chinese led lights

[Travis1787]

[QUOTE=Shells4;20321743]What kind of brackets are those?

There just cheap home depot brackets they were like 4 bucks each I got them in the shelving section gotta look around for them a bit there's 8" and 10" I went with the bigger one to get it further over the tank to better center it.

3 screws on each bracket to mount it to the back wall ....4 zipties and then one screw on the top of each bracket just for extra support.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by WinnipegDragon

If it's like the A4, and imagine it is, no.

What is replaceable is the 'pucks' which contain 12 LEDs each.

They aren't pucks actually. Its two 24 led circuit boards, on two heatsinks, with both drivers driving individual colors of leds. They aren't on stars, but built right into the circuit board. Circuit board is attached via screws to 2 individual heatsinks.

If they wanted to sell the circuit boards to you on their own, yes you could replace them with next gen crees for instance, but you'd probably have to replace the drivers too. The optics are loose, so you just line them up and place the shield over them.

This means the possibility to replace leds is there, as long as the company wants to sell you a new board. You could also technically throw away the circuit boards, install new drivers, and wire in DIY leds to the heatsinks if you wanted. I kinda like this idea actually down the road, but that's basically re-using the fixture and making your own DIY.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Snausy

Well he suggested 3 A8 for my 300g tank so boom that's 1200.00

Not so cheap all of a sudden. It's a FOWLR so I really think I can make it look good for way cheaper somehow. Keeping my eyes open. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Just get 3 or maybe 4 of the $165 units. Even the $165 units are overkill for a FOWLR. You could run these at 20% and still have plenty of light. You'll also get a quantity discount.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Chicago

Travis what would you suggest for 9 x 3 x 3 feet. Actually depth is like 31 inches not 3 feet . I have pully systems above so I can raise and lower. Do I need 120 optics? 0r go with 90.

You need tighter optics to penetrate that deep. 120 won't work. 90 minimum. Might need 4 or 5 $165 units, or about 3 A8s.

[ghrorick]

finally ordered my lights today. I went with two a6s with 18 blue and 6 uv on one dimmer and 30 white, 6 violet, and 12 blue on dimmer two. If I want more blue I still have my three aquawashers that are all blue that I can keep as well.

[Travis1787]

Originally Posted by bhazard451

You need tighter optics to penetrate that deep. 120 won't work. 90 minimum. Might need 4 or 5 $165 units, or about 3 A8s.

Opps my bad that's what I meant in my post with 90s not 120s the 120s are what I have .

And I agree with him in a fowlr tank 4 should light it up pleannntttyyyy with the cheap ones

[Travis1787]

Originally Posted by ghrorick

finally ordered my lights today. I went with two a6s with 18 blue and 6 uv on one dimmer and 30 white, 6 violet, and 12 blue on dimmer two. If I want more blue I still have my three aquawashers that are all blue that I can keep as well.

Just giving you my 2 sense imo that waaaaay to many violets id do 8 max in a a6 but id do 6 in my own a6 and also for my liking this is to many white to blues depending on how you like it..... I use an all blue reef bright with this led to add more blue and its just right for me and my ratio is 30 blue 21 whites

Just my opinion hope your happy with it though!

[ghrorick]

I ordered 6 violets. I was thinking about 26 white, but Hendy told me that that would make it too dark, probably should have stuck with it, but like I said I do have some blue aquawashers, which add 30 more bridgelux, to help if I want more blue.

[Travis1787]

Originally Posted by ghrorick

I ordered 6 violets. I was thinking about 26 white, but Hendy told me that that would make it too dark, probably should have stuck with it, but like I said I do have some blue aquawashers, which add 30 more bridgelux, to help if I want more blue.

Oooo ok then I didn't know the aqua washers had that many leds you should be great then! I still wouldn't have done that many violets despite what hendy said I truly don't think they have much knowledge in reef tanks and what they do or don't need sam actually told me they don't himself there knowledge on these lights as grow lights for plants so I really wouldn't use there insight on ratios think of it as a diy being built for you by someone else

[nrosdal]

has anyone ordered uv and violet? are uv more purple and violet more pink?

[Travis1787]

Ones 440nm not sure which but I'm pretty sure that's the one I got

[geemanaz]

So what do you think of the Reef Breeders Value LED Fixtures


They utilize 55 highly efficient 3 watt bridgelux LEDs in over 7 different colors, including 2 kinds of red, blue, green, UV, violet, royal blue, and cool white. They dim via knobs mounted on top of the fixture, and have 2 separate plugs, switches, and dimming knobs to allow for a dawn/dusk effect. As with all of our fixtures, it is kept cool with silent cooling fans
prices $199.99 w free shipping

[Bcamp]

Looks nice!
Let the price wars begin.

[reeferheadlouie]

Newbie here. This may have been discussed already, is there anyway to mod these Chinese led light fixtures to work with apex vdm? In particular the dimmable ones.

[Trevenator]

Originally Posted by reeferheadlouie

Newbie here. This may have been discussed already, is there anyway to mod these Chinese led light fixtures to work with apex vdm? In particular the dimmable ones.

Just got a new email from sam. He says there engineer department is working on it and he will keep us updated.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by geemanaz

So what do you think of the Reef Breeders Value LED Fixtures


They utilize 55 highly efficient 3 watt bridgelux LEDs in over 7 different colors, including 2 kinds of red, blue, green, UV, violet, royal blue, and cool white. They dim via knobs mounted on top of the fixture, and have 2 separate plugs, switches, and dimming knobs to allow for a dawn/dusk effect. As with all of our fixtures, it is kept cool with silent cooling fans
prices $199.99 w free shipping

Looks like a modded black box with more colors. Another good option.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by reeferheadlouie

Newbie here. This may have been discussed already, is there anyway to mod these Chinese led light fixtures to work with apex vdm? In particular the dimmable ones.

If you replace the drivers with 0-10v dimmable ones, yes. 2 or 4 meanwell's wont work, as 24 leds are connected in series per driver I believe. You would need to get high voltage/low current drivers.

The companies are also working on a solution, which I might be waiting for instead.

[reeferheadlouie]

Well since I have posted that last I have scrolled a few pages back and have read all your posts about it. Well definitely excited to see if it will work.

[JJIM]

Originally Posted by Trevenator

Just got a new email from sam. He says there engineer department is working on it and he will keep us updated.

Sam stated today it's roughly one month out before we see drivers compatible with the RK or Apex units when dimming. Supposedly their engineers are working on this issue at present.

That being noted, I am guessing the on and off switch will work, but the dimming will be some time yet?

[biecacka]

What's the price on the A8?
Sam recommended me 3 of the 120's for my 220. 72-24-30
Corey

[Amanda908]

Great thread! So happy I found this one. I came with the intention of starting a thread on just these lights, and I'm so grateful to have found this one.

I currently have a 55 gallon tank with mostly softies, and my current lighting is pretty abysmal. I have a T5 HO fixture with 2 bulbs, that came with my inherited tank. I'm thinking that I'd like to order these...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Aquarium...#ht_6170wt_986

I'm thinking 2 of these fixtures, one for each side. Any feedback?

[WinnipegDragon]

I heard back from Colleen about the replacement drivers. For $52 it seems like it's worth the gamble.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by WinnipegDragon

I heard back from Colleen about the replacement drivers. For $52 it seems like it's worth the gamble.

I ordered another 2 samples from another company too. Those were $35 each with $45 DHL shipping. I'm going to see which drivers are better and sell off the unused ones.

I may need you and your friend's help at plotting which wires are which. Since we are dealing with high voltage drivers it could be very dangerous if done wrong.

Since everything is pre-wired, it shouldn't be too difficult... but then again I'm not an electrician.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Amanda908

Great thread! So happy I found this one. I came with the intention of starting a thread on just these lights, and I'm so grateful to have found this one.

I currently have a 55 gallon tank with mostly softies, and my current lighting is pretty abysmal. I have a T5 HO fixture with 2 bulbs, that came with my inherited tank. I'm thinking that I'd like to order these...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Aquarium...#ht_6170wt_986

I'm thinking 2 of these fixtures, one for each side. Any feedback?

Get dimmable ones. For only $20 more, the dimming feature is well worth it.

If you can't find a legit seller selling the dimmable ones, we have been ordering direct from the factory with great results.

[david pinder]

Bought a lot of Leds from eshines my particular distributor named roery Have thought the lights were doing well after 4 months a controller has gone out. Eshines has been giving me the run around for a month and now they say they want me after a month of stalls want me tear the unit apart and check it out. Not saying all leds are bad they are the up and coming just beware of eshines. once you buy the light its yours.