chinese led lights

[Ucyibd1]

I really like my lights and I have already seen good results with them. I am just shocked at the method in which the company is addressing the warranty repair/service....I would get another light, just not from this seller.

[Travis1787]

Ianwraab where did you post pics idont see them? And yousaid only 2 over a 125 and its bright enough?

[Ianwraab]

Originally Posted by Travis1787

Ianwraab where did you post pics idont see them? And yousaid only 2 over a 125 and its bright enough?

I just ordered my lights Friday...
All current posted pics are of my current set up ...
I'll have to see if it's enough... I'd have to modify my tank due to my cross section ( currently causing my hallide to cast a large shadow ) or get 4 fixtures so it looks right (even) I have an open top no canopy to hide lights...

[Travis1787]

What you can do is put some screws in the center brace and attach a fishing leader real tight a good 15 inches apart and then cut of the brace that way the leader acts as the brace and also removes the shadow concern

[kbell2433]

Does anyone have a link to a 120w dimmable led with cheap priceing besides aliexpress. there payment system does not work for me.

And TropTrea what one of these cheap chinese lights do you think would be best?

[Travis1787]

Kbell look at aquariumleds.com there my fav but I am being tempted by these aliexpress

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by kbell2433

And TropTrea what one of these cheap chinese lights do you think would be best?

Trying to rate lighting fixtures that are made in a foreign country and marketed from a foreign country is very difficult. This is especialy true sine thay are not liable by any of our truth in advertising laws.

the only true ways to rate them would be if some none biased individual would put each of them under a spectrum anylizer to see how much light at what wave lenghts they are actualy producing. Then run the lights for an extended period of time and watch for break downs and degradation of the light comming from them.

With LED's long range testing is especialy true because there are so many variable with heat being one that can completly change the picture between a system right out of the box and one that has been running for year or two.

Bhe best advise I can give is generaly an individual gets what they paid for. If the $150.00 gixtures were as good as the $2,000 fixtures then no one would be buying the $2,000 fixtures. However I have yet to see a manufactured fixture out there one could not build themselves in the same price range and know exactly what they have.

[blasto_master]

[blasto_master]

[jk1138]

I get my LEDs for my DT tomorrow. I am looking for ideas on how to install the LED fixtures in a canopy without hanging them. Open to different options.

[Ianwraab]

Originally Posted by Travis1787

we can change up the color choices as well? Hmmm wonder what would be a good combo I am not as smart on this as troptrea so what's a good combo for 55 leds? I like bluer but not crazy blue I run a 20k radium with a reef brite all blue....

I asked Sam to do 30 blue / 25 white... It's dimmable so I'll be able to adjust to what I want... But I don't want to have to turn down my lights to much... Ill post pictures the day i get them hung... see how it looks...

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/3178...with-Lens.html

If your tanks under 24" you will want to ask for a unit without the 90 degree lens

[Travis1787]

My tank is exactly 24 inches tall so I would need the 90s?

[Ianwraab]

No optic lenses.

The 120 will hit the bottom nicely in a 24' deep

[Ianwraab]

[/QUOTE=jk1138;20224363]I get my LEDs for my DT tomorrow. I am looking for ideas on how to install the LED fixtures in a canopy without hanging them. Open to different options.[/QUOTE]

I started a forum for hanging hanging kits, ideas for fixture mounting, ect...

I'm posting a few ideas I've come up with tomorrow probably... Can't post pics from my iPad


* Forum name---
Light fixture mounting and hanging ideas

[Ianwraab]

Originally Posted by blasto_master

Lighting looks great...
But I have seen many,many,many of those things break...
They get crispy and weak from heat so just keep an eye on it, press on it (remove light first) if you ever hear a crack REPLACE it.

Ask my brother. If he knew what he knows now... Well he would have a tank still...

[Travis1787]

Weird thing is when I was emailing with sam he said coverage area was max 19x18 which doesn't even make sense the unit is 15x8 its spread has to be better then that the aquarium led pple said there covers a 30x24 area max and these units are the same size ... So I don't know if sam was accurate in that spread he said at least I hope not.... I'm doing a 120 gallon size is 60x18x24 and I plan on doin agressive fish with many softies maybe a few sps if any but id like to get away with 2 units. So we shall see

[Ianwraab]

Depends on height you hang fixture I think.

[Travis1787]

Yea I have a canopy so I have a good amount of rroom to work with... How high should these units be off the water and still be effective

[kbell2433]

Originally Posted by Travis1787

Kbell look at aquariumleds.com there my fav but I am being tempted by these aliexpress

aquriumled's are not dimmable and they only have 40 led's in the 3w led, 120w model.

These chinese ones have 55 led's.

So any one with the taotronic modles have anything to say about there experience with them?

[Ianwraab]

Originally Posted by blasto_master

Blasto is runnin 120 from the looks of it what size tank is that?

These fixtures are all the same... Workmanship might be questionable but they are buying kits an assembling them for sale.the cases, the lighting arrangement, output, nd appearance... All the same... Hence the "Chinese black box" label...
We just have to wait and see... Patience my friend, think positive..


Side note:
Aggressive fish and coral don't really go togather...there fast movements knock stuff around and there sloppy eating habits make water care a real chore...
Be very selective of what u put in your tank and it can be pulled off though I'm sure...

[jefftse]

Originally Posted by rad1687

Thanks so much for your reply, that does make a lot of sense! I am looking to upgrade the lighting on my 90 gallon, should 2 of these lights be all I need?

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/3178...with-Lens.html

Do I need optics for a 24" deep tank? Does Evergrow sell any lights for a 12 gallon nano? Thanks!

Has anyone hooked these lights up via apex VDM? I want apex to control the dim the lights!

[Travis1787]

Yea they have 55 leds but there both 120 watts the 55 3 watt leds aren't drive at 3 watts there driven slightly over 2 watts each so if in the end there both pushing 120 watts what's the differnce?

I like aqaurium leds cause I hear nothin.g but good reviews on them and there service even after you get your units...only a one year warranty though.... I have heard mixed reviews on all the other units in this thread....

Jk1138 has the taotonics on his frag tank and I saw it in person and really liked it color wise it very verrryy crisp looking and with the all blues on I was impressed as welli just don't trust the ebay seller to still be around when something goes wrong ... He got his at newegg.com and although its a tad more they seem more reliable if something goes wrong so its work the extra and its not even that much extra ....

I personally think the dimable feature is over rated unless you can control in on a timer or a computer but if its only hand adjusting I don't see the benifit expect for slowly kicking it up for a established reef tank to get the corals used to it

[bigkenny76]

Originally Posted by kbell2433

aquriumled's are not dimmable and they only have 40 led's in the 3w led, 120w model.

These chinese ones have 55 led's.

So any one with the taotronic modles have anything to say about there experience with them?

Morning Guys , ive been running the TaoTronics units for a little over 3 months now , i have them on top of the canopy and ive got chalices and zoes on the sandbed along with a large clam, everything is fine and responding well.i bought the 20k fixture , i like the color and look is really nice. i have 3 over my 220DT. 84x24x24.

[Ianwraab]

My buddy has had hi fixtures a year... Still isn't running them full power from burning on some of his sps...

I like dimmers to keep a bluer tank...
And I haven't seen any complaints on the ever grow units I bought from aliexpress.com
And I don't trust sellers that only deal on eBay... No count they even exist after the sale...

[Travis1787]

Well I don't mean like a full on huge fish pred tank but I deff want an eel and some triggers maybe or angels sps may not be an option but softies will be fine... They like water dirty anyway lol
I've had a reef tank for 4 years now and wanna try something diff ....