Low Cost LED vs High Dollar Comparison

[427HISS]

In my 63 years of living I've found out that just because something is high cost and has the "name factor" doesn't make it any better than a low cost item, but you have to explore the low cost item to see if it's just junk. Years ago a friend that was a manager at a saltwater store ended up fixing products for customers. He took apart a expensive led light fixture and was surprised that it was nothing better than a low cost one, except for it's "lighting show" and other things that aren't need for corals, more of a toy for us.
So, those of you that have tested different brands from $100 to thousands of dollars, what are your findings, cost differences and length of life ?

Personally, I'm not going to spend $800 to $1,000 for a light that only covers 2' x 2' area. Ridicules......
I'm setting up a 125g tank which is 72" long and I'm not going to buy 5 of those for around $4,000 to $5,000.

So what's out there that is low cost, but does just as good as the high cost brand name lights ?

 

[mehaffydr]

I have Noo-psyche and I like them. Benn running over a year

 

[Biff0rz]

A8se pro max or blue from alibaba. App is crap but it works.

 

[slingfox]

ThI A8 lights from AliBaba put out a beautiful spectrum at reasonable cost. I don’t use them but have seen them in person. If you don’t plan to go an SPS dominant tank you don’t need the high par lights. If you are looking for something in the upper end of mid range you should check out the ReefBreeders or ReefFi Uno. If you are more cost conscious you can check out the Nicrew lights sold on Amazon.

 

[slingfox]

In my 63 years of living I've found out that just because something is high cost and has the "name factor" doesn't make it any better than a low cost item, but you have to explore the low cost item to see if it's just junk. Years ago a friend that was a manager at a saltwater store ended up fixing products for customers. He took apart a expensive led light fixture and was surprised that it was nothing better than a low cost one, except for it's "lighting show" and other things that aren't need for corals, more of a toy for us.
So, those of you that have tested different brands from $100 to thousands of dollars, what are your findings, cost differences and length of life ?

Personally, I'm not going to spend $800 to $1,000 for a light that only covers 2' x 2' area. Ridicules......
I'm setting up a 125g tank which is 72" long and I'm not going to buy 5 of those for around $4,000 to $5,000.

So what's out there that is low cost, but does just as good as the high cost brand name lights ?

Also, I don’t believe there are any low cost light that “does just as good as the high cost brand name lights”. The low cost lights can work very well, but I don’t believe any of them can match the performance of the best lights like the ATI Straton line. That is not unexpected. I wouldn’t expect a bare bones Subaru to have the same performance of a fully decked out Lamborghini.

That said, I suspect you can grow coral just fine (particularly softies and LPS) without the high end lights.

 

[427HISS]

I have Noo-psyche and I like them. Benn running over a year

Who ?

 

[427HISS]

Also, I don’t believe there are any low cost light that “does just as good as the high cost brand name lights”. The low cost lights can work very well, but I don’t believe any of them can match the performance of the best lights like the ATI Straton line. That is not unexpected. I wouldn’t expect a bare bones Subaru to have the same performance of a fully decked out Lamborghini.

That said, I suspect you can grow coral just fine (particularly softies and LPS) without the high end lights.

I shouldn't have meant just as good, but take out all the fancy stuff, use the same lighting and see what we get in pricing. Would the coral grow just as good ?

 

[rtparty]

Nicrew Gen 2. Does just as well and even better in some areas than the Radion.

 

[jmcdona6]

Also, I don’t believe there are any low cost light that “does just as good as the high cost brand name lights”. The low cost lights can work very well, but I don’t believe any of them can match the performance of the best lights like the ATI Straton line. That is not unexpected. I wouldn’t expect a bare bones Subaru to have the same performance of a fully decked out Lamborghini.

That said, I suspect you can grow coral just fine (particularly softies and LPS) without the high end lights.

I agree. I always say its about value which has a degree of subjectiveness to it.

You can buy a Radion for $999. Its a awesome light. Or you can buy a Nicrew for $250. Not as good, but you can grow with it just fine (including SPS). Has all or most the core features you would want. Subjective...but lets say its 70% of the quality/functionality of a Radion.

Is 4x the price worth that extra 30%? I would say no. Ive had and seen other people have successful reefs using $100 Chinese black boxes. Something like the Nicrew to me is the perfect mix of quality, features and cost. But I'm also the guy who buys Jeeps instead of Land Rovers and VWs instead of Audis even though I could more than afford to do so.

 

[427HISS]

I agree. I always say its about value which has a degree of subjectiveness to it.

You can buy a Radion for $999. Its a awesome light. Or you can buy a Nicrew for $250. Not as good, but you can grow with it just fine (including SPS). Has all or most the core features you would want. Subjective...but lets say its 70% of the quality/functionality of a Radion.

Is 4x the price worth that extra 30%? I would say no. Ive had and seen other people have successful reefs using $100 Chinese black boxes. Something like the Nicrew to me is the perfect mix of quality, features and cost. But I'm also the guy who buys Jeeps instead of Land Rovers and VWs instead of Audis even though I could more than afford to do so.

"But I'm also the guy who buys Jeeps instead of Land Rovers and VWs instead of Audis even though I could more than afford to do so" lol...

I'll have to look that company up as $250 sounds better. I just don't think $1,000 is needed, but why not if people are buying them. $5,000 for just my lighting, ain't gonna happen, unless I win the lottery.

What about this light ?

Amazon product

 

[Naekuh]

Im gonna say this because i think its not mentioned.

But cheap lights are ok if you know what is going in them.
Not all LED's are the same however.
You have the premium branded LED's and then you have the cheap ones.

The cheap ones will not last very long and burn out.
The premium ones are spot on the spectrum and will typically last longer.
This is why some recommend certain models in the chinese brand, like the A8's.
The A8 pro's have Cree LED's and Meanwell drivers, while the normal SE or the cheaper ones do not.

So make sure you ask what LED's they are, or at least go with something reputable. Like i can't think of anyone that uses those chinese black boxes anymore, but those were notorious in our hobby and had LED's from almost every corner of the world.

 

[ptrusk]

Very impressed by Nicrew. Only issue is you need a separate controller like $50. Noopsyche not so much. App sucks. I dont care for the color spectrum and I have replace power supply twice in 3 years.

 

[jmcdona6]

"But I'm also the guy who buys Jeeps instead of Land Rovers and VWs instead of Audis even though I could more than afford to do so" lol...

I'll have to look that company up as $250 sounds better. I just don't think $1,000 is needed, but why not if people are buying them. $5,000 for just my lighting, ain't gonna happen, unless I win the lottery.

What about this light ?

Amazon product

The Nicrews at $250 are a great value. My wife was confused when I bought it at first. To the untrained eye they are the same thing. She was kind of irked I had spent that much money before. I had to explain her the differences. She gave me the side eye as she walked away.

I have two of them and a 4 bulb T5 fixture over my 5ft tank. The T5 fixture was $400. So for less than the cost of a single Radion, my tank is blanketed in light.

 

[Srfnhooker]

I have had 2 of the hyperreef 150 Gen 2s on an IM 75 for about 8 months. Happy with them so far. Like you, I just can't justify 1000 bucks a light. Spectrum is good. I get around 325 par at top of rock 7 inches from surface and 200 on the sand with my settings.

 

[painter1982]

I just received two nicrew 200’s for my 130. I’m doing a hybrid with 3 kessil a360xe and two nicrews. Saved $1000 by not using xr30’s. We shall see if they are any good. I’ll start my tank thread when the 130 arrives.

 

[427HISS]

I have had 2 of the hyperreef 150 Gen 2s on an IM 75 for about 8 months. Happy with them so far. Like you, I just can't justify 1000 bucks a light. Spectrum is good. I get around 325 par at top of rock 7 inches from surface and 200 on the sand with my settings.

So these here below. How is the sped over your 75g ?
Would I need 5 over my 125g (6') ?
How do you like the spectrum of each color of whites, blues, reds, UV etc ?

 

[NanoSteam]

Also just went with Nicrew Gen 2's + controller for my upcoming 80g AIO build, I've only tested them so far and created a schedule. Very impressive for the price, we'll see how they do when they're on the tank long term and I dial them in with a PAR meter.

They feel just as well built in the hand as my AI Hydra's did.

 

[427HISS]

Also just went with Nicrew Gen 2's + controller for my upcoming 80g AIO build, I've only tested them so far and created a schedule. Very impressive for the price, we'll see how they do when they're on the tank long term and I dial them in with a PAR meter.

They feel just as well built in the hand as my AI Hydra's did.

I assume their a full spectrum light ?
If so, how do you like the spectrum of each color of whites, blues, reds, UV etc ?

 

[NanoSteam]

I assume their a full spectrum light ?
If so, how do you like the spectrum of each color of whites, blues, reds, UV etc ?

Yes full spectrum, you get UV, blues (RB and Blue are combined), whites, reds, and greens on different channels.... I went with the 100watt lights, I haven't tested the PAR yet but from what I've read if you run heavy blues you'll want to opt for the higher wattage lights because with 100% blues and 100% violets on the 100 watt model you likely won't get enough PAR for more demanding coral without bumping up the whites. This is fine for me as I prefer a "whiter" spectrum.

 

[427HISS]

Jake explains the colors wonderfully. So, how do your lights compare ?