I'd say 4 EverGrow D120 or Reef Breeder 'Value Fixture'. Laid out in a 2 x 2 plan. At 8" front to back and having 2 fixtures, you cover 16" of surface way more than cover the 36" dimension. At 16" long and 2 wide you cover 32" of surface and will just cover, or be very, very close to full coverage of your 60" dimension. Your controller can turn them on and off but can't control the brightness. Switch to IT2060 or Photon 24 if you want the extra length to help cover the entire tank for absolute sure. You'll have controllers which runs up the price, but mine IT series lights have been running 24/7 for tree and a half months now and I wouldn't consider switching to any other light. Besides, they are all a lot more expensive! I had a Radion over my frag tank. I replaced it with a D120 and sold the Radion.
I have 3 IT series fixtures and 3 D120 spread over 4 tanks. The IT2080 won't cover your 3' front to back. I had to swap out some 90 degree lenses in the back of mine for 120 degree lenses so it would light up the rock wall that goes nearly to the surface. The 90's made the light too directional to reach the back at just 10"-12" above the rocks. It would have been fine if it had the full 24" water depth and 8" off the surface height.
The other comment I'll add is that the IT2080 is warmer than the IT2040 and they are both warmer than the D120 which runs a room temperature for me.
Good luck.
I have 3 IT series fixtures and 3 D120 spread over 4 tanks. The IT2080 won't cover your 3' front to back. I had to swap out some 90 degree lenses in the back of mine for 120 degree lenses so it would light up the rock wall that goes nearly to the surface. The 90's made the light too directional to reach the back at just 10"-12" above the rocks. It would have been fine if it had the full 24" water depth and 8" off the surface height.
The other comment I'll add is that the IT2080 is warmer than the IT2040 and they are both warmer than the D120 which runs a room temperature for me.
Good luck.
KrazyOnetime
New member
Not sure what "P16's" are. Is this just another name for the same unit just called Photon 16 refering to 16"? Are these like the value unit ? (no controller) RonReefman: Do you think 4 of the Value D120's (no controller) will do it for a tightly packed SPS tank of this size or 6 ? Also I heard that adding optics to those units greatly increases the PAR. Is that true? And then where would be the most economical place to buy 4 or 6 of these units, I know in order to get a group buy price you have to order a min. of 12 units fom the chinese manufacture Ever***w. Reefbre***rs sells'em for 179 but i've found'em as cheap as 129 per unit not including a "bulk" type buying situation which could get a discount. ANYONE USING THESE LIGHTS FOR A 250d/300g DD SPS TANK, or any large SPS only tank for that matter I'd really like to hear about your experience. I would still like to hear from several people with extensive experience with these lights and the best LED layout for SPS color and growth. Thankyou all verry much.
browning_boy20
New member
I am curious about this also.
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