AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

[apac]

Posted this in a separate thread but figured I'd ask here. Just got 2 of these in yesterday. One set up fine but the second won’t show the SSID and the physical buttons are not responsive. Anyone experience this on theirs?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a8-pro-ii-max-troubleshooting.1098861/

If you are have nothing else to lose, you may want to take the screws out from the LED side and check the ribbon wires are connected properly and the Pin board in the opposite corner are also connected properly. Watch this first, it was made by a member on this forum……


Note, whether you need to do it on a non static surface with an anti static grounding wire attached to your wrist, I am not sure.
This could be a reason for people losing power after opening up the light? Perhaps they inadvertently zapped a small component through static?
Personally, I wouldn’t do the work on a fabric surface like in the video.

 

[matthellstrom]

Does anyone have an opinion on how these do with coloring and growth rate of acros? I've got a acro dominate 180 gallon tank and right now I have 5 first gen reefi unos across it. I don't get the kind of growth I would like and am thinking of changing them out for these lights. I was either going with 3 running parallel to the tank, or 5 running perpendicular. Opinions from SPS growers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jonreefer]

Does anyone have an opinion on how these do with coloring and growth rate of acros? I've got a acro dominate 180 gallon tank and right now I have 5 first gen reefi unos across it. I don't get the kind of growth I would like and am thinking of changing them out for these lights. I was either going with 3 running parallel to the tank, or 5 running perpendicular. Opinions from SPS growers would be greatly appreciated.

I would say look at a radion and these will basically do the same thing. Its the exact same light with led selections and layout

 

[Yaozhen]

That’s good to know. I’ve just ordered two A8 pro II versions. Fingers crossed the app and WiFi issues are minimal

No change，Its WiFi is just as hard to use as the old one. :face-with-tears-of-joy:

 

[Patx]

Does anyone have an opinion on how these do with coloring and growth rate of acros? I've got a acro dominate 180 gallon tank and right now I have 5 first gen reefi unos across it. I don't get the kind of growth I would like and am thinking of changing them out for these lights. I was either going with 3 running parallel to the tank, or 5 running perpendicular. Opinions from SPS growers would be greatly appreciated.

I don't personally use reefi uno, but the comment are good "in general? " maybe your problem is not related to the light you use ?
I will personally look at others possible reason before "changing light"
What does reefi uno think of there light ?
Maybe ask in sps forum etc...
That's will be my first step.

 

[joseph.timbs]

Have you separated your 2.4g and 5g networks? If you scan for wifi networks on your phone, do you see both those networks listed separately?
Also, are you using the AIPAI app v2.3.8, and do you see your wifi network listed when scanning for networks in the AIPAI app?

Mine is also working perfectly on Android 2.3.8.

Yeah it just refuses to work for me, bought a second router for it and only have the 2.4 channel on and my WiFi networks show up, all of them. I have the 2.3.8 version and using iPhone. I couldn’t figure out the ip addresses and subnets and all that to make it a static ip, I don’t have the knowledge of networks to do anything but try to figure out a good guess

 

[Patx]

I don't personally use reefi uno, but the comment are good "in general? " maybe your problem is not related to the light you use ?
I will personally look at others possible reason before "changing light"
What does reefi uno think of there light ?
Maybe ask in sps forum etc...
That's will be my first step.

What does reefi uno * USER*think of there light ?
[correction]

 

[joseph.timbs]

are you using IOS and Andriod? also what version are you running? I have IOS and my app is 2.3.8 and my light connected perfect, auto set time and never lost time.

What’s IOS? And I’m using an iPhone, I bought a second router like u suggested earlier running only the 2.4 channel but still same issue, just refuses to link to it.. network error every time I try. And they’re only feet away from one another

 

[Jonreefer]

What’s IOS? And I’m using an iPhone, I bought a second router like u suggested earlier running only the 2.4 channel but still same issue, just refuses to link to it.. network error every time I try. And they’re only feet away from one another

apple OS. not sure what is going on with yours, What version is your light. is it the original A8 or is it any of the new version II ones?
I have the new Version II blue and it has been perfect

 

[joseph.timbs]

apple OS. not sure what is going on with yours, What version is your light. is it the original A8 or is it any of the new version II ones?
I have the new Version II blue and it has been perfect

It’s the A8ll max

 

[Jonreefer]

It’s the A8ll max

just regular numbers and letters for password also? No special characters in it? You didnt name it the same as your other networks correct? You setup the new router and just created a wifi SSID that is just like Reef light or anything just something thats new and nothing else would piggyback off it

 

[Patx]

I dont have option to separate 2.4 and 5 connection.
I just take a walk with my phone... when i almost lose the wifi im in 2.4...
I connect the lamp or pump there !
Trust me, i am an engineer :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[matthellstrom]

What does reefi uno * USER*think of there light ?
[correction]

I feel the 1st gen Unos aren't as good as the current version. They don't have as many LEDs and I've talked to several acro people that feel that corals don't grow very well with them. One guy used them in addition to radions and he said with no other things different the corals in the radion tanks growed much faster than the uno tanks. I think the 2nd gen models are much better.

 

[Patx]

I feel the 1st gen Unos aren't as good as the current version. They don't have as many LEDs and I've talked to several acro people that feel that corals don't grow very well with them. One guy used them in addition to radions and he said with no other things different the corals in the radion tanks growed much faster than the uno tanks. I think the 2nd gen models are much better.

I can't really comments for the sps part with the a8.
I didn't push my PAR that high, and i never own a radion.
So i can't compare.

If you back up some page i did a PAR reading.

 

[KoenE]

Did someone already try reflash the onboard chip of these lights with ESPHome?
I just ordered a spare PCB to experiment with while my A8se II max can stay on the tank. This way I can then hopefully intergrate it into HomeAssistant and get rid of the original app.

 

[apac]

It’s the A8ll max

Some people have found that pressing the centre button on the light for 5 seconds resets the light, and this has helped them connect to WiFi and the app.

 

[apac]

I’ve noticed that the latest Dosing pumps and Powerheads coming from China from the likes of Jebao/Jecod are now coming with Bluetooth. I wonder why:rolleyes::rolleyes:? I think we might be seeing the dying days of WiFi control and the issues it brings.

 

[PlayerOne]

I have the A8se Pro max 2. I had to reset the light, to make it connect to wifi. Also what I had to do was inside of my router, I had a to create a separate 2.4g network. Then I connected my phone to the network, then tried to connect to the app. This was an important step, I was trying to access the app and save profiles while on my 5g network. You must be on the 2.4 before opening the AIPAI app. This is what worked for me. ALSO time zone.....with the new app you have to set your times zone, and these new ones try to autoset. But you have to do it in profile. Then you must find your time zone in either +UTC or - set and save. This is what I did and lights have been fine for 3-4 days now. Also programmed my own schedule and spectrum.

 

[Ken101Ward]

Does anyone have an opinion on how these do with coloring and growth rate of acros? I've got a acro dominate 180 gallon tank and right now I have 5 first gen reefi unos across it. I don't get the kind of growth I would like and am thinking of changing them out for these lights. I was either going with 3 running parallel to the tank, or 5 running perpendicular. Opinions from SPS growers would be greatly appreciated.

I struggled to grow acros for about 5 years with LED lighting and less than optimal water chemistry. I took the advice from Chris Meckley of ACI aquaculture and added HO T5 supplementation to my LED units. Also got serious about trace elements and quarterly ICP testing. It made an improvement on my tank. WIth that said, I've drooled over many SPS tanks lit exclusively by LEDS.
P.S. I don't use these LED fixtures.

 

[UK-Reefer]

After reading all the niggles of these lights along with the shoddy app I'm inclined to not bother.

They do appear to be good lights when performing properly but there is just so many niggles as far as taking the unit apart even.

I think the new Gen2 Nicrew, along with it's old school handheld remote, may be worth the extra cost.

I'll hold back for while regardless because the Nicrew Gen2 is not yet available in the UK.