I really don't know if I can name the brands, but here we Go
Ok, so here is my first review. Please remember that I am not a native english speaking, but I do my best!
Also this is not intended to be a pro review, I am just a normal reefer trying to help others is selection on Chinese brands.
I have 3 months with reef so my experience is very limited, and this review is intended for the lamps not grow.
Also I believe that Ecotech and Aqua Illumination have the best leds arround for reef, and I also have this lights in order to compare.
I will not dig in tech specs since you can find those in the web of the lamps.
Price Range: US$ 300-400 FOB China + Shipping + Taxes
Need a aditional controller: No
IOS available: Yes
Android Available: Yes
General Impresions:
On paper this is the best brand from China. Cree leds good. Also is very pricy.
Price:
Pros: For the features is a good price, but it is expensive, Understandable with the use of cree leds (best ones) and features (6 channels)
Cons: Of the leds we tested (5 different brands), is the more expensive one. You can get sometimes AI (Hydra 52) or ET (Radion) for the same price (or less) once you add shipping and taxes. (US$140 shipping to Chile + arround US$100 taxes)
Quality build:
Pros: very slim and excelent design. Touch Pannel is a +,
Cons: acrylic protectors went loose (1) when I unpackage the lamp. Those where stick with just a double sticker. The double sticker was out of stick. That gave me a terrible impresion, but was quite easy to fix.
Accesories (rack mount) should be optional so the price should go low. But is a good feature that come include with the price.
Leds
Pro: Best setup so far and good leds
Cons: None so far
Controller:
Pro: Android App is good. Nice features
Cons: IOS controller is terrible (tested on Iphone 6 IOS 8.3), worst app ever. Crash everytime. Parts are in Chineese still (hour minutes), can't set extra timers like in Android. Just a few days ago they post an update on IOS and now is working ok.
Manual is needed (not included!) for app and for touch pannel. You do not even send me a PDF manual. Touch pannel is not so easy (Ex: reset wifi)
Android app is not too good for 10' screen tablets (pixeled images). Can't arrange timers without afect the lights (on the tank) on the setup that I am changing. Should be an option to not going manual. If I change 14:00 setup at night, the lights go on, that will streess some fishes and corals.
Thunderstorm is also "glitchy", if you want some lightning during nightime, it does not work, since lightning start with daylight, so no night lightning. Same with Clouds. Test both during daytime and night, in night mode will not work (thunderstorm mainly).
Timers
Pros: You can set up as many as you want (tried with 15 so far)
Cons: Timers work different from any light I have tested so far. If you set 10 AM 20% and 12pm 100%, almost all the leds I have tested increase gradually from 10 to 12. This lamp does not do that. if you have the intenisty in 0%, at 10am it will increase the intensity from 0% to 20% in 5 or 10 minutes, at arround 10:10 you will have 20% and will stay that way until 12PM, and at 12 pm to 12:10pm will go from 20% to 100%. I do not like that so much. But since you have multiple timers, you need to get use to that way. But I thing is very negative for my taste.
Coral Development: too soon to tell. This is the next and last stage in tests. But as you all know it is slow.
Custom Leds: No, you can not change the configuration of the leds. For example form 8.000k on whites to 16.000K on whites. (custom build I mean)
Customer Service: Nothing good to say about it. I will dish this lamp just for that.
I mention to one of the sales ejecutives from Sanrise that maybe if they do not include the rack mount the price might be lower, and the answer of them was: If you do not like it, get another brand. AMAZING! and that is just one example of many. Sanrise really need to work in customer service, right now they suck. I ask for a change of sales person (I need more than 20 lamps, just for my tanks), and cri cri.
Price Range: check http://www.luminiaqua-usa.com/ all prices there
Need a aditional controller: Yes
IOS available: No
Android Available: Yes
General Impresions:
This lights look like a good alternative.
They have 4 channels and each channel have 8 timers, wish is enough. Will be better to have more timers per channel.
Price:
Pros: Is not an expensive light, but for the wattage (arround 120w) is not very cheap also.
Quality build:
Pros: The design is great, aluminum case.
Cons: some electricity are passed to the aluminum, whan I toch the case I get a buzz on my fingers. But exept for that the case look great.
Leds
Pro: they look good, bridgelux mainly.
Cons: No cree leds
Controller:
Pro: Android App is good. Nice features. You can change the light settings without afect the whole systems in the channel you are changing. When you hit Apply, it will affect the whole system with a flash light (like thunderstorm). It has a preconfig setting called AUTO, manual, thunderstorm, moonlight.
Cons: They send me a manual that is out of date with the lights, and have some problems.
Android app in Google Play market was out of date, but they send me the correct version via email.
No IOS controller. They are working on one but is still not available
You need to get at least 1 (wire or wireless) so the lights can work. The lights work at 100% all the time without the controller.
When you hit Apply, it will affect the whole system with a flash light (like thunderstorm). Is not much, but some fishes get scared (yellow tangs for example)
Thunderstorm is also "glitchy", if you want some lightning during nightime, it does not work, since lightning start with daylight, so no night lightning. Moonlight is hard to understand and to bright
Android App is sometime portrait and others landscape, annoying.
Timers
Pros: They work ok.
Cons: Just 8 timers per channels sometimes is a bit short.
Channels: NOt the best config on my taste. UV Lights are with reds, greens and orange/yellows, wish is not very good, UV should be with royal blue or blues if you have only 4 channels, if you ask me.
Coral Development: too soon to tell. This is the next and last stage in tests. But as you all know it is slow.
Custom Leds: yes, you can change the configuration of the leds. For example form 12.000k on whites to 16.000K on whites. (custom build I mean)
Customer Service: Great. but they need to be more carefull with details. One of the orders I made from them, was via Miami, and then to Chile. They mark (China Shipping company) the packages as danger cargo because the controllers have a tinny little wrist watch like flat ion-li battery. So the freight forwarder in Miami, couln´t ship the lights for 2 weeks, waiting for clearence from the air cargo company. Finally that type of battery according to IATA was NOT needed to be labeled. But I lost 2 weeks and the shipping company charge me for storage. The answer on Lumini side was: sorry, but we didn´t mark the package ... was UPS. mmm. On the other hand, I have a problem with a wifi controller, and they send me (with out any charge) a new one ultra fast to Chile direct to my office (3 days) thumbs up on that!
Price Range: US$ 200-300 FOB China + Shipping + Taxes
Need a aditional controller: No - Yes (remote controll included, not all the features, but it works)
IOS available: No
Android Available: Yes
General Impresions:
At the beggining I was under the impresion that this light was the same of Lumini, but I was wrong.
This light had impress me a lot, on the positive side.
Features are similar to lumini, but better in my opinion.
They have 4 channels and each channel have 8 timers, wish is enough. Will be better to have more timers per channel.
The best thing about ledzeal is that they have a the best option on lamp sizes. In a 2meter large quarium, I just need 2 Malibu S200.
Also of the 3 China lights, this is the only one with a long review in other forums, and all possitive.
Price:
Pros: Is not an expensive light, is about 200W (180).
Quality build:
Pros: The design is great, aluminum case, MW driver. Build looks very good. Shipping package caught my attention, very good including wood inside the carton package in order to get more safe shipping.
Cons: None so far.
Leds
Pro: they look good, bridgelux mainly.
Cons: No cree leds, but the can customize the light as you wish
Controller:
Pro: For this led I order the wire controller. Love it, is simple a quality buid. Nice features. You can change the light settings without afect the whole systems in the channel you are changing. It has a preconfig setting called sunrise, manual, thunderstorm, clouds and 3 DIY custom settings.
Cons: Didn´t try the android app
No IOS controller. They are working on one but is still not available
You need to get at least 1 (wire or wireless) so the lights can work. But they do include a remote control for basic configurantion in case you do not have a controller.
Timers
Pros: They work ok.
Cons: Just 8 timers per channels sometimes is a bit short.
Channels: They do have a good config: Chan 1: blues, chan 2: whites, Chan 3: Royal Blue and UV (like that) Chan 4: red, green, violet.
Coral Development: too soon to tell. This is the next and last stage in tests. But as you all know it is slow.
Custom Leds: yes, you can change the configuration of the leds. For example form 12.000k on whites to 16.000K on whites. (custom build I mean)
Customer Service: Best so far, no problems what so ever.
I have a lumini Aqua, same as yours. I have it side by side with AI sol blue, mars aqua.
After more than 6 month, here are some observation:
1. Lumini aqua is dimmer than MarsAqua generic eBay type led. Significantly dimmer than AI Sol blue.
3. Coral growth, mainly fast growing SPS, lumina aqua is the worst, AI sol is the best.
4. Coloration of coral is better than MarsAqua, but significantly worse than AI sol.
5. Color blending is similar as MarsAqua, but worse than AI sol.
6. The wired controller is very hard to use. User interface is poor. The manual comes with it is very poorly written.
7. Moonlight is too bright.
8 lumini aqua is the most expensive one
Afterall, it is a poor value and an outdated product.
I'm thinking of buying an LED for my 150 gallon tank. 72x18x29 And have narrowed it down to these 2 brands.
Zeal S400 is 60" light and more expensive but I can order it customized to my liking. I was thinking of ordering 60 degree optics as I plan to hang it 8 to 12 inches above water so I don't have to move the lights to feed fish and do routine maintenance. It also comes with controller.
I would need 3 to 4 Mars Aqua lights and would still be a lot cheaper but I would have to re-solder LED's myself to customize layout. It only comes with 90 degree optics so I would have to change these out too....unless someone out there recommends 90 degree optics for my lighting situation I mentioned above. It doesn't come with controller/timer.
I have a lumini Aqua, same as yours. I have it side by side with AI sol blue, mars aqua.
After more than 6 month, here are some observation:
1. Lumini aqua is dimmer than MarsAqua generic eBay type led. Significantly dimmer than AI Sol blue.
3. Coral growth, mainly fast growing SPS, lumina aqua is the worst, AI sol is the best.
4. Coloration of coral is better than MarsAqua, but significantly worse than AI sol.
5. Color blending is similar as MarsAqua, but worse than AI sol.
6. The wired controller is very hard to use. User interface is poor. The manual comes with it is very poorly written.
7. Moonlight is too bright.
8 lumini aqua is the most expensive one
Afterall, it is a poor value and an outdated product.
Hi DZT!, I Agree on most of your points, but AI Sol is quite old vs Lumini jeje
CoralGrow & Colour: AI and Ecotech have no match if you ask me for SPS (probably have some, but not this china leds)
Wired control really suck on Lumini, period. :twitch: Moon light too.
If you have read last Coral Lab studies (from Ecotech) UV needs to be 100% and reds, greens whites and other colors not from the blue spectrum, needs to be 30% or less for optimal. Lumini have UV with reds and green channel, so not good.
The manual they send to me was out of date, then they send me the pdf new one :uhoh3:
I'm thinking of buying an LED for my 150 gallon tank. 72x18x29 And have narrowed it down to these 2 brands.
Zeal S400 is 60" light and more expensive but I can order it customized to my liking. I was thinking of ordering 60 degree optics as I plan to hang it 8 to 12 inches above water so I don't have to move the lights to feed fish and do routine maintenance. It also comes with controller.
I would need 3 to 4 Mars Aqua lights and would still be a lot cheaper but I would have to re-solder LED's myself to customize layout. It only comes with 90 degree optics so I would have to change these out too....unless someone out there recommends 90 degree optics for my lighting situation I mentioned above. It doesn't come with controller/timer.
Oh sorry, forgot to say you said it about the Aquasanrise plus r 60. You said acrylic protectors came loose when unpacking the lamp. How long ago did you buy this. I was told these are good quality.
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