Rapid LED Lights

basicfisherman · Jun 5, 2015

So I decided that I'm going to be putting some type of Rapid LED light above my new 180g reef. I'm undecided what to do and would like some feedback. What I'm looking to do is have a quality light that will be more then suffient for SPS and LPS and be able to do a sunrise sunset with them. I have an APEX already. Being able to reproduce storms or clouds would be a plus but lets face it, totaly not needed. Money also factors slightly into this. I was thinking 3 ONYX fixtures but I would really liketo get the Aurorua lights! THinking like 6 total with a Bluefish controller. If anyone with either like could chime in with their thoughts and experiences I would really apperciate it!

Thanks

basicfisherman · Jun 6, 2015

I get the feeling that people on this site aren't very helpful or something. I have made 2 posts on here in the last week and I don't get a single response. Am I asking the wrong questions or what? Should I include pictures?

FL_Reefer · Jun 6, 2015

I've been using a onyx fixture for the past 5 months and I've came from MH. It's a ok fixture. Puts off a nice color. Not sure if I'm completely convinced on the whole LED thing yet but getting ok growth. I'm also planning on getting the same controller as you mentioned. I have also posted about this light and have gotten no replies but I think not many people use them. Don't get discouraged, it's not the forum. This is the best forum on the net hands down.

basicfisherman · Jun 6, 2015

Thanks for the reply. My local reef store uses them in his store and the colors look amazing! I have Reefbreeders Photon right now but will be upgrading to a 180 soon, not to mention 1 channel on my fixture seems to be blowen out. I need to get something sooner then later.

FL_Reefer · Jun 6, 2015

No problem, the are a lot stronger then I expected them to be. I run the blues at +/- 70% and whites for only 4 hrs a day at +/- 10%. I have a thread that I started to see what other people have there settings at but nobody has replied yet.

Fishyj · Jun 6, 2015

I have also been trying to get info on them. I want to use one on my bc29 tank.

FL_Reefer · Jun 6, 2015

My buddy who I got the light from had great growth with this light so I figured I would give it a try. To bad, they just had a sale on this light for $200 each

A Fish Called Wanda · Jun 6, 2015

I've been using Current LEDs for the last 6 months and have seen some growth . Don't be discouraged about no one posting, it's only because most people are using MH and T5's . Which I've had a t5 but $ wise switched to LEDs. My Hammers, Leather torch, candy cane corals, polyps all open and also see growth.

I should have done a little research before buying it because my watts are 46, but Im in the mist of buying a 2nd to bring my watts up to PAR . Would have bought a little more powerful one in the beginning .... But the sun rise and sun set is an A+ and not just a bright light coming on when their turned on when coming on. The lights brighten little by little until hitting full PAR...

basicfisherman · Jun 6, 2015

I'm thinking for 200$ for the refurbished ones I probally can't go wrong.

basicfisherman · Jun 6, 2015

I have been using LED lights over my tank for about 4 years now. I would never go back to T5. I had a current extreme pro for my BC29. Made a retrofit to the hood with LEDs and never looked back. I get good growth with my Reefbreeders Photon, but like I said I have some burnt out channels/lights. Bummer is I was going to get ahold of them but my warrenty just ran out like 2 months ago.

FL_Reefer · Jun 7, 2015

I've heard that A few people are having the same problem with those lights

saltyphish · Jun 7, 2015

I have the 29 biocube rapidled retro kit on my tank and love the lights. Not sure about the onyx fixtures but same leds.

FL_Reefer · Jun 9, 2015

Basicfisherman I sent you a pm

basicfisherman · Jun 17, 2015

Well I ordered 2 refurbished Onyx lights on sale from RapidLED. They should be here on Friday and I'm supper excited about it! I also bought the VDM module for my Apex to control them. I'll keep you all posted what my thoughts are about them once there running.

Rydogg420 · Jun 18, 2015

My buddy has 2 onyx leds on his 125gal. It's the longer tank. Like 5 foot, I think. They look nice and do the trick for the money. They have been on his tank for few months and seem to be doing great. I got a deal on 2 radion g3. I got one for free and bought the other, so it was a no brainer to get. Lol. (I would have gotten the AI hydra 52s if I had to pay for all of them.) I do know my radions look a lot better, have more crisp lighting and color output, plus my pars were a lot higher then his. My buddy said the same thing too when he saw mine on. But they also cost $1350 dollars for two compare to $500_ $600 he spent.

Is it worth the extra $650 for what mine are? I guess it depends on if you want to be able to control everything with a simple laptop and easy to use software. But the lighting isn't $650 dollars better.
My corals are not growing 650 percent faster then his. Lol.

I say get them if you are on a budget, you will like them if you have the apex and can adjust them.

basicfisherman · Jun 18, 2015

Rydogg420 said:
My buddy has 2 onyx leds on his 125gal. It's the longer tank. Like 5 foot, I think. They look nice and do the trick for the money. They have been on his tank for few months and seem to be doing great. I got a deal on 2 radion g3. I got one for free and bought the other, so it was a no brainer to get. Lol. (I would have gotten the AI hydra 52s if I had to pay for all of them.) I do know my radions look a lot better, have more crisp lighting and color output, plus my pars were a lot higher then his. My buddy said the same thing too when he saw mine on. But they also cost $1350 dollars for two compare to $500_ $600 he spent.

Is it worth the extra $650 for what mine are? I guess it depends on if you want to be able to control everything with a simple laptop and easy to use software. But the lighting isn't $650 dollars better.
My corals are not growing 650 percent faster then his. Lol.

I say get them if you are on a budget, you will like them if you have the apex and can adjust them.

Now that sir is a honest to goodness review of both lights! The wife said no to spending 750$ on the Radion Pro when I brought it up, so I went with the Onyxs. I need some new lights ASAP because my blue channel on my Reefbreeders light isn't working and hasn't for about a month now. It is causing algea issues. I also thought when I goto a larger tank it wold be cheaper to buy one more Onyx for 200-300$ instead of 2 Radions! I will get some Radions or something as sweet as that before I die. LOL

FL_Reefer · Jul 5, 2015

How you liking the new lights bud?

basicfisherman · Jul 6, 2015

I love them! Bright as hell! Had some minor issues with my referb lights that I bought but they are working through the issue with me.

FL_Reefer · Jul 7, 2015

basicfisherman said:
I love them! Bright as hell! Had some minor issues with my referb lights that I bought but they are working through the issue with me.

Great, Ya they are brighter than you would think. I never run mine over 75% on blue and 10-15% on whites and UV

Rjramos · Jul 7, 2015

FL_Reefer said:
Great, Ya they are brighter than you would think. I never run mine over 75% on blue and 10-15% on whites and UV

I am running my RapidLED at 150 blue, and 75 white and that's not %, with the storm controller, the setting goes up to 200something. I have it set up with local sunrise/sunset times with a 3hr delay in the whites. Not sure if you also have storm controller? Growth of everything in my 29 biocube is excellent!!!