Help with burnt optics

[wcfost]

Hello,

Attached are photos of the optics from my 1.5 year old ReefRadiance DM 155-e. As you can see, the optics are melted and burned. This has only affected the blue channel.

What could have caused this issue?

Thank you!

 

[redfishbluefish]

I had a similar problem with my Apollo lights that I documented HERE.....with no lenses.


Bottom line, I'm convinced it was their underuse of thermal paste or use of a poor quality thermal material. If you decide to repair, I would suggest Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 thermal compound for between aluminum cooling parts and Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound for between the LED's and the aluminum plate. I had to do two fixtures....because both had burnt out LED's.

Note, in the process I hit upon THESE very inexpensive fixtures and purchased to hold me over....and ended up using it now as part of my lighting scheme....and I'm very happy with it....but time will tell.

 

[NanaReefer]

I had a similar problem with my Apollo lights that I documented HERE.....with no lenses.


Bottom line, I'm convinced it was their underuse of thermal paste or use of a poor quality thermal material. If you decide to repair, I would suggest Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 thermal compound for between aluminum cooling parts and Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound for between the LED's and the aluminum plate. I had to do two fixtures....because both had burnt out LED's.

Note, in the process I hit upon THESE very inexpensive fixtures and purchased to hold me over....and ended up using it now as part of my lighting scheme....and I'm very happy with it....but time will tell.

Way to support our Sponsors, NOT! [emoji57]

 

[NanaReefer]

Hello,

Attached are photos of the optics from my 1.5 year old ReefRadiance DM 155-e. As you can see, the optics are melted and burned. This has only affected the blue channel.

What could have caused this issue?

Thank you!

Please contact Rick of Reef Radiance.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Way to support our Sponsors, NOT!

I apologize, but I don't have any sponsors........maybe because I simply speak the truth. :rolleyes:

But I will say that if the distributor is willing to do something for you, go for it. That would be my first choice, because in retrospect, I'm not sure I would have fixed my fixtures. But if ReefRadiance is willing to do something, take them up, without question.

 

[wcfost]

Yes I contacted Rick and he offered to take a look at it despite it being out of warranty. However, the last time I had to send a light in it took two months for me to receive a replacement and I had to pay 50 dollars or so in shipping, so I'd rather fix this myself if possible.

 

[wcfost]

I had a similar problem with my Apollo lights that I documented HERE.....with no lenses.


Bottom line, I'm convinced it was their underuse of thermal paste or use of a poor quality thermal material. If you decide to repair, I would suggest Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 thermal compound for between aluminum cooling parts and Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound for between the LED's and the aluminum plate. I had to do two fixtures....because both had burnt out LED's.

Note, in the process I hit upon THESE very inexpensive fixtures and purchased to hold me over....and ended up using it now as part of my lighting scheme....and I'm very happy with it....but time will tell.

Thanks, I went ahead and bought the cheap Mars Aqua fixtures. I haven't had a good experience with RR and I'm ready to move on. Maybe I'll use the old fixture for a planted tank since the whites still work.

 

[wcfost]

On a related tangent, I've got a cyano outbreak but only on the side of the tank lit by the fixture with the burnt blues. Does more intense blue light inhibit cyano growth?

 

[NanaReefer]

I apologize, but I don't have any sponsors........maybe because I simply speak the truth. :rolleyes:

But I will say that if the distributor is willing to do something for you, go for it. That would be my first choice, because in retrospect, I'm not sure I would have fixed my fixtures. But if ReefRadiance is willing to do something, take them up, without question.

We here at R2R gladly recommend one of our Sponsors whenever the opportunity arises. It helps keep R2R alive.
Wasn't suggesting you had a sponsor [emoji38] Truth is in the eye of the beholder [emoji6]

 

[NanaReefer]

Wow!! I don't know of any seller who would offer to fix the lights for free....let alone out of warranty?! Only charge being shipping? Besides Reef Radiance that is [emoji2] sorry for your troubles, but RR is an awesome company, a Sponsor here and I run the LumenTek Pro180 and love it!

 

[redfishbluefish]

We here at R2R gladly recommend one of our Sponsors whenever the opportunity arises. It helps keep R2R alive.
Wasn't suggesting you had a sponsor [emoji38] Truth is in the eye of the beholder [emoji6]

With all due respect to R2R and the relationships to their sponsors, I will not, as a forum member, have that impact the response I might have to a forum post. If I feel something is good or bad, I will say so, positive or negative. In all honesty, if I can't speak freely, I have no interest in being part of that community. And I believe R2R, and the majority of forum members feel the same way.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Ok guys. We get it, nough said.