Upgrading tank lighting question

[oakoen]

Hi all. I'm upgrading my 45g to a 65g. My current tank is FOWLR. I want to give a go at LPS when I set up my new tank. My current light is a Nova 6 t5, but the bulbs are over 2 yrs old and the fixture is probably 6 yrs. Replacing the bulbs is almost as much as some of the Ebay LED box lights.

Would you replace the t5 bulbs or go with Chinese LED?
If LED, would you go
1)1X165
2) 2x165
3)1x300
Tank is 36x18x24

Your thoughts are very much appreciated.

I'm very interested in this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300W-Dimmab...468394?hash=item3ce4ab492a:g:fbIAAOSwal5YL~9y

 

[ericarenee]

These are what i use over my tank.. You would prob need two of these i think

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA...-fkmr0&keywords=vaspectra+led+reef+tank+light

 

[Ron Reefman]

Hi all. I'm upgrading my 45g to a 65g. My current tank is FOWLR. I want to give a go at LPS when I set up my new tank. My current light is a Nova 6 t5, but the bulbs are over 2 yrs old and the fixture is probably 6 yrs. Replacing the bulbs is almost as much as some of the Ebay LED box lights.

Would you replace the t5 bulbs or go with Chinese LED?
If LED, would you go
1)1X165
2) 2x165
3)1x300
Tank is 36x18x24

Your thoughts are very much appreciated.

I'm very interested in this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300W-Dimmab...468394?hash=item3ce4ab492a:g:fbIAAOSwal5YL~9y

There is nothing wrong with the MarsAqua fixtures. I've heard very few if any complaints about them here on RC (although they don't have a sponsor forum here or anywhere else that I've seen). And don't be fooled by the 300 watt power claim. It has 100 3w leds, but the driver is only 188 watts so leds are only being driven at 1.88 watts, not 3 watts. It's not a big deal. Most of the Chinese fixtures with 3w leds drive them at 2.2w each, so the MarsAqua is about 13% less powerful.

These are what i use over my tank.. You would prob need two of these i think

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA...-fkmr0&keywords=vaspectra+led+reef+tank+light

I agree, the OP would most likely need 2. And these are powered at exactlt 2 watts per led.

The OceanRevive T247 is a similar fixture with 55 leds driven at 2.2 watts each with the same built-in timers and digital dimmers, but it has a much more modern and slimmer case and comes with adjustable legs as well... but it costs more!

http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/

 

[ericarenee]

There is nothing wrong with the MarsAqua fixtures. I've heard very few if any complaints about them here on RC (although they don't have a sponsor forum here or anywhere else that I've seen). And don't be fooled by the 300 watt power claim. It has 100 3w leds, but the driver is only 188 watts so leds are only being driven at 1.88 watts, not 3 watts. It's not a big deal. Most of the Chinese fixtures with 3w leds drive them at 2.2w each, so the MarsAqua is about 13% less powerful.



I agree, the OP would most likely need 2. And these are powered at exactlt 2 watts per led.

The OceanRevive T247 is a similar fixture with 55 leds driven at 2.2 watts each with the same built-in timers and digital dimmers, but it has a much more modern and slimmer case and comes with adjustable legs as well... but it costs more!

http://www.oceanrevivellc.com/

They are great lights. i actually have 5 of them.. the 3 over my reef tank i run at 40% on blue and 20 on white i have mostly softies and my tank is 24 inches tall.
There is no HEAT with these lights.. The biggest issue with the cheaper led is lack of a proper heat sink and cheap fans plus cheap drivers being over driven .
The image in my avatar is not these lights and is a very old picture
I also think the very cheap LED Lights give some of these fixtures a bad reputation....

 

[Ron Reefman]

They are great lights. i actually have 5 of them.. the 3 over my reef tank i run at 40% on blue and 20 on white i have mostly softies and my tank is 24 inches tall.
There is no HEAT with these lights.. The biggest issue with the cheaper led is lack of a proper heat sink and cheap fans plus cheap drivers being over driven .

I also think the very cheap LED Lights give some of these fixtures a bad reputation....

I assume you mean you have the OR T247?

Yes, heatsinks and fans are issues and OR has used good ones. I think most of the really cheap Chinese led fixtures are getting better... let's say good enough for a very basic fixture and not junk anymore. Two or three years ago there was a lot of Chinese junk in led fixtures.

Just like we still have with the Jebao Crossflow pump. I bought 3 and all 3 failed within 3 months, one was in just a week! Luck for me I had a warranty through the seller and got new drives, but they really aren't any better than the originals... nowhere near enough torque.

 

[ericarenee]

I assume you mean you have the OR T247?

Yes, heatsinks and fans are issues and OR has used good ones. I think most of the really cheap Chinese led fixtures are getting better... let's say good enough for a very basic fixture and not junk anymore. Two or three years ago there was a lot of Chinese junk in led fixtures.

Just like we still have with the Jebao Crossflow pump. I bought 3 and all 3 failed within 3 months, one was in just a week! Luck for me I had a warranty through the seller and got new drives, but they really aren't any better than the originals... nowhere near enough torque.

Sorry i have the ones in the link i provided.. not the OR Lights...I almost bought them but decided on the ones i got instead...

I had two cross-flow that i sent back to amazon due to red light issue.. I think the issue with the cross-flow is those soft silicon bushings . they are too soft and cause the pump motor to bind.. they need to be a bit more ridgid as well as maybe a bit beefier motor .. I am sure the 2017 version will be much better ... i use hydor wave pumps they just work
but i do have a dcp 8000 pump that will be here Monday

 

[oakoen]

Thank you all for the replies. :beer:

 

[Ron Reefman]

Sorry i have the ones in the link i provided.. not the OR Lights...I almost bought them but decided on the ones i got instead...

I had two cross-flow that i sent back to amazon due to red light issue.. I think the issue with the cross-flow is those soft silicon bushings . they are too soft and cause the pump motor to bind.. they need to be a bit more ridgid as well as maybe a bit beefier motor .. I am sure the 2017 version will be much better ... i use hydor wave pumps they just work
but i do have a dcp 8000 pump that will be here Monday

Thanks for the clarification on the fixture.

I had the very fist generation of the Jebao DC12000 and DC9000 and they all still run perfectly. I have a spare sitting on the shelf waiting for it's turn to help, but so far I haven't needed it. I hope the new DCP8000 works as well for you. Start a thread when you get it and let us know what you think. BTW, I agree that gen2 of the Crossflow will probably be much better.

 

[ericarenee]

Thanks for the clarification on the fixture.

I had the very fist generation of the Jebao DC12000 and DC9000 and they all still run perfectly. I have a spare sitting on the shelf waiting for it's turn to help, but so far I haven't needed it. I hope the new DCP8000 works as well for you. Start a thread when you get it and let us know what you think. BTW, I agree that gen2 of the Crossflow will probably be much better.

I Will do so Will be hooking it up today. Once DHL Gets here and i test it in the tub for a hour or so..