A8SE Blue vs Nicrew Hyperreef 100

[Sully32]

I'm trying to decide on lighting for a Fiji Cube 48 EXT. I bought an A8SE Blue, but it's actually a bit underwhelming in terms of brightness. The app isn't great either. I'm considering switching to 2 Nicrew Hyperreef 100s.

What would you choose between the two options if it were you?

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

I have the Gen 1 hyperreef lights, the controller can be sketchy before you get the hang of it. they are good lights and have plenty of PAR

edit: never used the other light

 

[JoJosReef]

I'm trying to decide on lighting for a Fiji Cube 48 EXT. I bought an A8SE Blue, but it's actually a bit underwhelming in terms of brightness. The app isn't great either. I'm considering switching to 2 Nicrew Hyperreef 100s.

What would you choose between the two options if it were you?

I have a gen2 100 over a WB 25 aio peninsula. Just swapped out for a 90 degree reflector and haven't PAR tested yet, but it's looking promising. Had the light only around 40% or so and was hitting great numbers for LPS/Softies with the 120 reflectors. Expecting much better par with the 90s.

 

[NanoSteam]

I have a gen2 100 over a WB 25 aio peninsula. Just swapped out for a 90 degree reflector and haven't PAR tested yet, but it's looking promising. Had the light only around 40% or so and was hitting great numbers for LPS/Softies with the 120 reflectors. Expecting much better par with the 90s.

Do you happen to have a link to the 90 degree lens for the 100 gen 2? I can only find the lens for the 150/200 which are different since I believe they have different number of diodes. Thanks!

 

[JoJosReef]

Do you happen to have a link to the 90 degree lens for the 100 gen 2? I can only find the lens for the 150/200 which are different since I believe they have different number of diodes. Thanks!

NICREW HyperReef Narrow Angle... Amazon product

 

[Kodski]

I'm trying to decide on lighting for a Fiji Cube 48 EXT. I bought an A8SE Blue, but it's actually a bit underwhelming in terms of brightness. The app isn't great either. I'm considering switching to 2 Nicrew Hyperreef 100s.

What would you choose between the two options if it were you?

I'd go with an A8SE. It's going to have much better spread. Personally I feel that 30" is a stretch for this light, so you also may need a second light or what I would do, is add a LED bar for supplement. I will say, I have no hands on experience with either light. I would go with the A8SE simply because it is a Radion Clone and they have great spread and punch.

When you say the light is underwhelming for how bright it is, do you mean just to your eye or actual par numbers? Remember, brightness is not the goal, par is the goal and color of light is your preference. Its perfectly fine to not like the color of a light fixture, but don't miss understand and end up cooking your corals because blue light carries a lot of par without a lot of brightness. Adding in a LED bar like the Quanta Helix Reef Crest Daylight will help even out the blue by adding some white. This will help the tank look brighter.

 

[Sully32]

When I say brightness, I mean in terms of both PAR and visually. I run Viparspectras on my bigger tanks, and they punch a ton more PAR deeper at lower intensity than this A8SE does in a shallow tank at 100%. Maybe I got a dud because the reviews were generally good. The spread leaves a lot to be desired as well. I figured two of the Nicrews would give better spread just by the physicality of the diodes and lenses. I have never seen a Nicrew in person though.

 

[Kodski]

When I say brightness, I mean in terms of both PAR and visually. I run Viparspectras on my bigger tanks, and they punch a ton more PAR deeper at lower intensity than this A8SE does in a shallow tank at 100%. Maybe I got a dud because the reviews were generally good. The spread leaves a lot to be desired as well. I figured two of the Nicrews would give better spread just by the physicality of the diodes and lenses. I have never seen a Nicrew in person though.

You are comparing apples to oranges there. Viparspectras have a totally different lens design, one specifically designed to do what you said they do.

A few questions for you.

What kind of par are you seeing from the A8SE?

How heigh off the surface of the water is your light mounted?

 

[Sully32]

I actually don't have lenses on the Vipars. They are all pulled. I wanted better blending. Even with them removed they are PAR monsters.

With the A8SE on the Fiji Cube 48 I'm getting mid 200s right in the middle at the top of my rock, and around 40 at the very edges of the tank. The light 8 inches from the surface.

I've always used black boxes and I guess I was just expecting more from a better designed light. I'm assuming the two Nicrews would have better spread even though they would be pulling less power.

 

[Hooz]

The A8SE and Radions don't have the greatest raw PAR numbers, because they have a wide spread. It's a trade off, really, but the same number of Photons are entering the tank either way. That being said, the Nicrew HyperReef Gen 2 has the same spread as a Radion, so you'll likely run into the same thing, unless you opt for the 90 degree "narrow" lens.

My recommendation would be to keep the light you have and get a second one. Mount them perpendicular to the length of the tank (i.e. front-to-back) with some space in between them, and dial them in like that.

If you just really don't like the app or whatever, do the same thing with a pair of Nicrews (I'd do the 150's because the diode layout in the 150/200 is a bit different/better than the 100's). I've been wanting to check out an A8 myself, so let me know if you decide to go that route and maybe I'll help you get rid of the A8.