What do you think of the Aurora pucks by Rapid LED?

A1t2o · 11/13/2015, 09:23 AM

So, I am looking into a 75 gallon reef build, and I am getting a little caught up on the lighting. I like the idea of using LED's since it will use less electricity and shouldn't get as hot for when I make a canopy. I have found the Aurora pucks by Rapid LED and I like that the LED's are so close together so I won't get as much of a kaleidoscope of colors with the shimmer. Plus this kit seems so easy to put together. I would get 2 heatsinks so I can adjust the spread however I want it.

Do you think that a dual puck kit on a 75 gallon mixed reef will be enough? I have mostly LPS and SPS, and plan on keeping it that way. I keep my LPS in the bottom half of the tank and the SPS wherever it works. I might supplement with 2 bulbs of T5s for coverage, color, and additional light. But I don't want to lock myself into having that if I change my mind.

Also should I go with the regular or wide angle lens? I am not sure on how high I will build the canopy, but I do not want it to be more than 12 inches tall.

Link to website here

A1t2o · 11/19/2015, 11:55 AM

bump

ReefWreak · 11/19/2015, 12:24 PM

I think they'll be fine for depth in your tank, but if your tank is 48" long, I would recommend 3-4 of the Aurora pucks.

Have you reached out to RapidLED directly? They're super helpful and don't pressure for sales or anything like that. Their customer support is also excellent both pre and post sale.

For what it is worth, I went with their solderless kit for my 29g biocube (18.5" depth, 20x20" LxW), so a bunch of separate LEDs wired together, instead of on a puck, and I much prefer it. A number of other 29g nano people bought the pucks and have been happy, but have complained of darker sides, and some added separate LEDs on the sides of the heatsink to add extra light at the edges. I have no such problems, and I think that a lot of LED-related complaints in coral growth can be attributed to that they're so direct instead of diffuse, particularly when put together tightly in a puck.

Also, I'm growing SPS all over my tank, and some LPS and clams in the shade and at the bottom of my sand bed. The amount of lights I have and the power I run them at are the equivalent of running these pucks at about 80% of their rated power (my lights run around 45%, but the blue channel is at twice the amperage as the white/color channel, so one is really around 45% equivalent and the other at 90% equivalent to the Aurora puck).

I would drop them a line and ask their thoughts, but for reference I have had great luck with my RapidLEDs, though I'm not using a puck.

biecacka · 11/19/2015, 01:03 PM

+1 on asking them. I run em on my cube and I picked Mikes brain for weeks until I ordered them.

COREY

A1t2o · 11/19/2015, 01:33 PM

Just talked to Mike at Rapid LED and he said 2 will be fine if I have the 2 bulbs of T5. Now the only issue is the color for the T5s. Mike said I should go with 1 white and one blue, but with a base of around 17K will that be too white or too blue?

AZRippster · 11/19/2015, 03:57 PM

I really like Mike and the guys from Rapid, and have used them for our last 2 LED builds, but be careful with the Aurora Pucks. They can really put out! We have 4 of the dual puck fixtures over a racetrack 450 gallon that is 36" deep that has been installed since Oct '14. Just before heading out to the Yucatan, where we are now, my wife and I checked PAR levels due to our duncan and leather appearing to be withdrawing some. The fixture sits 18" above the surface with one of the pucks about 24" from them. When we measured PAR we got around 340-360 on them. Channel 1 approx 75%, Channel 2 & 3 approx 50%, and Channel 3 approx 30%. Headed home from the trip now hoping all will be fine. We have the standard TIR lenses on them but I'm going to take them off to see if the intensity will soften with the LED's default 120 degree spread and even out the color spectrum a bit.

All I'm saying is be aware.

11/13/2015, 09:23 AM	#1
A1t2o Moved On Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 382	What do you think of the Aurora pucks by Rapid LED? So, I am looking into a 75 gallon reef build, and I am getting a little caught up on the lighting. I like the idea of using LED's since it will use less electricity and shouldn't get as hot for when I make a canopy. I have found the Aurora pucks by Rapid LED and I like that the LED's are so close together so I won't get as much of a kaleidoscope of colors with the shimmer. Plus this kit seems so easy to put together. I would get 2 heatsinks so I can adjust the spread however I want it. Do you think that a dual puck kit on a 75 gallon mixed reef will be enough? I have mostly LPS and SPS, and plan on keeping it that way. I keep my LPS in the bottom half of the tank and the SPS wherever it works. I might supplement with 2 bulbs of T5s for coverage, color, and additional light. But I don't want to lock myself into having that if I change my mind. Also should I go with the regular or wide angle lens? I am not sure on how high I will build the canopy, but I do not want it to be more than 12 inches tall. Link to website here

11/19/2015, 01:33 PM	#5
A1t2o Moved On Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 382	Just talked to Mike at Rapid LED and he said 2 will be fine if I have the 2 bulbs of T5. Now the only issue is the color for the T5s. Mike said I should go with 1 white and one blue, but with a base of around 17K will that be too white or too blue? Last edited by A1t2o; 11/19/2015 at 01:46 PM.

11/19/2015, 11:55 AM	#2
A1t2o Moved On Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 382	bump

11/19/2015, 12:24 PM	#3
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	I think they'll be fine for depth in your tank, but if your tank is 48" long, I would recommend 3-4 of the Aurora pucks. Have you reached out to RapidLED directly? They're super helpful and don't pressure for sales or anything like that. Their customer support is also excellent both pre and post sale. For what it is worth, I went with their solderless kit for my 29g biocube (18.5" depth, 20x20" LxW), so a bunch of separate LEDs wired together, instead of on a puck, and I much prefer it. A number of other 29g nano people bought the pucks and have been happy, but have complained of darker sides, and some added separate LEDs on the sides of the heatsink to add extra light at the edges. I have no such problems, and I think that a lot of LED-related complaints in coral growth can be attributed to that they're so direct instead of diffuse, particularly when put together tightly in a puck. Also, I'm growing SPS all over my tank, and some LPS and clams in the shade and at the bottom of my sand bed. The amount of lights I have and the power I run them at are the equivalent of running these pucks at about 80% of their rated power (my lights run around 45%, but the blue channel is at twice the amperage as the white/color channel, so one is really around 45% equivalent and the other at 90% equivalent to the Aurora puck). I would drop them a line and ask their thoughts, but for reference I have had great luck with my RapidLEDs, though I'm not using a puck.

11/19/2015, 01:03 PM	#4
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	+1 on asking them. I run em on my cube and I picked Mikes brain for weeks until I ordered them. COREY

11/19/2015, 03:57 PM	#6
AZRippster Diver & Reef Aquarium Nut Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 1,127	I really like Mike and the guys from Rapid, and have used them for our last 2 LED builds, but be careful with the Aurora Pucks. They can really put out! We have 4 of the dual puck fixtures over a racetrack 450 gallon that is 36" deep that has been installed since Oct '14. Just before heading out to the Yucatan, where we are now, my wife and I checked PAR levels due to our duncan and leather appearing to be withdrawing some. The fixture sits 18" above the surface with one of the pucks about 24" from them. When we measured PAR we got around 340-360 on them. Channel 1 approx 75%, Channel 2 & 3 approx 50%, and Channel 3 approx 30%. Headed home from the trip now hoping all will be fine. We have the standard TIR lenses on them but I'm going to take them off to see if the intensity will soften with the LED's default 120 degree spread and even out the color spectrum a bit. All I'm saying is be aware.