Cheap black box vs more expensive LED's question

[mrpizzaface]

Depending on your budget the black boxes can be a good option. If your budget will allow for better lights it is probably an area where I wouldn’t look to save money.
Regardless of budget I am afflicted with a desire to own the “best” equipment. I know if I put black boxes on a tank they would be replaced with something more expensive in short order. Part of my interest in this hobby is the equipment. I truly enjoy obtaining, using and maintaining the “best”equipment possible. I recognize there are budget options that can get to job done, but I have little interest in those options.
Unfortunately or fortunately this is how it goes with most of my interests.

 

[Brian_68]

I still do have a question, do the Radions have a safety approval like UL, ETL or CSA? I sold an older Radion version so cant look and do not see it on the website but I do see the popular black box light does have it.

 

[newbie2014]

This. I'm personally still waiting on a single actual first-hand report of a black box catching fire. Just one.

I'm not saying its impossible. All machines break, without exception. But I've learned to mistrust things that are repeated by lots of people without evidence.

I *have* seen dimmer switches burn out, but that just means you have to replace the dimmer switch, its not literally burning anything.

+1
I’m a noob, switching from FW to SW 4yrs ago. I’ve been using Mars 300W since day 1. No maint at all, and everything stills work. There was no way I’d spend $500-$800 for a light on a hobby that I wasn’t even sure I’ll stick with.

 

[MrPike]

Peace ☮ won’t be commenting any more.

It's a great relief to anyone who thinks.

 

[djray77]

Has anyone looked at my ATI results by chance? Totally get that two separate tanks can never be identical but to the more experienced reefers my question is, are the numbers in the ATI that far off from each other too cause a big difference in growth/color?

 

[AquaRaider44]

Following this

I have two of the Mars Aqua 165 W lights and modded them to have no lenses and be controllable with Reef-Pi and have seen the most amazing colouration and growth. I used to run a T5 setup then T5 with LED then only current TruLumen led strips and then the Mars Aquas. By far the best growth and colour has been under the last one. I also went to a shop recently who was getting rid of their AI and Radion Lights in favour of Mars Aqua's because of the better colouration. The owner picked up a bleeding apple scolly coral and held it under all of the lights and by far the most bright colours were under the Mars Aqua's.

 

[djray77]

Following this

I have two of the Mars Aqua 165 W lights and modded them to have no lenses and be controllable with Reef-Pi and have seen the most amazing colouration and growth. I used to run a T5 setup then T5 with LED then only current TruLumen led strips and then the Mars Aquas. By far the best growth and colour has been under the last one. I also went to a shop recently who was getting rid of their AI and Radion Lights in favour of Mars Aqua's because of the better colouration. The owner picked up a bleeding apple scolly coral and held it under all of the lights and by far the most bright colours were under the Mars Aqua's.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has had the same results. I was really thinking it was my inability to configure radions.

 

[AquaRaider44]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has had the same results. I was really thinking it was my inability to configure radions.

Nope its not you. If you go to like RAP or MACNA you will see everyone has Black Box lights over their coral. Why would this be... Obviously they put out better colours. They weight much more and are way bulkier than other lights to ship around there is no other reason to use them other than better colour.

 

[doodledreads]

I always feel like this type of discussion leads to nowhere. Let's take an analogy, a Toyota, a lexus, and a Lambo can all get you to where you want to go, which one is better? Well in what context?

Yes, black boxes will grow coral. So do expensive lights. Can we measure the growth, for each and every coral? Unlikely. I would pick one you like the most and stick with it unless you are getting negative results.

Oh, also, what looks the best to you might not be the great for the coral in your tank.

 

[Denizzz]

This discussion appears time to time in my country. But in my country, it is usually a justification of not being able to afford a better one, and currency makes a Radion XR30 G4 Pro nearly 3 monthly minimum wage of a person. Chinese knock offs are also more dangerous . Coz not being inspected by any government or custom office. DIY Leds been used alot. Not good most of the time. No quarantee also. We have a local brand. I havent used it yet. Also has software for Android and IOS phones. AquaReef is the brand name. Aquareef Pro 3 has great numbers . Almost 300W output. It has 84 led bulbs. Interesting or funny thing to mention is the price. Price changes due to currency. :) 700 Euro a piece. Coz most parts are imports. Compare to Radion's latest one, price is 3/4 of it, power almost double. I heard success stories. But what I am trying to say, is it is chosen by its price. Then most of other tank equipments are also gonna be cheaper version of any known brand, such as PS, Wavemakers etc. And chance to have a succesful tank for long periods will be less to nothing.

Anyway, it wouldnt be only light companies sucks us for money , maybe a skimmer company is doing that too. If no, then maybe we should take this into consideration, we know so less about Light in terms of science. Sorry for long message, it maynot make sense as intended to.

 

[alton]

I used a Mars Aqua fixture over my 100 gallon rubber maid tub when I created my blue face pair. So when I moved them into a 180 I bought two more. The problem I had was the first one after a year had to be turned up to 100% to match the Par the newer two had set at 50%. I liked the color, just didn't like the fact that the leds did not last. My oldest Build my led is from 2012 and works great (last picture).

 

[piranhaman00]

I love my MarsAqua! I would like to be able to ramp up and down and wifi would be cool. There are the black boxes with both those features I believe.

 

[mattdg]

I've been running 2 x viparspectra black box LED's paired with two T5's for several years now. This brand is known for LED lighting for hydroponics and the build quality is much better than the Mars Aqua over my aquaculture system. You can see from my tank build thread, how well they grow SPS. I'm considering a change around year 3, but have decided to invest in a quality PAR meter first.

The coral LOVE the blanket of light coming from all of those LED's, something hard to find in any higher end fixture. I figure the PAR meter might save me money in the long run, adjusting the lights according to LED burn in, as they lose PAR and eventually replacing with two new units, while being able to perfectly dial in current PAR levels on the replacement lights.

I guess what I'm saying is, my money may be better spent on a quality tool, rather than high end lights that don't blanket my coral with photons.

 

[mikeintoronto]

I used to run 4 Mars 165w over a 220 and the growth was amazing. I switched to radions and although the growth was roughly the same, the colour was much more crisp. So if my goal was just growth (and I didn’t want MH) the Mars are great. But that crispness of the Radion really does mean something to me when I view the tank so I just use the Mars over my refugium now.

 

[FishyDave]

This is my only concern, they catch my house on fire. I watched the BRS video on these and they were saying that the components are very cheap (I already knew this) and they can catch on fire which is scary. So is there a higher quality black box with better-made components?

This seems more fear mongering by people who have a business interest in you buying brand name items. Does anyone here actually know someone's house that caught fire from a black box light?

 

[Reef AquaCult]

My $0.02

If you're a beginner reefer and not even sure you can grow corals, then consider a black box. Your reefing success will NOT depend on Radions vs black box (given reasonable tuning), there are a thousand other variables that will impact your success. If you're an experienced reefer, want higher quality equipment and have some spare $$, then go Radions. The 2 options serve different markets and will both grow coral. Based on the thousands of models and probably hundreds of thousands of units sold, including the similar weed grow lights on Amazon/Ebay and no news stories of fires, I would assume the risk is low (Remember the Segway fires?). You can also find black boxes that have CE or UL certification these days. Im glad we have options!

 

[Brian_68]

My $0.02

If you're a beginner reefer and not even sure you can grow corals, then consider a black box. Your reefing success will NOT depend on Radions vs black box (given reasonable tuning), there are a thousand other variables that will impact your success. If you're an experienced reefer, want higher quality equipment and have some spare $$, then go Radions. The 2 options serve different markets and will both grow coral. Based on the thousands of models and probably hundreds of thousands of units sold, including the similar weed grow lights on Amazon/Ebay and no news stories of fires, I would assume the risk is low (Remember the Segway fires?). You can also find black boxes that have CE or UL certification these days. Im glad we have options!

I can't seem to get an answer, many black box lights have the UL, CSA or CE vertifications as you mention, do the Radions? Their website or spec does not advertise it.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

I can't seem to get an answer, many black box lights have the UL, CSA or CE vertifications as you mention, do the Radions? Their website or spec does not advertise it.

I would sure hope so! But I don't own one so I'm not sure. A quick google search does not confirm that they are. Interesting topic.

 

[djray77]

I would sure hope so to for the price they sell them at!

 

[fredk]

I can't seem to get an answer, many black box lights have the UL, CSA or CE vertifications as you mention, do the Radions? Their website or spec does not advertise it.

It is a legal requirement for them to have an appropriate safety cert to be sold in North America or Europe.