new 165 watt full spectrum fixture

froggernutz · 03/04/2014, 07:48 PM

I can say I was never impressed with the price or color of most LED fixtures.I was happy with my T5 8 x 54 watt Nova Extreme but the price of bulbs and electricity was killing me,besides the fact the light needed to be completely rebuilt. I ran into the new full spectrum cheap LED fixtures,cheap enough I could buy 2 and see how my tank would look.Well 2 wasn't enough to cover my 5 foot 120 gallon tank,so I order a third.The coverage over my tank nice.I have them at least a foot above the tank.I would say the claim that they will light a 24 x 24 inch area is pushing it,18 inches in width tops with out a severe drop in par.Granted the LEDs only run at 2.2 watts it seems to penetrate to the bottom of my tank with no problem.I have broken pieces of sps on the sand bed and still have nice color.As for the longevity of these fixtures is yet to be seen.Pictures of my tank first 2 T5 and LED...

pompeyjohn · 03/04/2014, 11:00 PM

do you have some sort of stunner strip on the front of them?

rtparty · 03/05/2014, 03:49 AM

Tank looks good. However.....

8x54w equals 432 watts

3x165w equals 495 watts. Granted they probably don't run over 70% or so, so that means you're using close to 350w instead. A savings of 80 watts is all. With my electric rates, I'd save less than $3/month. Hope you're saving more than that!

froggernutz · 03/05/2014, 06:10 AM

no stunner strip

myram · 03/05/2014, 06:48 AM

Optics have a lot to do with coverage. If you bought the same unit I'm running, it came with 60 degree optics which will give you great depth, but narrow coverage......unless you get it 18-24" off the water.
90 degree or 120 degree optics offer much better coverage, and it allows you to have them closer to the water so you still maintain the PAR at the sandbed.
I took the optics off my light, so I'm at 120 degrees with it 8" off the water......and I have complete coverage in my odd shaped tank.

Steve

froggernutz · 03/05/2014, 06:55 AM

I know that the unit is 165 total watts,120 watts of light,the T5 total power use will be much higher.The LEDs have a total of 360 watts of light at full blast vs 432 watts,but total watts will be much higher with 4 ballasts & 2 fans.Also T5 light is radial not direct light, plus spectral loss as the bulbs age.432 watts total, not all useful.

froggernutz · 07/03/2014, 05:35 AM

Update
Corals look terrible,most coral dead or dying,took optics off,can't figure out where to set the dimmers.Lights 16" off top of tank.I can't tell if it's dimmer setting or the lights are useless.great savings on electricity.Any suggestions?

bdsage · 07/03/2014, 02:40 PM

u really need a par meter...these lights are plenty capable for almost any coral...

03/04/2014, 07:48 PM	#1
froggernutz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: allentown pa Posts: 24	new 165 watt full spectrum fixture I can say I was never impressed with the price or color of most LED fixtures.I was happy with my T5 8 x 54 watt Nova Extreme but the price of bulbs and electricity was killing me,besides the fact the light needed to be completely rebuilt. I ran into the new full spectrum cheap LED fixtures,cheap enough I could buy 2 and see how my tank would look.Well 2 wasn't enough to cover my 5 foot 120 gallon tank,so I order a third.The coverage over my tank nice.I have them at least a foot above the tank.I would say the claim that they will light a 24 x 24 inch area is pushing it,18 inches in width tops with out a severe drop in par.Granted the LEDs only run at 2.2 watts it seems to penetrate to the bottom of my tank with no problem.I have broken pieces of sps on the sand bed and still have nice color.As for the longevity of these fixtures is yet to be seen.Pictures of my tank first 2 T5 and LED... Last edited by froggernutz; 03/04/2014 at 08:01 PM.

03/05/2014, 03:49 AM	#3
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	Tank looks good. However..... 8x54w equals 432 watts 3x165w equals 495 watts. Granted they probably don't run over 70% or so, so that means you're using close to 350w instead. A savings of 80 watts is all. With my electric rates, I'd save less than $3/month. Hope you're saving more than that! __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

07/03/2014, 05:35 AM	#7
froggernutz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: allentown pa Posts: 24	165 watt full spectrum led. bad update Update Corals look terrible,most coral dead or dying,took optics off,can't figure out where to set the dimmers.Lights 16" off top of tank.I can't tell if it's dimmer setting or the lights are useless.great savings on electricity.Any suggestions?

07/03/2014, 02:40 PM	#8
bdsage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 265	u really need a par meter...these lights are plenty capable for almost any coral... __________________ Easy does it... Current Tank Info: 40b. sps, Metal Halide,big skimmer,lots of flow, barebottom, natural seawater.

03/04/2014, 11:00 PM	#2
pompeyjohn Registered Member. Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 890	do you have some sort of stunner strip on the front of them?

03/05/2014, 06:10 AM	#4
froggernutz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: allentown pa Posts: 24	no stunner strip

03/05/2014, 06:48 AM	#5
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	Optics have a lot to do with coverage. If you bought the same unit I'm running, it came with 60 degree optics which will give you great depth, but narrow coverage......unless you get it 18-24" off the water. 90 degree or 120 degree optics offer much better coverage, and it allows you to have them closer to the water so you still maintain the PAR at the sandbed. I took the optics off my light, so I'm at 120 degrees with it 8" off the water......and I have complete coverage in my odd shaped tank. Steve

03/05/2014, 06:55 AM	#6
froggernutz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: allentown pa Posts: 24	I know that the unit is 165 total watts,120 watts of light,the T5 total power use will be much higher.The LEDs have a total of 360 watts of light at full blast vs 432 watts,but total watts will be much higher with 4 ballasts & 2 fans.Also T5 light is radial not direct light, plus spectral loss as the bulbs age.432 watts total, not all useful.