chinese led lights

[oscarb]

i saw that should i just stay with my t5s or switch to leds im confused

[BSmitty22]

yeah im with you oscar, I feel like i need an engineering degree to understand what colors to get. I just dont want anything too blue i like the color of my t5. I run 2 actinic, 2 uv, 1 blue plus and a 10k white. not sure what to leds would make that same color.

[oscarb]

whats better my 8 bulb t5s or switch to leds i need to replace my yearly bulbs so thats why i am asking for some advice here

[oscarb]

all the expensive leds and all these cheap Chinese leds im confused

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by oscarb

all the expensive leds and all these cheap Chinese leds im confused

LEDs offer much more flexibility than just a one color bulb. Many led combos can create a 10k or 14k MH bulb color. If you're confused and just want to keep it simple, just get a fixture with around the same amount of whites and blues, with around 4-6 actinic LEDs in it. Quite a few people have ordered one like this.

Check out the value fixtures at reefbreeders.com to see what the lights look like when other led colors are added in.

[ChrisChow]

If this version you are ordering comes with a built in timer please tell me how much. I'll go in with you. Maybe you can start a group buy and we can all get a discount?

What do you think?


Chris

Originally Posted by bhazard451

This is the latest ratio I'm going to try. It won't have red/green installed initially. I will run one with red/green, and one without to see what I like better over my 120 gallon. This is also a teaser for the new Evergrow light (Bridgelux version). Yes, those are moonlights on D1.

D1: 3pcs 450 moonlight
D2: 18pcs 450 + 6pcs 470
D3: 10pcs 6500K + 8pcs 3500K + 4pcs 10000K + 6pcs 420

This is the newest layout I'm going to try. They did a very good job of mixing and blending everything. The key in this test is to see if red/green are needed if you use low kelvin whites instead. It is also to see how low K whites perform over 10k and up Cool Whites normally used.

[BSmitty22]

Originally Posted by bhazard451

This is the latest ratio I'm going to try. It won't have red/green installed initially. I will run one with red/green, and one without to see what I like better over my 120 gallon. This is also a teaser for the new Evergrow light (Bridgelux version). Yes, those are moonlights on D1.

D1: 3pcs 450 moonlight
D2: 18pcs 450 + 6pcs 470
D3: 10pcs 6500K + 8pcs 3500K + 4pcs 10000K + 6pcs 420

This is the newest layout I'm going to try. They did a very good job of mixing and blending everything. The key in this test is to see if red/green are needed if you use low kelvin whites instead. It is also to see how low K whites perform over 10k and up Cool Whites normally used.

what color are you going for with this set up...10K? 14K? 20K?

[AcroBluz]

Originally Posted by oscarb

whats better my 8 bulb t5s or switch to leds i need to replace my yearly bulbs so thats why i am asking for some advice here

When I bought mine I was in the same boat. Yearly bulb changes seemed like a waste of money and this thread does cover a lot of ground so it can get confusining in here. However, I personally would recommend getting the LED's the d120 or if you want to spend a little more the nova a4's. Both are great lights and with the dimmer you can adjust them to meet your color preference. Also, depending on what t5 you have, one bulb change could pay for at least 1 d120. I got 2:1 in my 2 - d120 that I had over a 5' frag tank and they looked great. My 150 had 3 - a4's that replaced my ATI 80x8. And as you can see by the pic on the previous page I am using on of my a4 over a 12g nano. I have to keep my dimmers pretty low so I don't fry my coral but it shows how virsitail the lights can be.

[Ten33]

Thank You all for your research. I believe I have narrowed my choice to 2 D120's. Im looking for 12-14K look, not too blue.

Sunny recommended the 26b 4violet 25 white, does this sound about right?

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Ten33

Thank You all for your research. I believe I have narrowed my choice to 2 D120's. Im looking for 12-14K look, not too blue.

Sunny recommended the 26b 4violet 25 white, does this sound about right?

That is pretty much the standard for 12-14k. The violets help give some extra actinic kick that benefits the coral, and can bring out some colors a bit better.

All of the other color ratios being tried are experimental. Colors like red, cyan, and green have brought about some nice color enhancing properties, but they haven't been tested long term.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by ChrisChow

If this version you are ordering comes with a built in timer please tell me how much. I'll go in with you. Maybe you can start a group buy and we can all get a discount?

What do you think?


Chris

The new versions will have the auto dimming timer.

No group buys can ever be discussed here. Reef Central will delete the thread or posts, and ban members. Anything like that would have to be discussed outside of Reef Central.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by BSmitty22

what color are you going for with this set up...10K? 14K? 20K?

I'm going for 10-16k. If it comes out the way I think it will, you can still adjust it to ~20k if desired by turning down the whites halfway.

[djmatteo]

Originally Posted by Ten33

Thank You all for your research. I believe I have narrowed my choice to 2 D120's. Im looking for 12-14K look, not too blue.

Sunny recommended the 26b 4violet 25 white, does this sound about right?

My ratio is very similar to that and I am very happy with it.

[darimont]

Originally Posted by Ten33

Thank You all for your research. I believe I have narrowed my choice to 2 D120's. Im looking for 12-14K look, not too blue.

Sunny recommended the 26b 4violet 25 white, does this sound about right?

That's what I have and I'm real happy with them.

[RiddleEagle18]

bhazard have they given you an idea of price point on these?

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by RiddleEagle18

bhazard have they given you an idea of price point on these?

Not yet. If they can get it around $200 for the Bridgelux one, it would be very competitive.

[BSmitty22]

bhazard, are yours evergrow or twilight?

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by BSmitty22

bhazard, are yours evergrow or twilight?

I own/owned fixtures from both companies.

[Markbb]

Hello All,

Does the Evergrow D120 have any way to do sunset/sunrise control. The light looks excellent but I would like to have the lights power up and then slowly sunset.

Thanks,
Mark

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Markbb

Hello All,

Does the Evergrow D120 have any way to do sunset/sunrise control. The light looks excellent but I would like to have the lights power up and then slowly sunset.

Thanks,
Mark

No, but they will have one that does around the end of the month.

There is one on the market right now, around $260 shipped from a company called Twilight Group.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...592424021.html

[BSmitty22]

to everyone who has these lights, how is the noise from the fans. are they loud if they aren't in a canopy?

[AcroBluz]

Originally Posted by BSmitty22

to everyone who has these lights, how is the noise from the fans. are they loud if they aren't in a canopy?

The only think I can compare the fans to is the fans on my previous ATK light. I would say the sound is as loud as a ATI @ 7.2v. Not the loudest ever but defiantly not silent.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by BSmitty22

to everyone who has these lights, how is the noise from the fans. are they loud if they aren't in a canopy?

They are 80mm PC fans. They aren't silent, but they aren't wind tunnels either.

[tennisstudrogie]

keep us updated bhazard!

I need to upgrade from my PC lights (tank is still getting ready - getting my alk levels up and then need to get rid of some aiptasia with some pepps!) and you seem to be the expert around here

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by tennisstudrogie

keep us updated bhazard!

I need to upgrade from my PC lights (tank is still getting ready - getting my alk levels up and then need to get rid of some aiptasia with some pepps!) and you seem to be the expert around here

Expert, no. Willing to try as many things possible to get the best looking, best coral growing fixture for the price... yes. It's nice to not have to pay a fortune for good quality in this hobby for once.