Best Supplemental LED strip for T5’s

[Acrofiend]

Debating on sbreef, orphek, 21ledusa or reefbrite xho.
Which do you guys prefer?

 

[jda]

Everybody is going to be all over the place and most will probably recommend what they are using. Which one do you prefer?

I have a RB, but never tried two of the others, so I have no basis for comparison to offer a good opinion. The RB has been reliable.

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

I use reef breeders as well

 

[HM3105]

I use 21led and like the look and color.

I'd avoid SB Reef, I (and several others) had a pretty terrible experience with them and their warranty.

 

[Acrofiend]

I like the reefbrites reflector design versus the individual reflectors but the price is what stops me. I was leaning towards the sbreef or orphek as they have the uv/violet leds but worried about the leds going out within a year.

 

[jda]

For me, RB was ReefBrite... sorry.

 

[Acrofiend]

I use 21led and like the look and color.

I'd avoid SB Reef, I (and several others) had a pretty terrible experience with them and their warranty.

Do you have any photos? I’m honestly not trying to spend a lot.

 

[Water Dog]

I have Reef Brites which use a reflector and are all 450nm royal blue LEDs. In looking at the other offerings that use some violet 420 nm LEDs in addition to the blues, how have the lenses over the violet LEDs held up over time? Any long term users of SB Reeflights bars or Orphek bars care to chime in on how the violet lenses have held up?

 

[HM3105]

I have Reef Brites which use a reflector and are all 450nm royal blue LEDs. In looking at the other offerings that use some violet 420 nm LEDs in addition to the blues, how have the lenses over the violet LEDs held up over time? Any long term users of SB Reeflights bars or Orphek bars care to chime in on how the violet lenses have held up?

I've had SB , every lense over the violets failed within a year. Still waiting for my replacements (been over 8 months).

 

[Water Dog]

I've had SB , every lense over the violets failed within a year. Still waiting for my replacements (been over 8 months).

Yeah, that was my fear with cheap lenses over the violet LEDs. I wonder how the lenses over the violet LEDs on Orphek and ReefBreeder bars have held up over time...

 

[mfinn]

I bought Reef Brites for both of my T5 fixtures.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I use Orphek. One OR120UV and one OR120Blue with 8 bulb t5. Center 2 bulbs removed and led in center. 4 ati blue+ and 2 ati coral+

 

[Water Dog]

I use Orphek. One OR120UV and one OR120Blue with 8 bulb t5. Center 2 bulbs removed and led in center. 4 ati blue+ and 2 ati coral+

How long have you had them? Any discoloration of the lenses over the violet diodes 420nm and under?

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

How long have you had them? Any discoloration of the lenses over the violet diodes 420nm and under?

Been running since September 2018
I have not noticed any lense burn as of now, but will look close to confirm today once home from work.

 

[Acrofiend]

I forgot to mention the reefbreefer lumen bars.

I use reef breeders as well

Which spectrum are you using for your reefbreeder? How long have you owned it?

 

[Acrofiend]

21ledusa, reefbreeders and orphek are my final choices. Ill mainly be using these for dusk/dawn for the blue light viewing.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

21ledusa, reefbreeders and orphek are my final choices. Ill mainly be using these for dusk/dawn for the blue light viewing.

Here’s a lil LED only view of the two Orphek I have.

 

[Acrofiend]

Did a little research based on the 36” versions:
21ledusa: 36 445 NM (Blue) 3W Bridgelux LEDs $110.
Reefbreeders: 27 380-420NM (UV/Violet) 3W Epistar LEDs $150. $175 for customization.
SBars: 27 3W 420-450 NM (Violet/Blue) Cree/Epistar leds $180.
Orphek OR90: 24 380-440 NM (UV/Violet) 3W $140
Reefbrite XHO: 18 450NM? (Blue) 3W $266

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Did a little research based on the 36” versions:
21ledusa: 36 445 NM (Blue) 3W Bridgelux LEDs $110.
Reefbreeders: 27 380-420NM (UV/Violet) 3W Epistar LEDs $150. $175 for customization.
SBars: 27 3W 420-450 NM (Violet/Blue) Cree/Epistar leds $180.
Orphek OR90: 24 380-440 NM (UV/Violet) 3W $140
Reefbrite XHO: 18 450NM? (Blue) 3W $266

I wouldn’t do just the UV. It’s super purple and takes a lot of blue to offset it. Personal preference though. Here’s a pic of just the UV. Old pic before almost immediately added the blue as well.

 

[NaClH20Reefer]

I currently use two reefbreeder lumen bars. Two colors: HO UV and Royal Ice.
These supplement my 4-bulb ATI. All are the 48” variable. In the ATI I run 2C+ and 2B+

I’ve gotten great growth and color out of my SPS with these along with my LPS near the sand bed. I used a apogee meter to check my bars and included the correction factor.

Across the entire tank I picked up an average of 114 par when I turned the bars on. So I can say with certainty they work great.