chinese led lights

[Mr Neon]

Had my d120 for a week now and it seems to be doing great. At first I posted that Sam forgot to put in my violet LED's and then it was determined that the violet leds were installed. Now, after sending Sam pics, they are sending me violet leds to install rather than take the unit back. I guess they did not put them in there after all.

So, is this something that I can do myself with a soldering gun. What would I need when it comes to solder? Sam suggested that I send the unit to their USA distributor and they can change out the blue led for the violets but I really don't want to go that route. If this is something that can be done pretty easily, I may just change out a few more leds as well.

[acidflea]

Sorry double post

[acidflea]

Originally Posted by Mr. Demeanor

Looking at the dimable D120 and not being able to digest over 100 pages of information
What would be a good bulb combination for my 6' 125 gallon tank. Its going to be just soft corals with lots of liverock. I have plans to redo the whole tank. I have a new 125 sitting here but its my BUSY season and was going to put off light purchase but one of my PC's just died and i hate to spend money to fix it.
Im thinking 3 dimmable 120's and it looks like there on sale through the 7th so.....might as well do it now.
Should I just go 50/50 blue and white? Optics. I really am a lighting novice. Just give me a part number!

Did you get an answer for this? I am looking to light my 125 also.

[bluesox_68blues]

This has been such an amazing thread! I think I'm ready to order for my 40 tall. Just some questions I like more blue but my wife like a more natural look. Depending one the blue vs white the point of 2 dimmers is so I can "tune" the lighting right? So if its too blue for my wife I can tune it whiter and vice versa right? I also don't fully understand the degree optics? My light will be in a canopy maybe 4-6 inches from the water so what angle or lence would work? Lastly If you guys know the light it sounds like I want can you please post the exact link I can purchase it through after making an acount
Thanks for posting all this great info!

[bhazard451]

The Pharos leds are on sale too. The 2 module kit comes out to $350 each with a wireless controller... which is actually a pretty nice price for what you get.

http://fathomled.com/products/pharos-series/

[Mr. Demeanor]

Originally Posted by acidflea

Did you get an answer for this? I am looking to light my 125 also.

Kind of. I think I am goint wit just a 50/50 mix...maybe a little more blue. Not sure if I need optics.
Going to use 3 D120's. I dont see an option to add optics to the model with the mix I want so I just emailed them.

[hockey00]

I have 2 nova a4 on a 75 gallon. I like the lights very much. Problem is my old ati 6 bulb fixture seems brighter than the LEDs. Is there a break in period or does t5 just seem brighter?

[Mr. Demeanor]

So this is the one I have pretty much settled on. It is 120 watt cree led. For a 125 long, what optics should I go with? It shows 60/90/120 degree but I am not sure how to chose what I want when placing the order. I will be getting three of these.
Tank is 6' x about 18" water depth at the deepest.
Problem is I have a lot of rock that goes almost all the way to the top (kind of a barrier reef look) and I am afraid if I add optics I will have issues with the rock at the top in the back not getting light.

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs...olesalers.html

Here is a pic of the tank. Any advice appreciated. Ready to order!

One of my PC lights just died so I have limited light in the pic (which is why I am ordering!)

[Mr. Demeanor]

Could I mix having no optics on some of the leds and 90's on others in the same housing? Maybe have 90's along the front couple rows to get more PAR at the sand and none on the back rows? I dont know how I would order that though...

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Mr. Demeanor

Could I mix having no optics on some of the leds and 90's on others in the same housing? Maybe have 90's along the front couple rows to get more PAR at the sand and none on the back rows? I dont know how I would order that though...

Those aren't Cree leds. They are Asian Bridgelux just like all the other d120 fixtures. It also isn't a good idea to mix optics/no optics. I think the non optics leds would spread their light into adjacent optics.

If you are hanging the lights higher than 6 inches up, or don't have a canopy, go with 90 or 60 degree optics.

If you are in a canopy or have them close to the water, go with no optics or 90.

I personally would always use optics.

[Mr. Demeanor]

Originally Posted by bhazard451

Those aren't Cree leds. They are Asian Bridgelux just like all the other d120 fixtures. It also isn't a good idea to mix optics/no optics. I think the non optics leds would spread their light into adjacent optics.

If you are hanging the lights higher than 6 inches up, or don't have a canopy, go with 90 or 60 degree optics.

If you are in a canopy or have them close to the water, go with no optics or 90.

I personally would always use optics.

Thanks. I can do anything with the lights as far as height. I can put them right over the water or as high as needed. No canopy. Maybe go with the 60's and keep them fairly close. I could also angle them facing back a bit.
I still dont see how to chose the optics when purchasinh from this outfit?
I also stated Cree because in that particular listing it states they are Cree.
"165USD Promotion,165W cree led aquarium light"

Thanks though, I really appreciate your input.

[Chicago]

per sam .. really bad idea to use some with optics and others without.. something about heat.. i dont know.. but sam was against it..

[Mr. Demeanor]

Originally Posted by Chicago

per sam .. really bad idea to use some with optics and others without.. something about heat.. i dont know.. but sam was against it..

Gotcha. Looking at my tank, what do you guys with some (or a lot) of experience think I should go with as far as optics?

[Chicago]

bhazzard..

did you see this one.. they are about to tell me if can customize for apex..

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/59...coral_led.html

[Chicago]

these use epistar.. are they as good as bridgelux?

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Mr. Demeanor

Gotcha. Looking at my tank, what do you guys with some (or a lot) of experience think I should go with as far as optics?

You can't really go wrong with either 60 or 90. Use 90 if you want a little more spread.

[Chicago]

what kinda led is this

50w

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/51...=10&t=12&cids=

[bluesox_68blues]

Originally Posted by bluesox_68blues

This has been such an amazing thread! I think I'm ready to order for my 40 tall. Just some questions I like more blue but my wife like a more natural look. Depending one the blue vs white the point of 2 dimmers is so I can "tune" the lighting right? So if its too blue for my wife I can tune it whiter and vice versa right? I also don't fully understand the degree optics? My light will be in a canopy maybe 4-6 inches from the water so what angle or lence would work? Lastly If you guys know the light it sounds like I want can you please post the exact link I can purchase it through after making an acount
Thanks for posting all this great info!

I'm hoping to buy this in the next day or so. Please any help would be great.
Thanks

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by bluesox_68blues

I'm hoping to buy this in the next day or so. Please any help would be great.
Thanks

If it's a tall, you'll probably want to use optics. Optics focus the light downward, instead of spreading the light in a wider path... kind of like how a magnifying glass focuses light.

Use a 2:1 blue:white ratio, with some violets thrown in. If you want a whiter look, all you have to do is turn the blue dimmer knob down to 50% or less.

Use this link to buy without optics, or email them to make a link with optics.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...578815592.html

[Mr. Demeanor]

Originally Posted by bhazard451

You can't really go wrong with either 60 or 90. Use 90 if you want a little more spread.

Edit: I see you kind of answered this question while I was typing. I emailed Sunny Sun yesterday but didnt hear back yet. Is that "Sam"?


Ok. Just got back from my LFS and speaking with them 90's seem to be the way to go.
Now how the heck to order the optics with a 50/50 mix. The is the unit I want but I dont see a way to add the optics. Do I have to email Sam and how do I contact him?

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...544636535.html

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Mr. Demeanor

Edit: I see you kind of answered this question while I was typing. I emailed Sunny Sun yesterday but didnt hear back yet. Is that "Sam"?


Ok. Just got back from my LFS and speaking with them 90's seem to be the way to go.
Now how the heck to order the optics with a 50/50 mix. The is the unit I want but I dont see a way to add the optics. Do I have to email Sam and how do I contact him?

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...544636535.html

If you don't want to contact them directly to have them create a custom link, just use this one. 30/25 is close enough to 1:1.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...558379481.html

[bhazard451]

Anyone pick up this light? I talked to this seller and he seemed legit. They should be actual Crees, running at 3w. They weren't able to convert to an apex dimming unit without a higher fee.

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs...olesalers.html

[OrrG]

Those look nice, real similar to the Reef Breeders one I posted a link for. I wonder if they could customize it to add a few extra colors? Someone in China needs to make a build to order site already so we can simplify all of this. Choose your fixture and led layout, colors, optics, 0-10V dimming. Add it all up and send payment.

[Mr. Demeanor]

Originally Posted by bhazard451

If you don't want to contact them directly to have them create a custom link, just use this one. 30/25 is close enough to 1:1.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...558379481.html

I am emailing back and forth with "Sunny" now. He asked if that might be ok but I dont want it too blue.

[biecacka]

Hey so I have a 220 gallon. 72long/24 deep/30 tall. Softy and lps I know I need optics but I'm thinking of buying the d120's( Sam recommended them over a8) what is a good led combination. I want a 14-16k look. I need 3 of them and would like them to turn on a little bluer at first then later the other dimmer turns on and makes it brighter.
What optics do I need?
Thank you
Corey