Lighting your reef... Best bang for your buck.

[Stlrockguy]

I believe the 2 I have are 90 degree ones

 

[Gregcoyote]

I believe the 2 I have are 90 degree ones

That's pretty standard.

 

[dezso]

Hi everyone.

I have been building my custom lights for almost a year, no where near to be finished.
Friend of my got 3 light from eBay, it's a D120 knock of. My first impression was great so my wife kinda pressured me to buy some instead wait who knows how long to finish my RapidLED custom lights.
I got this http://bit.ly/15FMiRY from eBay.
Have to tel you guys that this is far more superior that what my friend got.
The LEDs brighter, more complex spectrum like 420,450,490 blue LEDs mixed instead of just blue.
The LEDs actually have heat-sink on them.
All 3 fan runs regardless of one or two led strip powered up.
Nice fully linear dimming, compare to what my buddy got.
I take it a part almost immediately, this led drivers are digital, the internal connector have PWM input, there is PIC12F683 microchip taking care of dimming instead of analogue dimming.
The outer casing powder coated instead of mat spray paint.
If you buying one from eBay I strongly recommend this one.

 

[Gregcoyote]

I believe the LEDs in your Rapid kit are Crees? They tend to be more efficient than the average Bridgelux emitter, but this fixture seems to have enough wattage to do the trick. Is there an outside RJ-45 style connector on the fixture?

 

[dezso]

Yes they are Cree XML and XPR LEDs, the controller I build for the first prototype is working but didn't finished other interface needed to communicate with the led module.

This eBay light I'm referring to looks great, works great and was half as much what I paid for the RPDLed kit including the extra drivers, plugs, internal connectors I bought for it afterwards.

The modules don't have external PWM input but the 2 internal driver has it, should be easy to install a simple plug for it. Already thinking to install a PIC micro and connect it with NRF2401 radio to external controller. Will see, for now I'm just happy to have this and not one of the knockoff.

 

[Gregcoyote]

You using an Apex or Digital Aquatics? If its the DA you'll need their controller module. I still like the Crees but have both and both grow coral just fine .

 

[Jonnypro]

There is some guy on Craig's list selling 3 120w full spectrum dimmable LEDs lights for only 300. With his 2 year warrantee. Steal!!!!!!! I'll let you know of I get them.

 

[mr_X]

You better make sure you like the full spectrum color before you buy them. I'm definitely not a fan of the reds and violets being in a fixture.

 

[Gregcoyote]

I am, but we argue about it all the time. The coral doesn't care, it's a matter of preference.

 

[Dav3]

Corals will grow under the blue/white LEDs. But how are the coral colors looking? Do reds stay red? Added colors from the full spectrum units should cause better coloration in corals.

 

[mr_X]

Negative. They do nothing for actual coloration of the coral. Yes, the reds stay red.

 

[Gregcoyote]

Side by side, the full spectrum looks a little warmer. But my full spectrum fixture uses Crees and not many of them compared to the Chinese fixture. This can cause rainbowing in the shadows.

This is iPhone under Chinese LEDs, not bad?

Second one is under full spectrum.

 

[mr_X]

I have both multicolored units and straight blue and white. Neither makes corals color up better. They are both equal in that respect. They grow and color at exactly the same pace. When I shine a red light into the tank, it washes out my reds, not colors them up. Blue light is what brings out the colors IME.
This topic is brought up on this thread about every 5 pages or so since the beginning...lol.
It's all a matter of what you like to look at. my advice is to check them both out side by side if possible.

 

[Gregcoyote]

I have both multicolored units and straight blue and white. Neither makes corals color up better. They are both equal in that respect. They grow and color at exactly the same pace. When I shine a red light into the tank, it washes out my reds, not colors them up. Blue light is what brings out the colors IME.
This topic is brought up on this thread about every 5 pages or so since the beginning...lol.
It's all a matter of what you like to look at.

That's exactly right. I personally don't like all the blue. When diving I carried lots of lights to color the coral up. This bunch of tunicates were almost invisible against the reef at 75' until I hit them with the full spectrum flash.

 

[Daniel Fishy]

Side by side, the full spectrum looks a little warmer. But my full spectrum fixture uses Crees and not many of them compared to the Chinese fixture. This can cause rainbowing in the shadows.

This is iPhone under Chinese LEDs, not bad?

Second one is under full spectrum.

Great pics, I like the full spectrum look to.

 

[Jonnypro]

You better make sure you like the full spectrum color before you buy them. I'm definitely not a fan of the reds and violets being in a fixture.

His description was I have 3 120w full spectrum led lamps. $300. I finally get in touch with him because he put the wrong number on the page Md I was like is it for All 3. He's like 300 each. I was like I can get 2 Chinese ones for 3. His we're marine depot. He said he works for a company that uses them and cams warrantee them if anything breaks on them. Here is the ad. http://longisland.craigslist.org/for/3972839975.html

 

[huma-huma]

sue me for not reading all 126 pages to check for this, but in regards to the Tao units, wouldn't it be possible to open them up and replace the drivers with ones that would allow for controller use? I mean it couldn't be that hard and the end product would be a controller-enabled tao unit.

 

[Gregcoyote]

Yes, you could do that but the driver would probably be $100. Most Chinese 120 watt fixtures use 3 smaller drivers.

 

[jeffaquarius]

That's exactly right. I personally don't like all the blue. When diving I carried lots of lights to color the coral up. This bunch of tunicates were almost invisible against the reef at 75' until I hit them with the full spectrum flash.

I have to agree a little bit more with you Greg. After all the full spectrum is where you can see all the colors in your tank. However, I do have actinic or blue as well which is on continuously for 8 hours while my white is on at noon time until I get home from work where I can see the natural colors of my reef. I believe fish would also love to see exactly what they eat. Someone had said that as long as the corals get the needed PAR it doesn't matter what color of light there is but then it is in conflict when someone says the color does matters.

 

[mr_X]

I have to agree a little bit more with you Greg. After all the full spectrum is where you can see all the colors in your tank. However, I do have actinic or blue as well which is on continuously for 8 hours while my white is on at noon time until I get home from work where I can see the natural colors of my reef. I believe fish would also love to see exactly what they eat. Someone had said that as long as the corals get the needed PAR it doesn't matter what color of light there is but then it is in conflict when someone says the color does matters.

I have proof that the extra colors don't matter. Look at my photobucket folder or build thread. Meanwhile, if you like the reds and violets and greens in your fixture, by all means, go get them.

His description was I have 3 120w full spectrum led lamps. $300. I finally get in touch with him because he put the wrong number on the page Md I was like is it for All 3. He's like 300 each. I was like I can get 2 Chinese ones for 3. His we're marine depot. He said he works for a company that uses them and cams warrantee them if anything breaks on them. Here is the ad. Fish tank Led lights

those are the exact same thing as what we've all been talking about here. Those can be purchased for under 200 a piece brand new, and they come with U.S. warranties. This guy is either trying to turn a profit, or got rooked from jump. Either way, I would not get them.