chinese led lights

[fetta]

Great looking taank seti by the way what is your ratio of led in your DIY

[seti007]

Originally Posted by fetta

Great looking taank seti by the way what is your ratio of led in your DIY

Thanks! My ratio is closer to 2:1 for Blue:white. I also have 30Deg optics which allows me to raise the canopy higher off the water level. Does anyone know what the recommended height is for these fixtures with 60Deg optics with a water depth of say 24"? Is there a tighter option than 60Deg? perhaps 40Deg?

[Zoanut]

Originally Posted by seti007

Great thread you guys. I built a DIY fixture a little over a year agao and am very happy with it. However, the D120 fixtures intrigue me because of their clean look. I have a ~145gal 3'x3' cube that is rimless and open on the top. My current diy fixture is ~14K and is growign coral real well. I have no doubt that these chinese LEDs are capable of growign corals with great colors. Im tempted to get 4xd120 lights for a cleaner look than what I currently have. I have read how a lot of ppl on this thread are liking their fixtures and that is very encouriging. Here is a current pic of my tank under the DIY fixture. Im using 3watt chinese built LEDs I got from Steve's LEDs. Would like the fixture about 18-20" above the water level so I think 60 Degree optics would be the way to go. I would probably need 4 D120 fixtures or would that be an over kill? Has anyone ordered these with 60 Optics? How high are you hanging these.

Nice tank you have there. The fixture I am getting has the 60 degree optics, the whole reason I got them is because I have a SPS and zoa tank. Will post some pics once it arrives.

[Fish_Freek]

Originally Posted by newe70

Those pictures file are not too big...not sure what happened. Anyway, I did resized them. Hopefully, they work this time. The third pix is 100% blue, fourth is 100% white, and last pix is both on at 100%.

newe70, Are you happy with the 120 degree optics on your lights? I am ordering the same light you have and planning on hanging my lights 6"-8" off the water as well on my tank. I was wondering weather i should go with 90 degree optics or stick with 120. What do you think?

[newe70]

Originally Posted by Fish_Freek

newe70, Are you happy with the 120 degree optics on your lights? I am ordering the same light you have and planning on hanging my lights 6"-8" off the water as well on my tank. I was wondering weather i should go with 90 degree optics or stick with 120. What do you think?

I have a 90 degree led angle. I did not order the optic lens, since my tank is only 17" high. Both light fixtures have a 90 degree angles spreaded very nicely over my 48" tank. I just adjusted to 7 1/2" high from the water surface. The optics lens will provide better penetrations if your tank is 24" or over.

I am very pleased with the royal blues color and my ratio. I was worried that it is going to be very blue, but they did not looked so blue at all, IMO. All of the residents in the tank looked happy, especially, the frogspawn showed a very nice purple tips, both of my Ricordeas were really popped out. My zoas and gsp also showed a very nice green. I did not noticed much on my sps yet...too early to tell. Today is the first day that I am ruining on these fixtures. I am watching closely to ensure that I do not bleach my sps. And will gradually adjust the dimmer higher.

[seti007]

Originally Posted by Zoanut

Nice tank you have there. The fixture I am getting has the 60 degree optics, the whole reason I got them is because I have a SPS and zoa tank. Will post some pics once it arrives.

How far above the water are you plannign on hanging the fixture? I look forward to seeing some pics.
Thanks

[terancevan88]

Newa70 What size tank is that?

Color popping

[docstach]

I got my 2 D120s up and running. Pretty happy with everything. Seems built well enough, fans work well,... ordered with 30b, 22w, 3violet with 90 deg optics. Crappy pic with everything dimmed equally ~15-25%.

[newe70]

Originally Posted by docstach

I got my 2 D120s up and running. Pretty happy with everything. Seems built well enough, fans work well,... ordered with 30b, 22w, 3violet with 90 deg optics. Crappy pic with everything dimmed equally ~15-25%.

I like you hanging diy fixture...can you post a close up pix?

Looks good!

[newe70]

Since, my two new d120 did not equip with the moon-light. So I added a strip of the low voltage led to create a moon-light.

[docstach]

Originally Posted by newe70

I like you hanging diy fixture...can you post a close up pix?

Looks good!

Yea, I will try to get some tomorrow. Need to clean up the wires a little. Was going to paint it black, but the metal matches the aq trim and shelves and I was getting burnt out quick so it did not get painted.

The moonlights are a good idea. I run the small clip on light on the side (refugium) at night. A small angled beam makes it into the main tank for a little moonlight.

[04mach1]

Anyone use this one yet?

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...586828063.html

[A_CoupleClowns]

So I have been planning on ordering two of these lamps for our 75g. Which manufacturer is putting out the best product? I don't mind paying a little more to make it last ect. At first I was thinking get the d120's but then I heard the a4s had better finned heat-sinks.

Who's currently making the best light?

[terancevan88]

K my tank is 20" tall with a 3" sand bed so 17" from top with 5-6 inch tall canopy with hanging it will be about 3 inches from water unless I cut the top to plug the lights in.. My question is the optics which should I use...please help I have no idea

Color popping

[cmantis]

Originally Posted by terancevan88

K my tank is 20" tall with a 3" sand bed so 17" from top with 5-6 inch tall canopy with hanging it will be about 3 inches from water unless I cut the top to plug the lights in.. My question is the optics which should I use...please help I have no idea

Color popping

None or 90 degree of the led's are 120 degree.

[biecacka]

Check these out....http://www.ebay.com/itm/48-White-Blu...rk%3D1%26#shId

[terancevan88]

Well what about splash guarding them sconce they are so close to the water?

Color popping

[biecacka]

Ok so I'm pulling the trigger on these lights this week and every time I think I know what I want I read a little more.
Can someone tell me difference between d120 and a4 as I'm leaning more towards the a4 now. I like the twilight controller built in idea but I'm worried if the LCD controller goes bad the whole u it does.
Corey

[Hoity]

Hello all, I am also looking to upgrade my 4 250w MH and 8 T5. After reading this thread and trying to absorb all the info in here. Would it be a correct assumption to state that 120w of LEDs is equivalent to a 250w MH.
I am looking at 2 lights with 88 or 80 x3w Cree LEDs. My tank is 104" x 30" x 26" even though I am from downunder I have used inches to save confusion.
I know Chicago and snausy have similar sized tanks, are you guys comfortable with the above statement and is 440w of led light enough to replace 1288w of MH/T5
Cheers
Jon

[Mr Neon]

Originally Posted by cmantis

UV/Violet 420nm is good for coral growth. What don't you like about the d120? My two should be arriving tomorrow.

D120 is not bad at all just like the Twilight for programability and more options for my taste in lighting. Sam was great to deal with on the d120 and sent me extra leds for free, 420nm violets and 10k whites.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by A_CoupleClowns

So I have been planning on ordering two of these lamps for our 75g. Which manufacturer is putting out the best product? I don't mind paying a little more to make it last ect. At first I was thinking get the d120's but then I heard the a4s had better finned heat-sinks.

Who's currently making the best light?

I thought the Nova A4 was really good quality. I tried a d120 without optics and wasn't as impressed. The Nova heatsink is nice.

Next I'm trying the twilight group light with built in controller. Those supposedly have heatsinks, and you can ask for an aluminum housing. No one has gotten one yet to confirm the quality.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Hoity

Hello all, I am also looking to upgrade my 4 250w MH and 8 T5. After reading this thread and trying to absorb all the info in here. Would it be a correct assumption to state that 120w of LEDs is equivalent to a 250w MH.
I am looking at 2 lights with 88 or 80 x3w Cree LEDs. My tank is 104" x 30" x 26" even though I am from downunder I have used inches to save confusion.
I know Chicago and snausy have similar sized tanks, are you guys comfortable with the above statement and is 440w of led light enough to replace 1288w of MH/T5
Cheers
Jon

I know what lights you are talking about. I wouldn't suggest getting them. They won't confirm which bin of Crees they are using, so they might not be true Crees.

If you start going over $300+ per light for a chinese fixture, you're better off buying a commercial fixture in the US with a better warranty.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Hoity

Hello all, I am also looking to upgrade my 4 250w MH and 8 T5. After reading this thread and trying to absorb all the info in here. Would it be a correct assumption to state that 120w of LEDs is equivalent to a 250w MH.
I am looking at 2 lights with 88 or 80 x3w Cree LEDs. My tank is 104" x 30" x 26" even though I am from downunder I have used inches to save confusion.
I know Chicago and snausy have similar sized tanks, are you guys comfortable with the above statement and is 440w of led light enough to replace 1288w of MH/T5
Cheers
Jon

The basics

120w of QUALITY leds (at 2w or more each) can provide similar lighting as a 250w MH. Each basic light can cover around 24". 3 or 4 would be fine.

Use optics for a tank greater than 24" in depth.

A ratio of 2:1 royal blue to neutral white provides a 14k color. With Cool White leds, use a little less royal blue. Add some Violet actinic 420nm leds to each fixture for color pop. Any other color added does nothing for coral growth or health, but can bring out colors.

If you want to keep a few T5's, they provide excellent supplementation to leds.

440w of leds can provide similar results as 1288w, and provide lots of savings in electricity, less heat, and bulb changes.

MH/T5 may still be better, but the benefits of leds outweigh the cons of MH/T5 overall for me. The only way to know is to try it for yourself.

[Zoanut]

Originally Posted by bhazard451

I thought the Nova A4 was really good quality. I tried a d120 without optics and wasn't as impressed. The Nova heatsink is nice.

Next I'm trying the twilight group light with built in controller. Those supposedly have heatsinks, and you can ask for an aluminum housing. No one has gotten one yet to confirm the quality.

Just waiting for my invoice now and will let everyone know how it is when I get it.

[biecacka]

My fear with the built in controller is if it goes bad the light stops working and ship back to china. Now I'm debating between a4 and d120 with optics. Sort of. Leaning towards a4
Corey