Deciding On New Lights.

[scottbennett86]

After returning from fragfest and placing my new frags in my tank and disiking the difference(colours dissapearring and washed out looking) compared to what they looked like at fragfest. I decided it is time to upgrade my lights. I currently have 3 Chinese black box leds and 2 4 ft t5ho bulbs over it. I have no problem growing and keeping coral but this isn't the first time something like this happened so new lights.

My tank is a 120 extra tall meaning it is 60 inches long 18 deep and 26 inches tall.

My stocking is mixed reef mostly lps and sps with a few softies down low and in shades areas.

I am considering the 300w maxspect rsx, it is a 4 ft unit but I can easily rescape the tank(I am going to have to soon anyway) and place sps high and center but I am not sure it will be enough.

Also considering 5 ai prime fixtures because I can add another if it isn't enough. Or keep the t5s with them.

Also maybe 3 hydra 26?

Are the radions worth the price increase? Would 2 xr30s do it?

Is there another option I have not considered? I am looking for opinions.



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[TORX]

Oh the great debate!!! I love this one.

I have tried multiple LED's over the years. Yes, depending on which black boxes you run, they may or may not give that same pop. Also fine tuning them can sometimes be a challenge. I personally run 2 Radion G3 Pro XR30's. I got them at a great deal when the G4's came out as everyone really wanted to sell off their G3 to help pay for the upgrade. Just for information, AI is Ecotech (Radion) now. AI is a great light. You may have noticed that several of the vendors were actually running small AI Prime lights. They really give that pop. Maple Frags, who was across from Jelly Fish Direct, was running some sort of black box, i am not sure the brand. His tank looked great as well.

I also did have a Maxspect Razor at one point. It was a great light and was good to me. It is slim and easy to upgrade and/or repair if needed. Out of the Maxspect, Black box, CoralBox Moon, DIY, 6 bulb T5, and Radions...I would choose Radions over and over again. I would love to try out AI at one point as a cost effective version. The HD Prime has some amazing colors.

 

[Matt1997]

Buy used is my only advice. I’ve had AI Vegas, primes, hydras as well as maxspect R420R and multiple generations of radions. I have found things I like and dislike about all of them. For me the maxspect are nice but seem lower end of the options. Personally I would take hydra 52HD over radion as I like the 4 puck design but you will never find hydras for sale used (this because of a radion dominant market or people hang on to their hydras?). If you do find them grab them. Don’t like them I’ll trade you for Radions. You will be happy with any option you go with. Led technology for reefs is phenomenal now. I remember being the first Ontario seller of Chinese box leds many years ago and everyone always questioned whether leds alone would cut it for their tank. Now t5 and halide seem obsolete and are near impossible to sell

 

[Northwoodslivin]

Like yourself, I wasn't that happy with the china black boxes 'even after removing and replacing leds with others' colors always looked 'blah' I am really happy with the pair of AI Prime HD's I picked up for my tank, however, my tank on the shallow side '12 inches deep' not sure how well they would fair on a deep tank like yours, needless to say I am extremely happy with the end result! Especially Lord Howes settings Heywoood so graciously enlightened me with!

 

[scottbennett86]

I've considered starting a new tank just because of the depth of this one. Power is my concern with the primes but at the same time my rockwork is quite high and I can add another at another time if need be (not that I can't with other lights) I think my decision might be made by what comes up used.

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[Northwoodslivin]

With out a doubt they penetrate much further then the black boxes do when it comes to depth. MUCH better leds in these units, no comparison!

So if you're growing coral fine now, it will only get better with what ever AI's you choose if you go that route. The 52HD's are sweet too!

 

[Shooter000]

I chose to go the cheap route with MarsAqua 300w 3' will never switch to something that cost me 3x more, for the same results, this is just me being a Dutchman but I am totally satisfied with them, sure no automation but all I did was set the intensity and forget it, just some input..

 

[harleymike]

After returning from fragfest and placing my new frags in my tank and disiking the difference(colours dissapearring and washed out looking) compared to what they looked like at fragfest. I decided it is time to upgrade my lights. I currently have 3 Chinese black box leds and 2 4 ft t5ho bulbs over it. I have no problem growing and keeping coral but this isn't the first time something like this happened so new lights.

My tank is a 120 extra tall meaning it is 60 inches long 18 deep and 26 inches tall.

My stocking is mixed reef mostly lps and sps with a few softies down low and in shades areas.

I am considering the 300w maxspect rsx, it is a 4 ft unit but I can easily rescape the tank(I am going to have to soon anyway) and place sps high and center but I am not sure it will be enough.

Also considering 5 ai prime fixtures because I can add another if it isn't enough. Or keep the t5s with them.

Also maybe 3 hydra 26?

Are the radions worth the price increase? Would 2 xr30s do it?

Is there another option I have not considered? I am looking for opinions.

Might not just be your lights. Some of the cheaper lights I think are just as good.
You could have water parameters off.
I have seen many tanks growing coral that looks awesome using cheap led lights.
I use t5HO supplemented with Reefbrite lads.

 

[EZMac]

I also run marsaqua lights on a 30”deep tank, havent had any issues to date.
I do wish they had a ramp up and down option, but they are a good value for the price. Gl on whatever you decide.

 

[scottbennett86]

I doubt it's my water. Coral grows well in my system. I know now that my black box leds do not have the variety of spectrum that most have( even less than many other Chinese leds such as mars aqua) I am also leaning towards the lights because even beside my tank while I was preparing to dip the corals when they were still in the bag that an coral that was orange at the show was green. It has been a while since testing nitrate or phosphate but I have very little algae( other than coraline) and I change 40g every other week with red sea and 0 tds rodi water.

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[Northwoodslivin]

You will be happy if you make the switch. I as well had the Mars Aqua 300w. Piece of crap in comparison!

 

[Kman]

I have three types of LED. Hydra 52 by far are the best I have used for color and growth. The Chinese black box do a decent job and they do color and grow corals. But are not even close to the Hydra for color complexity, color variety or coral growth you get with your corals. I have the Maxspect R420R and I have to say I have had nothing but issues with these lights. Out of three all of them I have had to have the boards replaced within the first 6 months as well as pods. During the warranty time they were replaced no cost to me but once it was up I have had to eat the cost of constantly replacing parts. In three years worth of usage for each light, I can't get past the 6 month mark without having to replace a board or led pod for them. As of today only 1 works properly, the other I use as a backup and the last is parts. At this point I refuse to pay anymore money on the to fix them. As they die I will use the parts to keep the last one running as long as I can. Even when the Maxspect LED worked on a larger tank like a 120 or 180 I get better results from the black box and Hydras. Even on a smaller tank like my 46 bow they are meh results compared the the black box or the Hydra. In my opinion they are not worth the money or the hassle. In comparison I have been running three hydra 52 for 12 hrs a day for 3 + years and the only thing I have had to do was replace a fan on one of them as the blade broke.

In the end you do get what you pay for. Most of the cheaper led do work for color and grow corals quite nicely. They don't give you the complexity and variety of colors the higher end led like Hydra or Radion give you. So if the main reason you are looking at another led you should keep this in mind. You really notice it when you see a tank that has corals grown with one of the higher end lights. To me it is worth saving for them. I went with Hydra 52 as they were the cheaper option then the Radion and I liked the 4 pucks (I find the 4 pucks distribute the light better) and I liked the LED interface better. At the time the Hydra integrated with my Apex better as well. People were having issues with the Radion integrating with the Apex and it was a hit and miss if it worked. (They may have fixed this by now)

 

[scottbennett86]

I have no issue with growth, my colours are very bright but limited variety . I am leaning towards the hydra, possibly 2 52s or 3 26s. My black boxes are capable of 140w each and are set to about 30 percent so I am confident 200w worth of higher end leds should be able to match my 420 w of lower end ones set to less than 50 percent. I don't have an apex, just a reefkeeper so interfacing won't happen or be an issue. If a pair of radions come up for sale I will consider them.

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[Kman]

I find the black box grows greens and reds for me very well for hard corals especially for sps. But if I wanted a vibrant yellow or a blue forget it, Some colors are just ok and not as vibrant.

 

[scottbennett86]

I find the black box grows greens and reds for me very well for hard corals especially for sps. But if I wanted a vibrant yellow or a blue forget it, Some colors are just ok and not as vibrant.

One of the issues is yellow turning green, and an orange turning an ugly pink brown shade.


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[Northwoodslivin]

I hated the warm whites and the greens and reds in the black boxes, god aweful coloring!
Epistar LEDS are garbage. The fellow is right, you get what you pay for! AI is good stuff!

 

[Northwoodslivin]

I see it like this... we spend tons of money on corals.. why cheap out on a light that gives them life? I can't tell you the BS Ive had with black boxes. Not to mention if one catches on fire and sets your house on fire, you are shit out of luck with your house insurance. =-0

 

[jeffopentax]

I see it like this... we spend tons of money on corals.. why cheap out on a light that gives them life? I can't tell you the BS Ive had with black boxes. Not to mention if one catches on fire and sets your house on fire, you are shit out of luck with your house insurance. =-0

Fires aren’t limited to chinese black boxes. I believe maxspect had some issues...


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[Matt1997]

I had a vega catch fire. Ecotech support told me water damage...