Chinese LED Lights - Page 88

meshwheel · 01/28/2013, 10:08 AM

I have a question if I may: Who's had these lights running on their reef tank the longest??? Thank you

bhazard451 · 01/28/2013, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meshwheel

I have a question if I may: Who's had these lights running on their reef tank the longest??? Thank you

There really isn't any one light. There are many, many variations from different chinese companies, and they all perform differently. I've been using these types of lights since last year, but I've gone through many different fixtures to try to find the best one for the price.

Most of us favor the Evergrow lights, because RC sponsors a US seller that sells them, and offers a US warranty on them. A lot of us have had good experiences with them, and both companies keep good communication.

There are lots of other chinese lights that can work just as well, but there haven't been as many people reporting on experiences. None of the lights are perfect, but they've gotten better over time with a lot of input from here. They're good enough that I trust them as my main lighting, even though I am building my own DIY fixture in the meantime.

meshwheel · 01/28/2013, 12:25 PM

bhazard451,
Thanks for the reply. I am still under the impression that LED's lack UV light. Not that they lack it completely, just not enough. I am thinking a combo fixture with LED and T5's may be the best route. This way, you get some good UV radiation into the tank as well.
I know they are getting better with the LED's. Just not quite sure if I want to take that risk or not.
I know ATI is coming out with just such a fixture and I think it's another big piece to the puzzle.

meshwheel · 01/28/2013, 12:26 PM

Does anyone have a Spectrometer to measure the UV radiation from UV's? I know someone has had to have done this. I would be most curious to see the results..........

bhazard451 · 01/28/2013, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meshwheel

bhazard451,
Thanks for the reply. I am still under the impression that LED's lack UV light. Not that they lack it completely, just not enough. I am thinking a combo fixture with LED and T5's may be the best route. This way, you get some good UV radiation into the tank as well.
I know they are getting better with the LED's. Just not quite sure if I want to take that risk or not.
I know ATI is coming out with just such a fixture and I think it's another big piece to the puzzle.

Most fixtures do lack it. It's not called UV though, as UV is anything 400nm and under. The violets used now are ~410-420nm. The older violets had a tendency to burn the optics they were housed in, which has since been corrected. I have to replace a few myself.

In the future, it might be possible to get 430nm-440nm leds in there too, to see if they work better than not having them. Actually, that just gave me an idea

I'm gonna try some 430nm violets mixed in. They aren't available directly from these companies yet, but you can solder them in if you find them.

T5 and leds together would probably make an awesome combo. Nothing wrong with using a proven light source along with another.

If you're handy, there are plans to make a DIY spectrometer out there. Otherwise, its gonna be tough to find one without spending a lot of money.

zland1 · 01/28/2013, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zland1

Would two IT2080 be enough for my 96" x 24" x 24" tank it has a big glass center brace?
I don't think I will put corals in the center I'll make it more of an open swimming space, I just don't want to create a dark area.
would removing the len's from the end of each fixture in the center help with this?

Anyone?

Prince916 · 01/28/2013, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince916

if i go with 1 D120 on my 40g what optics would i need. Planning on going sps in the middle and zoas, paly, and some lps on the side.

Anyone???

Reef_Breeders · 01/28/2013, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince916

Anyone???

120 degree

Reef_Breeders · 01/28/2013, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zland1

Anyone?

you would be fine like that, I would use 120 degree optics on both fixtures

willj · 01/28/2013, 03:28 PM

Bhaz, is this what you mean about the red/green placement?

Travis1787 · 01/28/2013, 04:57 PM

well Logan thinks my issue could be my driver like the hazard said so they're going to send me out a driver let's hope I can figure out how to install this thing might need all the help I can get lol

bhazard451 · 01/28/2013, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis1787

well Logan thinks my issue could be my driver like the hazard said so they're going to send me out a driver let's hope I can figure out how to install this thing might need all the help I can get lol

If its like the other fixtures, its just a plug connector. No wiring or soldering involved.

CAFoster5 · 01/28/2013, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish_Freek

I went with 90 degree lenses and 90 degree optics. Units are hung about 8 inches above the tank in an canopy.

Can someone explain 90 degree lenses and 90 degree optics? Had thought they were the same thing but apparently not. lol

willj · 01/28/2013, 07:30 PM

My picture didn't work, evidently.

willj · 01/28/2013, 08:53 PM

Is this what you meant about the greens and reds next to each other? Otherwise they're on opposite channels.

xxxbadfishxxx · 01/28/2013, 09:26 PM

Hey everyone, I have skimmed through most of the pages and the fixtures look great. A buddy of mine got two of the RB value LED fixtures and at first I thought he was just going cheap, but the color and growth I've seen they are looking to be decent little fixtures. I am always a little concerned with the safety of fixtures, I remember when reports coming out of Odessa fixtures catching on fire you would hear "you get what you pay for". Any safety concerns regarding these fixtures? I would most likely get the value led from reef breeders. I asked if they were UL Listed and they responded that they are CE Listed which is the European version.

Does anyone question the longevity of these fixtures? Specifically the ballasts.

I was originally planning on building a DIY Cree with parts from rapid, but that would actually cost more than buying one of these fixtures, so I plan on testing it out on a 20 long anemome tank I am setting up. This tank will be plumed in with all my other tanks so it will be nice to compare growth, colors, etc.

Also, can these be hooked up to a reef keeper and controlled with a sunrise to sunset effect?

Thanks again everyone.

CAFoster5 · 01/28/2013, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlott132

Here are a couple shots of my hanger setup. I used a couple pieces of 3/4" EMT conduit and painted them with a hammertone black spray paint. To attach them to my stand I used some unistrut and 3/4" conduit clamps. If that is not an option for you, I have seen people just attach them to the wall making sure that they found a stud.

Really like your set up!! Looks like theres some sort of metal brace on the back of your tank?? Can you explain how its attached? Attached to your stand right?

Ron Reefman · 01/29/2013, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAFoster5

Can someone explain 90 degree lenses and 90 degree optics? Had thought they were the same thing but apparently not. lol

All I can tell you is the fixtures I got have 90 degree Bridgelux leds and 90 degree lenses. When I took some of the lenses off the bare led light did spread more than with the lens. Not a lot more, but more. Not I'm buying 120 degree lenses to put on the moonlights and all the odd color leds (red, green, violet, UV... anything but blue and white). To get more spread on them.

Krazy · 01/29/2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhazard451

Reefbreeders is a RC sponsor that sells these. They are in the sponsor forum, or you can go to their website.

Thank You !

meshwheel · 01/29/2013, 10:07 AM

They sure do look nice for the price! The 179.00 is very attractive.......

bhazard451 · 01/29/2013, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAFoster5

Really like your set up!! Looks like theres some sort of metal brace on the back of your tank?? Can you explain how its attached? Attached to your stand right?

U brace attached to the stand.

bhazard451 · 01/29/2013, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meshwheel

They sure do look nice for the price! The 179.00 is very attractive.......

Its the cost of a bulb change practically. That's what initially got me interested, as I needed to do bulb changes over my tank which were going to be $100 anyway. If you didn't like the results, you could always keep the MH/T5 fixture and go back to it.

chealy · 01/29/2013, 10:20 AM

Now I know how I will be mounting my lights when I get them in a couple weeks! Thanks for the ideas.

soul4surfin · 01/29/2013, 08:43 PM

Bhaz/All.....What is the lowest you would feel comfortable hanging the 2040's off of the water? I do not want to hang them as I like my canopy. I was thinking of engineering something within the canopy to mount these in...but I do not have a lot of room.

bhazard451 · 01/29/2013, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soul4surfin

Bhaz/All.....What is the lowest you would feel comfortable hanging the 2040's off of the water? I do not want to hang them as I like my canopy. I was thinking of engineering something within the canopy to mount these in...but I do not have a lot of room.

Stick them in the canopy but remove the optics.

01/28/2013, 10:08 AM	#2176
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	I have a question if I may: Who's had these lights running on their reef tank the longest??? Thank you __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

01/28/2013, 12:25 PM	#2178
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	bhazard451, Thanks for the reply. I am still under the impression that LED's lack UV light. Not that they lack it completely, just not enough. I am thinking a combo fixture with LED and T5's may be the best route. This way, you get some good UV radiation into the tank as well. I know they are getting better with the LED's. Just not quite sure if I want to take that risk or not. I know ATI is coming out with just such a fixture and I think it's another big piece to the puzzle. __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

01/28/2013, 12:26 PM	#2179
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	Does anyone have a Spectrometer to measure the UV radiation from UV's? I know someone has had to have done this. I would be most curious to see the results.......... __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

01/29/2013, 10:07 AM	#2195
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	They sure do look nice for the price! The 179.00 is very attractive....... __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

01/28/2013, 03:28 PM	#2185
willj Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 29	Bhaz, is this what you mean about the red/green placement?

01/28/2013, 04:57 PM	#2186
Travis1787 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Port Richey, FL Posts: 2,646	well Logan thinks my issue could be my driver like the hazard said so they're going to send me out a driver let's hope I can figure out how to install this thing might need all the help I can get lol

01/28/2013, 07:30 PM	#2189
willj Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 29	My picture didn't work, evidently.

01/28/2013, 09:26 PM	#2191
xxxbadfishxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 1,585	Hey everyone, I have skimmed through most of the pages and the fixtures look great. A buddy of mine got two of the RB value LED fixtures and at first I thought he was just going cheap, but the color and growth I've seen they are looking to be decent little fixtures. I am always a little concerned with the safety of fixtures, I remember when reports coming out of Odessa fixtures catching on fire you would hear "you get what you pay for". Any safety concerns regarding these fixtures? I would most likely get the value led from reef breeders. I asked if they were UL Listed and they responded that they are CE Listed which is the European version. Does anyone question the longevity of these fixtures? Specifically the ballasts. I was originally planning on building a DIY Cree with parts from rapid, but that would actually cost more than buying one of these fixtures, so I plan on testing it out on a 20 long anemome tank I am setting up. This tank will be plumed in with all my other tanks so it will be nice to compare growth, colors, etc. Also, can these be hooked up to a reef keeper and controlled with a sunrise to sunset effect? Thanks again everyone.

01/29/2013, 10:20 AM	#2198
chealy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: SC Posts: 39	Now I know how I will be mounting my lights when I get them in a couple weeks! Thanks for the ideas.

01/29/2013, 08:43 PM	#2199
soul4surfin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 68	Bhaz/All.....What is the lowest you would feel comfortable hanging the 2040's off of the water? I do not want to hang them as I like my canopy. I was thinking of engineering something within the canopy to mount these in...but I do not have a lot of room.