Silent Lights Poll

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

For me at least, lack of spectrum control is a nonstarter as most reef leds are too blue and the freshwater ones have too much red.

I was planning to use adjustments to get something like a natural shallow water spectrum that also includes the natural uv and deep blue.

 

[oreo54]

For me at least, lack of spectrum control is a nonstarter as most reef leds are too blue and the freshwater ones have too much red.

I was planning to use adjustments to get something like a natural shallow water spectrum that also includes the natural uv and deep blue.

Just to sort of round you out ..
Mainly covers your needs/ wants with a mixed set of bars.
UV
Full control of just red
No fans ( afaict)
Each "blue" has its own channel


@ Aliexpress looks like around $200/60w/4ft
free shipping

Yea "off " brand.




5 should do...3 blue 2 white.
ip-67...maybe.

 

[TL1]

Philips Coralcare 2 would be the top on my list

I love my CCs!!

 

[VintageReefer]

How can you not have red breeders photons or the new release Meridian?

The meridians look incredible

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

How can you not have red breeders photons or the new release Meridian?

The meridians look incredible

Just another expensive copycat spectrum that doesn't diffenciate itself in any valuable way. Want the same? Buy a Viparspectra and turn down the whites.

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

Get your hands on some OR4s I have 2 OR3s for supporting an 8 bulb t5 but can’t run them much as the par from 1 par raises readings on my sandbed by over 100 in an IM100 10” off the lip of the tank. I’m already around 200+ on the sandbed. I can only use 1 of the 2 at a time.. for a ramp up hour. It would be cool to see what 6 do and they would be completely controllable. Luckily I have 120s and Osix is compatible so might get my hands on it and test it out.

Get you hands on some Quanta Pros if you want a direct comparison, but the difference with its 38W for a 24" will be how the Quanta blends spectrum.

The OR4 is just another 30W 24" bar like the OR2 and OR3.

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

For me at least, lack of spectrum control is a nonstarter as most reef leds are too blue and the freshwater ones have too much red.

I was planning to use adjustments to get something like a natural shallow water spectrum that also includes the natural uv and deep blue.

Atlas with bars if you want more violet/blue. If that doesn't get you the controlability you need, GHL LB3 and create the sprectrum you prefer with UV.

 

[VintageReefer]

Just another expensive copycat spectrum that doesn't diffenciate itself in any valuable way. Want the same? Buy a Viparspectra and turn down the whites.

It might be the same using all channels but it’s more customizable

I had 2 photon v1 (32 and 48) which are essentially viparspectra. And I own a photon 48v2.

The difference is night and day due to the 6 ch of control. Nobody runs all channels the same. Vipar is a good light but it can’t tweak the spectrum like you can with modern lights, from any of the brands mentioned. The vipar also doesn’t have any modern controllability - it’s a hourly built in step timer with little to offer.

I will agree as a photon v2 owner I don’t see a need to upgrade to a Meridian. It’s not doing anything different really. But if buying a new light, the Meridian is a nice choice and has a lot of new features like swappable lens plates, daisychaining power, built led bar mounts, matching led bars (that look real nice when paired together) and it’s a slim modern design that can light an entire tank easily.

It’s absolutely worth considering when cross shopping

 

[Netfish and Chill]

I have 4 - 48" Orphek OR4 over my 4x2x2 120 system, with 1 more on the way. I feel that they do an amazing job, look great, and with the added app control on the OR4, they are a complete light.

 

[areefer01]

I'm interested in getting opinions on which types of silent lights are best. To me, that means a fanless light. I know some folks think some lights with fans are very quite, but so often, someone else either hears better, has lower tolerances for irritation by noises, has a quieter environment, or just has a more noisy unit of the same light.

So I'm only interested in fanless LED lights (not mh, had those for decades).

"Best" is for sports, in my opinion :D

You specifically asked about "fanless" and "LED" kits which should limit the selection. My kits have fans so cannot recommend although innovative I would vote Phillips Coral Care Gen 2 and ATI Straton lines. Phillips gets the nod for spectrum (if that is your jam) and moving the power supply to the fixture. Single power cord, removes the brick, things along those lines. ATI gets the nod again for passive cooling and thermal management. I would also surmise that they could have longer lasting kits due to the number of LEDs vs initial power supplied for thermal management.

I own neither but feel they are innovative upon their respective launches. I do have two concerns one of which is price. They may not provide the most par per dollar so a hobbyist needs to be aware and decide if the budget dollar is worth it. The second being that I've not heard anything recently on the Phillips Gen 2. Is there a 3 on the horizon or are they stopping the reef lighting market due to the number of products and cheaper alternatives. We have Luc to thank for the Gen 2 but not sure how well it was received..

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

Nobody runs all channels the same.

I do. Sanjay does.

Consider that when spectrums are shown with all channels at 100%, that's the best they can do. I have data for days.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Atlas with bars if you want more violet/blue. If that doesn't get you the controlability you need, GHL LB3 and create the sprectrum you prefer with UV.

Yes, but I want less blue, not more. The GHL LB3 is a leading contender, using ocean blue with less blue or skywhite with less red (undecided yet which gives best full spectrum). Possibly plus a coral pop with the blue turned down to have the near UV to add in.. :).

 

[GARRIGA]

I’m leaning ATI because not hearing much about Coral Care anymore and I want VHO style for both spread and noise levels. I’m building an aluminum extruded stand and adding extensions to hang lights therefore added weight not an issue but being able to live with it in the family room with a wife who won’t appreciate fans isn’t up for debate.

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

Yes, but I want less blue, not more. The GHL LB3 is a leading contender, using ocean blue with less blue or skywhite with less red (undecided yet which gives best full spectrum). Possibly plus a coral pop with the blue turned down to have the near UV to add in.. :).

Well, crap. I have neither here. What MH are you attempting to mimic?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Well, crap. I have neither here. What MH are you attempting to mimic?

The sun lol

I like the warm look, and intend to keep shallow water creatures, such as magnifica/gigantea/crispa anemones, yellow Fiji leathers, etc.

 

[smiley28]

I’m kinda interested in these quanta bars shame the OG pop is out of stock. They are individually controllable? Cost for 2 just to mess with would run the same cost as Osix controller.

In 48”, same with meso in 48”

 

[spsick]

I’m kinda interested in these quanta bars shame the OG pop is out of stock. They are individually controllable? Cost for 2 just to mess with would run the same cost as Osix controller.

In 48”, same with meso in 48”

You’re probably looking at his old site. Quanta-lights.com is the new site with the Atlas and Helix. It’s confusing and idk why he did that.

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

You’re probably looking at his old site. Quanta-lights.com is the new site with the Atlas and Helix. It’s confusing and idk why he did that.

He's waiting for the Pros to be sold out before sending the old site to the new site.

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

OG pop is out of stock

OG Pop is just the 450/470 you'd find from an XHO. This is the new site and the new bars. https://www.quanta-lights.com/products/quanta-helix

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

The sun lol

I like the warm look, and intend to keep shallow water creatures, such as magnifica/gigantea/crispa anemones, yellow Fiji leathers, etc.

Consider Ocean Blue and Coral Pop. That will give you the UV you were after and you'll get plenty of white.