LED's - What's the Ultimate LED Unit for You? What cant u find on the market?

[coloagro]

I'm curious. I consider myself a lighting junkie...next to the coral and fish the lighting is my favorite part of a reef project. Lighting is also critical as we all know so my question to you is what features,specs and price points are missing in the mainstream LED market?

We have tons of choices but there are only really a couple of key players ( AI, Ecotech, etc) But what are these "big guys" missing on their lighting units that you'd like to see? What features can you NOT find on any of the LED fixtures currently on the consumer/professional market?

Another way to look at it - If you could buy an affordable ULTIMATE LED unit for your reef which features, specs and price point would seek? And why?


I'll explain my reasoning later Give me some feedback! What do u think?

 

[09bumblebee]

I think the ai white is really missing the 420 spectrum. However the ai blue over my 30, everything thrives awesome. I put 2 t5 over my 90 and amazing results. A lot of LEDs seen to miss that 420 spectrum.

 

[master NooB]

I'm currently saving up to buy 3 radions for my 125 and I wish it was just one solid fixture instead of having to hook up multiples!

 

[Cake_Boss]

I really like the Maxspect Razor, but hate the weird measurements. You have the option of the 21" or 27" units, can't string together either.

 

[Craigar]

I'm still sold on ai sol blues had them for going on 3 years and have had unbelievable growth and success with them. They are up grad able and use less power and achieve better penetration.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

I think the ai white is really missing the 420 spectrum. However the ai blue over my 30, everything thrives awesome. I put 2 t5 over my 90 and amazing results. A lot of LEDs seen to miss that 420 spectrum.

LED's are very expensive in the 420 spectrum. Anything below ~445 is many times more expensive than other LED colors.

 

[cdrewferd]

Not true Helix. That may be true if you're looking at CREEs, but in Bridgelux the price is only a bit more. I know many don't like Bridgelux, but they ran great on my fixture for a year and still have tons of life left.

 

[coloagro]

Interesting - Anyone else? Is their a brand of LED you all prefer over another? I've looked at Bridgelux, Cree and Phillips

 

[SAZAMA]

radion+1

 

[Haddonisreef]

I have 3 Chinese and one Radion and would have to say all the bells and whistles the Radion has is pretty cool!

 

[static reef]

evo's and they are local by chris at reef koi. completely dimmable for that perfect tint that you like and at a good price.

 

[Dbarnes]

I was not pleased with the AI's as a primary light source , I have sense supplemented mine with halides and am already seeing far greater growth. I don't think the LED's have quiet been mastered to the point of substituting natural light, I think if you go with any current LED design it needs to be paired with halides or T5's to gain more spectrum and ultimately more growth. There are many pros that have very similar reviews and experiences with them. Many shops I have been into that one had LED only tanks have sense switched back or supplimented additional lighting. A lot of this also depends on what corals you are planning on keeping, corals like zoas and monti's in my experience do far better under the LED's then acros, and other sps do. Either way I LOVE the programmings of the AI sols and from how many terrible reviews I have seen from Chinese lights and lights made by china but with an American name... I would never burn my money like that. You get what you pay for in this modern world and the **** that china makes and the **** that cheep American operated companies put their sticker on are worthless to me. I have had AI's on my tank in one way or another for well over a year and have not had a signal problem except for the the phone jack cable that melted.... who would a guessed MADE in ****hole CHINA. Cheap ppl from other countries need to keep there **** instead of shipping it here!! Lol yep not a fan of the Chinese lights.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

 

[coloagro]

Well said DBarnes.... And nice & blunt
I'm not a fan of Chinese even though their cheap. I'm interested in hearing more from others.

 

[Cake_Boss]

Been reading this, http://reefbuilders.com/2012/11/07/ghl-mitras-ecotech-radion-ai-vega/

Also read, http://reefbuilders.com/2012/11/13/acan-lighting-vertex-illumina-maxspect-razor/

HTH

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk HD

 

[SquidBreath]

Heres my list...

One plug for the whole fixture...with timed internal dimming on EACH channel...so I can use the light, without a controller or timer, from a single outlet.

Heat sinks, not fans....fans may extend the life of the unit a couple of years...but when you are talking about LEDs with a life span many times what we are used to with MH...I am happy to sacrifice a few years for that total silence.

Slide-in optics...
Socketed LEDs for easy swap out to try new configs

 

[coloagro]

^^ Nice feedback! TTT

 

[Haulin Oates]

I, like others, have been unsatisfied with coral growth under pure LEDs. I love my 2 EVOs. The blues are awesome. I haven't figured out why, but the blues on my Aqua UFO are the most brilliant I've ever seen. I'd like to see a full spectrum LED unit that runs on one plug that can be programmed and dimmed. I also really like the storm mode of the AI. I think the color changing LEDs that are in Xmas lights and other novelty lights need to be explored more as well. I think if they could give off the PAR needed, you would have a completely customizable fixture that could both suite the coral and our eyes!!

 

[CRW Reef]

Anyone remember seeing the SunBrite F Series Leds at Reef Stock 2012????? I thought they were sick, sick, sick!!!

 

[Haulin Oates]

Anyone remember seeing the SunBrite F Series Leds at Reef Stock 2012????? I thought they were sick, sick, sick!!!

We're those the ones he was dimming from his phone? If so... Yeah those were sick, but the price made me about lose my lunch!!

 

[CRW Reef]

Ya I think the 48" were $1000 but imo about the same price as the Vegas with far more options. Wifi built in. android/apple app, uvs, greens, reds, multiple blues, heat sink instead of fans, etc! I believe Elite is a authorized sales place too!