Conversial Chinese LED

[Cbowen4]

So I've been reading (and watching) about the 165W dimmable LED full spectrum light by aqua star. I've seen reviews where it's praised but also where it's faulted. Anybody use these? Let me know why you guys think!

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[KoleTang]

The fixture is priced at what it would cost to buy the 55 bridgelux LEDs on your own. They have to be buying the LEDs and drivers in bulk, and they must be cheap drivers.

My biggest concern would be the drivers. When they say 165w they are referring to the amount (55) of 3w LEDs in the unit, not the power of the drivers or even the fixture (In the description you can see that in reality it runs at 120w). I highly doubt that the LEDs are being run at full power. (They would need around 198v of drivers to run 55 bridgelux LEDs at 100% power.)

 

[Cbowen4]

So without going heavy on the money side what LED light would you recommend?

 

[KoleTang]

DIY Cree panels. The Crees are more expensive per diode, but end up being cheaper since they have a lower forward voltage than bridgelux. This means each driver can run more Cree LEDs than bridgelux, so you are spending less money on drivers.

Driver Voltage ÷ LED forward voltage = LEDs per driver

Driver cost + Cost of the amount of LEDs each driver can run ÷ Amount LEDs per driver = Cost of each LED including the price of the driver.

LEDGroupBuy has good prices on solderless LEDs if soldering is a concern to you.

15 solderless Crees on a Meanwell ELN-60-48D and a small heatsink will cost you about $100 if you get them from a discount place like LEDGroupBuy. (If you are going to use a PWM controller get the ELN-60-48P)

 

[Reefing Madness]

I'd buy the ones you were looking at. No one runs their LEDs at 100% anyways.
I have a unit on my tank for almost a year now, I've no trouble with it. Works just fine. Bridgelux LEDs

 

[Cbowen4]

What size tank? ReefingMadness

 

[Reefing Madness]

I am running a 240g tank

 

[slaizer2000]

I am running a 240g tank

I am looking at purchasing this for a 250gallon tank (5x3x2.25foot). Do you think 1 is adequate or would 2 be needed?

 

[bboyvital]

I am running 2 of these over a 48x24x16 tank. The light came with 90 degree optics. I removed them and get great spread. For a 5 foot tank I might consider three depending on your rock work and what you are keeping in it.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I am looking at purchasing this for a 250gallon tank (5x3x2.25foot). Do you think 1 is adequate or would 2 be needed?

You need to put 2 on that tank. One would be close, but you'd have some serious shadowing, thst would be up to you if the shadowing would be ok.

 

[slaizer2000]

Thanks for the quick replies.
I figured a minimum of 2 for the tank but just wanted to make sure as lighting is hard to visualize from the youtube videos.
The tank will be a new build so I can do the rock work around the lightning if needed.