Why are LED lights so Expensive?

[TwelveL16]

I’m a cop, which is one of the most under paid jobs in the country right now. I’ve been feet away from children burning alive in a house and not be able to reach them or save them. The things we see NO ONE should have to see. Also, take police away and see how much the demand for law enforcement goes through the roof. Supply and demand doesn’t apply to us, our wages just stay bad.

LEO - how is your pension and retirement? This thread is really starting to go off into the weeds.

If I retire at 25 years and 52 years old I stand to make about 45k a year. Up until this year they offered us insurance when we retire at a discounted rate however that’s gone away. Went from about 8k a year to 30k for insurance through the city. So I’d make about 15k a year and that’s before taxes if stayed on that insurance.

 

[areefer01]

If I retire at 25 years and 52 years old I stand to make about 45k a year. Up until this year they offered us insurance when we retire at a discounted rate however that’s gone away. Went from about 8k a year to 30k for insurance through the city. So I’d make about 15k a year and that’s before taxes if stayed on that insurance.

401/403? We both know it comes down to location (city, state) and of course when you started work and the plan in place at the time.

 

[TwelveL16]

If I retire at 25 years and 52 years old I stand to make about 45k a year. Up until this year they offered us insurance when we retire at a discounted rate however that’s gone away. Went from about 8k a year to 30k for insurance through the city. So I’d make about 15k a year and that’s before taxes if stayed on that insurance.

401/403? We both know it comes down to location (city, state) and of course when you started work and the plan in place at the time.

To be honest I’m not really sure I have 10 years on and I’m only 38 so I haven’t looked into it much. I’m in PERF, I know they match something we put in every two weeks. I looked the other day and I had 35k in there and thats my contributions. Not sure on what that number is in the end.

 

[areefer01]

To be honest I’m not really sure I have 10 years on and I’m only 38 so I haven’t looked into it much. I’m in PERF, I know they match something we put in every two weeks. I looked the other day and I had 35k in there and thats my contributions. Not sure on what that number is in the end.

I guess my point is that there is a pension (depending on location, city, union, etc) and then our responsibility (401, 403). I am not saying you are under or over paid as that is non of my business. I do know that it can be a thankless job not to mention the danger. Stay safe.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I’m a cop, which is one of the most under paid jobs in the country right now.

I agree regarding pay in many areas. The same holds true for our military and many first responders. Thank you and stay safe.

To your point, I can understand a hard working company wanting to make a “reasonable profit” but what’s reasonable to them may not be reasonable to the next guy and trying to decide what it should be is difficult.

Reasonable is always a matter of perspective.

 

[TwelveL16]

Example of a company walking the line - Reefbreeders. They recently released the Meridian, it’s not the cheapest light out there but certainly not the most expensive. They are charging what they need to and nothing excess. Here’s what people might not know:

1) while the photon was a custom layout, it was in an existing lights chassis. The meridian is 100% original and a exclusive design by RB from ground up

2) the photon v2 was a highly successful light. And I’m a big fan of it. I used it for several years and would take it over most other lights on the market today. RB goal with the Meridian was to make a superior light - in all areas. They told me there isn’t one thing that the photon does better than a Meridian. The photon is not a bad light at all. The Meridian is very very good.

3) To achieve this, it took almost 4 years of r/d, testing and more r/d. They invested over a million dollars into the creation and development of the optic lenses alone.

4) the prior app was not owned by rb. It was a modified app from another developer, who owned the rights and could control it. For the Meridian, RB wanted to remain in control of the new app and not be powerless if a situation arose. They invested heavily into creating their own app from scratch to better protect users long term.

5) now that the light is out, they aren’t price gouging to be rich. They are trying to walk the line between staying afloat and modest profit - to reinvest into the company to bring more products and innovation in future years

The main owner has not given himself a paycheck for over 6 months. He drives a 2018 accord. The owners live in average houses. They are not rich and they are not trying to become rich. They are trying to build products they believe in for a company they believe in.

People may say something’s “too expensive” and that’s a surface level observation. Maybe, like RB, there’s some background to the pricing that you aren’t aware of, and no part of that is for a ceo to live a lifestyle of excess.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-breeders-meridians.1095449/post-13304781

If this the case for LED light manufactures than I can admit I was wrong. Maybe they aren’t all greedy and filthy rich like I envision.

Makes me proud to own two photons though lol.

 

[alton]

Build my LED was the best at producing quality LEDs for the aquarium. Comparing them to MH was easy. They actually made a fixture that matched a Radium lamp both in color and performance. But there was more profit in green house lighting than aquariums so they were bought out and no longer produce aquarium lighting instead
https://fluence-led.com/Philips one of the largest commercial lighting companies in the world doubles their price on aquarium lighting
https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/c...5GtdEGDWF8n6fsakk2DZSYkNvqB6TaTl3fzJnk-9YPGVs

 

[MtlReef25]

I know I will sound like the old guy that does not want to evolve, but really, I don't care and I tried mostly all of it. In early 90"s I had saltwater tanks with a nem and clown fish under fluorescent light, even incandescent bulbs ( I hear you).... I am not going to tell you all of the experiences I did at that time, but we were not afraid of trying, if we could say... and stuff was cheap (even here, in Canada). Things are changing (evolving?), change can be challenging and not always for the best, you have to deal with it. The average cost of a car in in Canada is now around 65K$. I bought my first car in 1995 for around 12k$. At this moment, I had several tanks and money did not seem to be an issue... A Red Sea reefer G3 525 is now almost half of this for a mere 150g... Ok, stop being nostalgic.
I tried T5, very good. MH, the best, especially combined with T5. LED's, well, they can grow corals, it does the job, I had the first versions of Ecotech back in the days on my 75g reef. I had leds for quite a while. It works, absolutely, not arguing here. Do I like the way it looks, nope. But this is me. If only LEDs were available tomorrow, I would not die and I will use them. But, as long as I will be able to buy MH bulbs and ballast, I will use MH. Cost and value of stuff in this hobby (and perhaps in others too) have gone crazy in the past 15 years. You guys in the US, at least, don't have to struggle with the banana republic canadian dollar... Shall we become the 51st state? If it would be for reefing, I would raise my hand very high! I will continue reefing, it's been 35 years now, still enjoying it and hope I will for another, well, let's dream, 25 years :) Cheers :)

 

[KrisReef]

I know I will sound like the old guy that does not want to evolve, but really, I don't care and I tried mostly all of it. In early 90"s I had saltwater tanks with a nem and clown fish under fluorescent light, even incandescent bulbs ( I hear you).... I am not going to tell you all of the experiences I did at that time, but we were not afraid of trying, if we could say... and stuff was cheap (even here, in Canada). Things are changing (evolving?), change can be challenging and not always for the best, you have to deal with it. The average cost of a car in in Canada is now around 65K$. I bought my first car in 1995 for around 12k$. At this moment, I had several tanks and money did not seem to be an issue... A Red Sea reefer G3 525 is now almost half of this for a mere 150g... Ok, stop being nostalgic.
I tried T5, very good. MH, the best, especially combined with T5. LED's, well, they can grow corals, it does the job, I had the first versions of Ecotech back in the days on my 75g reef. I had leds for quite a while. It works, absolutely, not arguing here. Do I like the way it looks, nope. But this is me. If only LEDs were available tomorrow, I would not die and I will use them. But, as long as I will be able to buy MH bulbs and ballast, I will use MH. Cost and value of stuff in this hobby (and perhaps in others too) have gone crazy in the past 15 years. You guys in the US, at least, don't have to struggle with the banana republic canadian dollar... Shall we become the 51st state? If it would be for reefing, I would raise my hand very high! I will continue reefing, it's been 35 years now, still enjoying it and hope I will for another, well, let's dream, 25 years :) Cheers :)

I support an American Zone inside of the current Canada where reefers from around the world could migrate to and establish a safe space for all of us to live free and reef in peace.

(How far this thread has wandered from the original question on light choices.)

 

[Sam7]

Maybe because the thread is 5 years old lol

 

[Jbrew]

For the price Im beyond happy with Orphek Naturas. I swapped out all my Radions for the Orpheks and wont look back.

 

[Sam7]

For the price Im beyond happy with Orphek Naturas. I swapped out all my Radions for the Orpheks and wont look back.

tank picture or we cant see lol

 

[KrisReef]

For the price Im beyond happy with Orphek Naturas. I swapped out all my Radions for the Orpheks and wont look back.

I am still burning mh but I have been impressed by the Orphek Natura technology.

 

[Sam7]

I am still burning mh but I have been impressed by the Orphek Natura technology.

wheres your tank thread

 

[MtlReef25]

I support an American Zone inside of the current Canada where reefers from around the world could migrate to and establish a safe space for all of us to live free and reef in peace.

(How far this thread has wandered from the original question on light choices.)

:) No problem! :) We can establish this anytime!

 

[Jbrew]

tank picture or we cant see lol

Im lazy ive been meaning to do a full thread on all 3 tanks.... Im off work till next year so ill get off my butt lol

 

[atoll]

I have 3 Naturas over my 5' plus 2 light bars

 

[BeanAnimal]

I support an American Zone inside of the current Canada

Asking for a friend. Would the NHL team from this “American Zone” winning the Stanley Cup finally count as bringing it back to Canada?

 

[js-3Design]

Lights arent that expensive.
There are options that are more expensive.
Yes you can run t5 or MH. Lights.
But in the long run those arent that much cheaper.
Atleast here, where power isnt cheap. My 65gallon costs me about 80 euros a month on electricity with red sea reefled g2 lights.
What can help people is using the roght reflectors and do par readings and place the lights in optimal places. This can save power and lights.

 

[Hallowhead]

Everything is insane lately, jebao is even pushing prices higher