Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment
Blogs FAQ Calendar

Notices

User Tag List

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
Unread 06/08/2012, 09:15 AM   #1976
ShawnG
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 6
If it wasn't for this thread and all you guys posting back about your positive experiences with these units I probably wouldn't have bought 2 of these units myself. I bought 2 of the non-dimmable black boxes with 30 blues and 25 whites and could not be happier. Before these units I just had regular cheap lights that were basically to provide light to the tank but would not grow anything. After installing my leds I've added some corals and they all seem very happy and respond to the lights beautifully when the lights come on.


ShawnG is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 09:21 AM   #1977
Boxfish
Registered Member
 
Boxfish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Highland, Utah
Posts: 198
I think forums are a funny place. Its a place were people can vent their real(or maybe not so real) feelings but I bet half the time these face to face conversations would never happen. Just a funny observation. I read these boards and laugh alot of times about how crazy passionate people can get about a light bulb :-) Im a do it yourself-er for some reason Im all about getting the best deal and building something cool I take pride in. Some people can afford to spend alot and buy the bmw version of whatever they take pride in that too. Then there are those who like a good deal and buy the opposite the fully capable and functions to their needs and they take pride in that also.
I really think the pride issue is what comes out on forums.
I'm a motorcycle guy and the comments I hear on here are like Harley and Metric bike banter. Harley guys think theirs are the best and Metric guys think theirs are the best when in reality it doesnt matter(Ill tell ya what I think later;-) ) What matters is what works for you, get all the advice you can then make your decision. Make your tank your own not like your neighbors. The beauty of this board is that there are a few masters around here that chime in now and again that can make your reef experience a whole lot easier.


Boxfish is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 10:03 AM   #1978
bhazard451
Registered Member.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,900
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ianwraab View Post
I HAVE TO RESPOND TO THIS

First I must say I'm abit tired of this "if you have to defend it " attack that happens so often...

I'm not defending my black box... I'm reporting personal experience... look at the first page of this forum is all about...

You however seem to have bought the big dollar toy and dont seem to be happy... maybe you are defending you spending???
When I throw out my 4th black box I'll think of you and wonder if you still have your AI...

ans as far as your comment ---
"whatever people paid their hard earned money for, is what most people are going to claim work the best.

I agree.. but I'd add one word...

"whatever people paid the MOST hard earned money for, is what most people are going to claim work the best."

Now that looks to be a true statement
That post has since been edited, but since it is obviously directed at me and a few others I might as well chime in.

This thread originally turned into people defending their fixtures in the beginning. A few people took chances on them since there were no reviews about them, and then people who had no experience with the fixtures whatsoever came in and started saying they were crap, cant grow SPS, etc.

Eventually, the truth started coming out that these are actually well built fixtures, and they can grow all corals just fine. The only defense came from lies being spread (most likely from people who paid 5-10x more for their lights).

The only other need to defend the lights, would be if anyone was not satisfied with theirs and felt it wasn't a good value, which is exactly what that poster did defending his AI Sol purchase. Talk about a hypocrite. lol

This thread is an educational notice to reefers that there are very good, cheaper alternatives to those who can't build their own fixtures, and don't feel like getting raped in the wallet by the fixtures currently out there.


bhazard451 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 10:05 AM   #1979
zamapp
Registered Member
 
zamapp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 19
the price for the pair is the same as the single one ?
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/3178...-24-White.html


zamapp is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 10:18 AM   #1980
bhazard451
Registered Member.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,900
Quote:
Originally Posted by zamapp View Post
the price for the pair is the same as the single one ?
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/3178...-24-White.html
No. That's a typo. 2 is $438 from the previous orders on the bottom.


bhazard451 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 10:20 AM   #1981
ghrorick
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: michigan
Posts: 62
So I think I got it all straightened out. Since my credit card put a hold on payment until they could verify with me that I made the payment aliexpress took it as a security issue and cancelled the order (card company could not get ahold of me until several hours later). Anyways they apologized and told me I could reorder. I ended up just ordering from Hendy. He said that my fixtures are the first they made that link so that there are fewer power cords. We will see how that works, but it sounds like a 2 to 3 week wait for the lights, does that sound about right? Hopefully everything else goes smoothly.


ghrorick is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 10:46 AM   #1982
bhazard451
Registered Member.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,900
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrorick View Post
So I think I got it all straightened out. Since my credit card put a hold on payment until they could verify with me that I made the payment aliexpress took it as a security issue and cancelled the order (card company could not get ahold of me until several hours later). Anyways they apologized and told me I could reorder. I ended up just ordering from Hendy. He said that my fixtures are the first they made that link so that there are fewer power cords. We will see how that works, but it sounds like a 2 to 3 week wait for the lights, does that sound about right? Hopefully everything else goes smoothly.
Yep. Mine was the first Nova to the US and it took about 10-14 days because the units weren't made yet.

They seemed to have made an update to link multiple units you're saying, so it should be interesting to see. Will probably take 14 days.


bhazard451 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 10:57 AM   #1983
bhazard451
Registered Member.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,900
Here is a 40x3w (120w) Cree unit going for a little less than the Nova.

http://gbgreensun.en.alibaba.com/pro...time&edm_ver=e


bhazard451 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 11:41 AM   #1984
zamapp
Registered Member
 
zamapp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 19
so the recommendation is this one
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/3178...-White-UV.html

20, 20, violet, UV


zamapp is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 11:49 AM   #1985
bhazard451
Registered Member.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,900
Quote:
Originally Posted by zamapp View Post
so the recommendation is this one
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/3178...-White-UV.html

20, 20, violet, UV
My personal choices would be 1:1 white:blue, or 20white+4violet:24blue. I prefer the 420nm purple/pink actinic look.


bhazard451 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 11:54 AM   #1986
svoad
Registered Member
 
svoad's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fair Oaks, Ca
Posts: 52
I'm looking for a little help with LED's for my 40 breeder without breaking the bank. I'm new the hobby and will be keeping softies and LPS in the beginning but would like to be able to keep SPS down the road.


svoad is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 12:13 PM   #1987
Ianwraab
Moved On
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tampa Bay Area
Posts: 134
Relax...it will be fast...

Quote:
Originally Posted by bhazard451 View Post
Yep. Mine was the first Nova to the US and it took about 10-14 days because the units weren't made yet.

They seemed to have made an update to link multiple units you're saying, so it should be interesting to see. Will probably take 14 days.
I had mine inside of 10 days... And I had a custom 30/25 built...
( I introduced Sam to this forum and he was answering questions as evergrowsam but they booted him off reef central)

Yeah my bank called me to...nothing to do with the company just what happens if you try to use a card in mainland china... They withhold funds from the seller until the buyer has received goods... That's why they want you to confirm your receipt so badly...


Ianwraab is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 01:05 PM   #1988
Travis1787
Registered Member
 
Travis1787's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Posts: 2,646
Quote:
Originally Posted by zamapp View Post
so the recommendation is this one
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/3178...-White-UV.html

20, 20, violet, UV
It really depends on your taste

I like a crisp blueish tank but not glowing blue.... I went with the 55 led unit and did

30 blues 21 whites and 4 violets I looove it but id still like a few more blues lol but its truly perfect for me.

My warning to you is not to over do the violets I'm telling you I have 4 in mine and its pleanty I almost wish I did 2 or 3 instead but I wouldn't do more then 1 violets per ten leds so in the 55 led unit I wouldn't do more then 5... But personally id do 3 or 4.

Its all about your taste where bhazard said he like a 1 white to 1 blues ratio I like more of a 2 or 1.5 blue for every one white so 30 blues=15 whites= a 2:1 or a 30 blues=20 whites= 1.5 to 1 ratio


Travis1787 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 01:19 PM   #1989
Travis1787
Registered Member
 
Travis1787's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Posts: 2,646
http://www.brettsreef.com/reef-aquarium-aquascaping/

At this page picture 3 and 7 are what my liking is ... (Not counting the pic on the top of the article but onces the pics start when you scroll down)

Mine is close enough to this yet still not as blue as this pics its a brighter look as those are super soft mines soft but not dull and not over poweringly blue but bluer to my liking


Travis1787 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 02:36 PM   #1990
newe70
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Long Beach
Posts: 379
Quote:
Originally Posted by Travis1787 View Post
http://www.brettsreef.com/reef-aquarium-aquascaping/

At this page picture 3 and 7 are what my liking is ... (Not counting the pic on the top of the article but onces the pics start when you scroll down)

Mine is close enough to this yet still not as blue as this pics its a brighter look as those are super soft mines soft but not dull and not over poweringly blue but bluer to my liking
That is a great choice of led configuration that you picked. I like it.


newe70 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 02:39 PM   #1991
Travis1787
Registered Member
 
Travis1787's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Posts: 2,646
Now those aren't my tanks but this is the look I wanted...

I got close enough I like it I'm happy all is good so far


Travis1787 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 02:43 PM   #1992
WinnipegDragon
Canuckian
 
WinnipegDragon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Posts: 1,276
If anyone is interested I ordered a set of those 01-10v LED drivers that bhazard mentioned upthread, but I've decided not to bother modding my light.

If anyone wants to get a set at a discount, just PM me.


__________________
Working on a neeew tank!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25596043
WinnipegDragon is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 03:22 PM   #1993
kbell2433
Registered Member
 
kbell2433's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Marquette, Michigan
Posts: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ianwraab View Post
KBELL--- i think you will like the 30/25 mix that i designed for Sam but please remember that leds are 120 degrees then you ADD 90 degree lenses...

Sams english aint the best so I dont know what you ordered if you asked him for 90 degree anything... snicker
I dont know if sam knows what hes talking about but he sent me an email stating that the led's themselvs come in 30,60,90,120 degree with 90 degree being most popular and you can add to that optics 30,60,90,120 degree. looking on your link with the 30b/25w with 90 degree optics it shows the ones you have, have 90 degree LED's with 90 degree optics. He said you can mix and mach degrees of led's and degrees of optics.

My tank only being 18" deep i have no need for optics.

I don't know if the one i got is 120 degree led's or 90 degree led's but sam claims there 90 degrees, I asked him for 120 degree ones. He said he would have to do a special order for 120 degree led's and i would have to order 10, but i really don't care what they are because they are lighting my tank beautifully and my corals are doing just fine.



Last edited by kbell2433; 06/08/2012 at 03:52 PM.
kbell2433 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 03:48 PM   #1994
tankaddict
Registered Member
 
tankaddict's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 309
Quote:
Originally Posted by svoad View Post
I'm looking for a little help with LED's for my 40 breeder without breaking the bank. I'm new the hobby and will be keeping softies and LPS in the beginning but would like to be able to keep SPS down the road.
Hey, saw your build on the mars forum, any of the black box or A6 would cover your 40B pretty well.


tankaddict is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 05:02 PM   #1995
Travis1787
Registered Member
 
Travis1787's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Posts: 2,646
An a6 would be over kill one of the black boxes would be pleanty a breeder is the same size as my 65 gall just not as tall and my one d120 covers the whole tank beautifully ....and its the cheaper of the 2


Travis1787 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 05:57 PM   #1996
kbell2433
Registered Member
 
kbell2433's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Marquette, Michigan
Posts: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by sirreal63 View Post
Ordering something from China is always a risk, you need to be cautious because they do not adhere to or are held accountable under our laws. Call your credit card company, let me know what happened.
Orderd mine from evergrow through sam and i recieved it in 5 days. I orderd it on a thursday evening and received it on tuesday. the package was even moveing on saturday and sunday.

Oh, and hendy is sams collegue.


kbell2433 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 06:01 PM   #1997
Travis1787
Registered Member
 
Travis1787's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Posts: 2,646
What did you get kbell I don't remember? Hope you love it


Travis1787 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 06:12 PM   #1998
kbell2433
Registered Member
 
kbell2433's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Marquette, Michigan
Posts: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by Travis1787 View Post
What did you get kbell I don't remember? Hope you love it
Dimmable 120w 30blue/25white $165 Black Box


kbell2433 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 06:56 PM   #1999
Travis1787
Registered Member
 
Travis1787's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Posts: 2,646
Suprisingly enough my phone takes better pics then my wifes good camera haha still not exact but viewable







Travis1787 is offline  
Unread 06/08/2012, 07:25 PM   #2000
sdp5215
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Petoskey, MI
Posts: 5
Hey all, I am looking at purchasing a light directly from Cidly and am having some reservations about my selection. So I am hoping some of you will throw me some opinions here. I have a 37 Gallon (20"x18"x24") and was planning on purchasing the A6 with the following config:

Switch 1: 20 Blue, 4 UV
Switch 2: 24 White (10,000 K), 12 Blue, 12 Royal Blue

Is this overkill for my tank? I do want to house some SPS. Should I be looking at the A4? Just would like some opinions before I pull the trigger. Thanks.


sdp5215 is offline  
Closed Thread

Tags
equipment, led, lighting


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
LED Lighting...Help me please! =) mommy1990 New to the Hobby 9 04/07/2012 02:52 PM
LED lights...why doesn't anyone do this? andy.thompson12 Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment 33 04/03/2012 02:43 PM
Led lights Impossible Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment 11 08/19/2010 05:56 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:27 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2025 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.