Evergrow / Reefbreeders LED - thoughts?

[Gweeds1980]

I will be upgrading my lighting in the next week or so, I have settled on the Evergrow (Reefbreeders in the US) brand, but not sure if I should go with the tried and tested IT2012 (Photon V1 48) or the newer IT5012 (Photon V2 48).

The 2012 is a lot cheaper (almost half the price) has all the functions I need and has the benefit of being a black box style light, so dead easy to swap out diodes, change lenses etc if I wanted to.

The 5012 is better looking, sleeker, quieter, packs a bit more power in and has better quality diodes (Cree & Osram vs BridgeLux in the 2012). Also has all the features...

I'll be running 2 of them on my 8ft, 3" 320g, possibly adding another 2 later on for better coverage... so I need to make sure I'm making the best decision I can. I will be testing out the 50000 hour lifespan claim as I have no intention on changing these for the next 10 years.

They'll sit over a mixed reef, with acros long term (only 1 acro frag atm!). Tank is 28" deep and 27" wide.

What's the thinking?

 

[Gweeds1980]

Doh... meant to post in led lighting forum...

#mods could this be moved please?

 

[Gweeds1980]

Bit of info on both:

IT2012:

Evergorws newest and most fully featured LED light is now in production!

Featuring; a built in controller, with a sleek touch interface and remote control. Allowing you to simulate your own sunset and have the light intensity increase/decrease as many as 48 times per day.

The light has 3 individually programmable channels with a total of 102 3watt LEDs

This light is 48" wide and will cover between 48-60" depending on mounting height.

C1: 450nm-44,470nm-4

C2: 6500-6,12000k-24,420nm-4,450-6, 520nm-4,660nm-4

C3: 8pcs 470

The fixtures come with fully adjustable and tilt-able hanging wires.

Each unit measures 48" long x 8" wide x 2.75" tall.

And IT5012:

Evergrow is back with the NEW AquaOcean IT50 series of high powered LED lights! If you thought the IT20's were amazing, these will blow your mind! They are now thinner, quieter, sleeker with better optics.

Specifications

Power: 240WInput Voltage: AC100~240VDimension: 48"x8.5"x0.98

LED chip Colors: red,green,blue,white,uv

LED quantity: 88pcs

LED Brand: Osram,Cree,SemiLED

LED optics: 90 degrees

Channels

Channel 1: 660-4

Channel 2:520-4

Channel 3:450-24

Channel 4:7.5K-20

Channel 5:470-16

Channel 6:400-8,420-12

New Features

Osram & Cree diodes.

Wireless 6 channels to control, simulate sunrise, sunset.

Full aluminum housing, excellent for heat dissipation.

Super thin housing, only 25mm thickness.

Thermostat controlled

 

[Humblefish]

Moved to LED Lighting

 

[happyhourhero]

I look forward to seeing your long term results!

 

[cvportagee]

I have never used the photon v1 but i switched from a hybrid t5/led light to the photon v2 and could not be happier.

 

[Velcro]

I have never used the photon v1 but i switched from a hybrid t5/led light to the photon v2 and could not be happier.

Same here.

 

[randallftan]

same here. V1 was good but V2 really gave flexibility on the spectrum you want to hit. Invest in good lighting!

 

[Gweeds1980]

Ok, about to pull the trigger on two of the evergrow IT5012 units... anyone got a good reason I shouldn't before I spend nearly £1000 on them :/

 

[pdiehm]

I have a v1 47.25" Photon 48. The hardest part is finding the right color that I find visually appealing while providing required light for the corals in terms of PAR. I think I've settled on 100% channel 1, and 35% channel 2. Gives me 260-280 par across my rockwork tops, with a hotspot between 320-350 on a taller rock. Hoping this will be a good setting for my plans for an SPS dominant tank

 

[hart24601]

I swapped out 2 G3 radions for v2 reefbreeders and the difference was dramatic. A large improvement for my 60g cube. I think with my vertical rockwork the clusters had issues with even lighting and color blending. It really was a startling improvement.

 

[kingzing]

I swapped out 2 G3 radions for v2 reefbreeders and the difference was dramatic. A large improvement for my 60g cube. I think with my vertical rockwork the clusters had issues with even lighting and color blending. It really was a startling improvement.

you replaced the reefbreeders with radions or the other way around?

 

[hart24601]

I replaced the radions with reef breeders.

 

[Reefster]

Iv'e been using the Photon 48 inch v1 lights for about 1 year and Love them! I like that you can change the output every 30 minutes creating a more natural sunrise sunset effect! I use a Script that tells you what numbers to plug into the settings according to when you want your lights to turn on and the time you choose for your light period. Never had any issues and The Support is Excellent over at Reefbreeders. I never had to up the lights past 75%.

 

[wrfreeman]

I've been using the v1 Photon 48 for several years and have been very happy with it. I'll be setting up a new tank in about 6 months and may go with the v2 Photon if they're as good as everyone is stating.

 

[Reefster]

I've been using the v1 Photon 48 for several years and have been very happy with it. I'll be setting up a new tank in about 6 months and may go with the v2 Photon if they're as good as everyone is stating.

I was thinking the same...I like the fact that you can use your phone to adjust the led's and that it comes with legs to fit on side of tank lid. The thing I wish it has was being able to adjust led's every half hour instead of every hour on the V2.

 

[Gweeds1980]

Thanks for all the info and views... I've gone ahead and ordered 2 Evergrow IT5012 units. I managed to knock the UK supplier down from £479 per unit to £449 so has cost me £898 all in. They should arrive here on Wednesday.

Will post pics once I have them set up.

 

[Vaughn17]

I replaced the radions with reef breeders.

Same here. Plus T5s, as well.

 

[Gweeds1980]

Arrived :)

Won't be set up for few days... jobs to do to keep the wife happy first lol.

 

[Gweeds1980]

And they're on... bit of a hash up atm as it's late, but on 1% blues for the night... Will get them up on the mounting legs tomorrow and hopefully get the schedule sorted :/