SPS Dominant Tanks Running Chinese 120W LED Lights?
- Thread starter gveng
- Start date
karsseboom
New member
GL I would like to see this.
gveng
Active member
any pictures of the set up?
Acronic
The Fifth Master
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1954758&page=18
been set up with LEDs since september. The sps are growing and still holding colour
been set up with LEDs since september. The sps are growing and still holding colour
Dr_zilla
TDS Addict Extraordinaire
I have 2 Chinese 120 watt 20k LEDs(evolutions) over my 57 since I upgraded from a 28gallon over 2 years ago and all sps started as frags. they have all colored up beautifully and have grown well. I lost some colonies this summer due to vacations and working 70 +hour weeks but that was husbandry not the lights. It is completely possible to have a nice sps tank with cheapo LEDs in my experience thus far.
DNA
New member
My experience with Chinese products in general is that they most of the time of better value than the competition and also of a lesser quality and durability.
Since these types of lights are supposed to work for a very long time and there are no long time owners I'd think it over very carefully before choosing them over the US or European counterparts.
Since these types of lights are supposed to work for a very long time and there are no long time owners I'd think it over very carefully before choosing them over the US or European counterparts.
Ptyochromis
New member
I am using PAR 38 bulbs so far I only have 20K+440nm. My monties have been growing great under these. My monti cap put on roughly 3/4" of growth in one month.
Ordered some 15k+20k+440nm bulbs not too long ago, still waiting for them to get here.
$35 .ea for 12chip bulbs
$25 for my 15chip 6500k bulb
http://i.imgur.com/wLNOK.jpg
The lights in the room were on in this pic
And my fuge bulb - 6500k
http://i.imgur.com/sAsN2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KqZLb.jpg
Ordered some 15k+20k+440nm bulbs not too long ago, still waiting for them to get here.
$35 .ea for 12chip bulbs
$25 for my 15chip 6500k bulb
http://i.imgur.com/wLNOK.jpg
The lights in the room were on in this pic
And my fuge bulb - 6500k
http://i.imgur.com/sAsN2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KqZLb.jpg
Dr_zilla
TDS Addict Extraordinaire
I agree with you on Chinese goods in general. I got them very cheap and wanted to see if it could be done. Barring failure of the lighting units, I'd say it can. If they do break earlier than anticipated, i would switch to A reputable led in a heartbeat, my view on leds over reeftanks is highly favorable after this little experiment. I'll post here again if/when my lights break, they have been pretty great so far. :dance:
Ptyochromis
New member
Well if the bulb breaks, then buy another. @ $35 its a little more expensive then an MH bulb but without the equipment required to run an MH (ballast, chiller etc). Either way you save, even if you have to keep a few laying around.
lakeviewink
New member
Wow, where are you getting MH bulbs? That's really cheap IME. Most Radium SE, XM, hamilton, etc are about $80 apiece. Most PAR 38 are around $90.
Psionicdragon
New member
are those 3 watts or 2 watts led?
karsseboom
New member
So far no pics in this thread. Acronic has posted his amazing tank and no other pics?
Buying cheap Chinese knock offs is the problem with our economy. BUY AMERICAN products. If we keep buying these cheap products not only will we be supporting the Chinese economy and not our own, but we will be buying their crap once again and wasting more of our money to keep them building more cheap items for the world to buy. If you want to save a couple of dollars then do a DIY with products that have been tried and proven to work. Keep buying their cheap crap and you will be living in a world that is ruled by the Chinese. They have no regard for the enviorment or the quality of life of their people. Just a quick example, Hot Wheels cars, the paint on them contains lead. We buy these cars for our kids to play with, the little ones put them in their mouths and play with them. Would you give a lead fishing weight to your kid to play with? I realize this is a little extreme example. I will be building a DIY led fixture in the future and I will be doing some research concerning where the items were manufactured before I buy them. I do realize that I probably can't find all of the components made in the USA but I will try to.
We are killing our own economy. We as Americans need to think globally and act locally and stop buying products made in foreign countries.
P.S. self checkout registers are another job killer! Go through the lines that have a checker and help support the local economy. The job you save might be your own or your kids.
We are killing our own economy. We as Americans need to think globally and act locally and stop buying products made in foreign countries.
P.S. self checkout registers are another job killer! Go through the lines that have a checker and help support the local economy. The job you save might be your own or your kids.
franklypre
New member
This is the SPS forum, reefer if you really want to vent research the federal reserve system and educate yourself on why we are really hurting. As far as LEDs go I have a feeling the china brands will compete but likely be shorter on the longevity side, not that it will hurt most of us as we like to change our lighting every few years regardless of how well what we had was working.
Acronic
The Fifth Master
FWIW if a component breaks on these fixtures it is easy to repair and cheap as long as you have basic soldering skills.
Im suprised that Chinese products are being boycotted seeing as many items we use on our reefs are European or Asian. Take Vertex for example or Korallin Zucht... Great products that are not American.
Im suprised that Chinese products are being boycotted seeing as many items we use on our reefs are European or Asian. Take Vertex for example or Korallin Zucht... Great products that are not American.
Centralcampus
New member
I have these cheap LED running on my tank and have had them running for awhile. I will be tearing it down and doing a new LED fixture even though I have been happy.
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