I should mention that people on reef2reef are complaining that one of the reef version of the blade is not balance - that is one side has a different level than the other and this has been confirmed by multiple people. I believe it is one of the blue versions; not being a reef guy i've not paid attention to their spectrum requirements but they are not happy with the blade - not sure if it is a specific length or all of them.
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Question of the Day What type of lighting do you have and why?
- Thread starter Art
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DTWGulo
Community Member
I'd like to update this post with some more recent information about my Atlantiks.
I originally bought 2 of the 36" (large) lights for my 180. Then I purchased another large light for my big paludarium. Lastly a small for my small pal.
Since last winter, both paludarium lights had one of the LED channels go out, requiring the LED board be replaced. Late last week, one of the LED channels went out in the 180g large panel. It has been the -same- chain of LEDs in every single one of the lights, and all of them have to have the LEDs replaced.
The company gives you two options. If you can find out which LED, they'll send you an LED for free and you can solder it in yourself. Or, they'll ship you a new board. Under the 1-year warranty, it's free. Out of warranty (like my most recent failure), the panel is ~$300 for the large light.
In order to get them to send you a warranty part, or sell you a new board, you have to take apart the light and go through a plug-swapping procedure with the light to figure out if it's the PC controller board or the LED panel.
It takes 4-6 weeks to get the parts from China. The light then has to be taken apart again. Oh, and they don't supply you with the thermal compound that has to be applied to the entire LED board when you put it in.
I really don't know how to feel about all of this. Maybe a 2-light FW planted tank just isn't their target market? I don't keep salt tanks, but I've seen some of the setups on those, and the amount of lights is shocking. I suppose that by the time you've shelled out that kind of $, replacing a $1k light doesn't bother you, so you just order it and call it a day. I really don't know. I do know that I'm beyond disappointed.
Just wanted folks to be aware of the Customer Support and reliability experience I've had with Orphek.
DTWGulo
Community Member
Glad you got some measurements! I have mine mounted but that tank project has stalled and I haven't looked at the light with water in the tank. Given my recent experiences with Orphek I may end up giving the lights a try on my 180 next time I have to buy. Probably need 3-4 to match up with those damned Atlantiks. Along with a hanging kit, that pushes the cost higher, but if reliability is better it's worth it.
The lights have screw holes at the end - so you could probably rig your own hanging solution with wire - also the hanging kits are not yet available.
DTWGulo
Community Member
That's true about the M8 end sockets/screws. I bought the AI HMS Hanging Kit and and Multi-Light Track from BulkReefSupply back when I made my post about ordering the light. It worked fine and is visually appealing, but without a completely different arrangement I'm restricted to one light. I'm a horrible engineer.
So did you buy this product:That's true about the M8 end sockets/screws. I bought the AI HMS Hanging Kit and and Multi-Light Track from BulkReefSupply back when I made my post about ordering the light. It worked fine and is visually appealing, but without a completely different arrangement I'm restricted to one light. I'm a horrible engineer.
HMS Multi Light Track
The HMS Multi Light Mounting System is composed of three individual components that let you customize the mounting system for your exact tank and the number of Hydra LED modules you need. The track system lets you slide your lights from side to side allowing you to position them perfectly for...
www.bulkreefsupply.com
this product:
HMS Hanging Kit
The HMS Hanging Kit allows you to suspend the HMS Multi Light Track from your ceiling or wall brackets letting you adjust the overall height of the HMS track that is holding your lights. Includes quick-lock adjustment Mounts to the sides of the HMS Tracks Includes necessary hardware Mounting...
bulkreefsupply.com
DTWGulo
Community Member
That's correct. I'll shoot a couple photos later in the daySo did you buy this product:
+HMS Multi Light Track
The HMS Multi Light Mounting System is composed of three individual components that let you customize the mounting system for your exact tank and the number of Hydra LED modules you need. The track system lets you slide your lights from side to side allowing you to position them perfectly for...
this product:
HMS Hanging Kit
The HMS Hanging Kit allows you to suspend the HMS Multi Light Track from your ceiling or wall brackets letting you adjust the overall height of the HMS track that is holding your lights. Includes quick-lock adjustment Mounts to the sides of the HMS Tracks Includes necessary hardware Mounting...
yea i'd like to see the photos; having said that having to spend $300 to hang 2 4 foot lights (my case not nec. yours); would make my head spin.
DTWGulo
Community Member
Yeah, the hanging kits are solidly in that saltwater equipment pricing bracket -- lots of pain.
In retrospect, I probably would have been better off just getting a bolt that fits the end socket of the light and hanging something from that.
I'll be curious to see what they do with the official "blade hanging kit" if it ever arrives.
DTWGulo
Community Member
Here's the way I handled the hanging kit. When you buy the kit, there's another piece that attaches to an adjustable vertical cable with an anchor for ceiling/cabinet/whatever. It was way Too long for my super narrow space so I had to remove it and place hooks for the simple loops. Waste of the cost of the hanging kit. My original plan was to use completely different lights for this tank, but when I changed the build purpose away from planted everything went out the window.
For contrast, I'll include a picture of how I hang up the other big lights I use on my 180. The hanging kit was included with these lights. I added the plant hangers to allow me to move the lights up and down during maintenance on the tank.
Attachments
I like fluval solution better (plant 3.0); for $26 you get a clip for both ends of the light and wire that hangs on the ceiling.
DTWGulo
Community Member
The clips holding the Blade to the mounting rail could probably do the same thing. It would work if you have something at the right height to attach them
for my co2 tanks i use :
Chihiros RGBplus 451 for a 50L/13G
Odyssea 24w 4 bulb fixture with ATI purple, Dennerle 3000K and Sylvania grolux for a 80L/24G (used to have 1 giessman flora and 1 ATI but the giessman stopped working after 3 years and im done buying T5 bulbs)
WeekAqua 90cm L series for a 80L/21G, i use only about 20% of this fixture's power, its pretty strong and has a nice cover (16cm wide) for a led bar.
WeekAqua 90cm M series for a 160L/42G, this one is on full power, i made a mistake and bought the button version, when using the button version you cannot use your own timer because the fixture 'forgets' what you set it for and it turns on to a default setting on 100%.
Chihiros RGBplus 451 for a 50L/13G
Odyssea 24w 4 bulb fixture with ATI purple, Dennerle 3000K and Sylvania grolux for a 80L/24G (used to have 1 giessman flora and 1 ATI but the giessman stopped working after 3 years and im done buying T5 bulbs)
WeekAqua 90cm L series for a 80L/21G, i use only about 20% of this fixture's power, its pretty strong and has a nice cover (16cm wide) for a led bar.
WeekAqua 90cm M series for a 160L/42G, this one is on full power, i made a mistake and bought the button version, when using the button version you cannot use your own timer because the fixture 'forgets' what you set it for and it turns on to a default setting on 100%.
I have many tanks and many different lights
Week Aqua so far my favorite P1200 over my 70
Chihiros WRGB2 i have it maxed out on my 20 Long tank
Chihiros wrgb+
Chihiros slim
MicMol
Prixzm
I want to try T-5 on my 70 because that’s another light I have maxed out.
Also on my 20 I want to try the Netlea
I am a gadget guy
My 20 for tax
Week Aqua so far my favorite P1200 over my 70
Chihiros WRGB2 i have it maxed out on my 20 Long tank
Chihiros wrgb+
Chihiros slim
MicMol
Prixzm
I want to try T-5 on my 70 because that’s another light I have maxed out.
Also on my 20 I want to try the Netlea
I am a gadget guy
My 20 for tax
Attachments
PlantedTankz
New Member
I use two Chihiro's Vivid Mini's on my favorite tank. It's a 72 gallon Waterbox. I absolutely love Chihiros lights. They grow plants beautifully and are customizable.
Attachments
DTWGulo
Community Member
Just had 2 channels fail on another Orphek iCon light. I'm done.
Last one was $300 to replace the board out of warranty, they shipped the saltwater board and I had to wait again, then they had me ship the boards back to their rep in the US, who then had to ask me to confirm if I sent the board as they didn't keep it labeled as to who sent it nor when it arrived.
They're absolutely fantastic lights when they're running right, but for that kind of $ I expect more than 2 years of function.
Last one was $300 to replace the board out of warranty, they shipped the saltwater board and I had to wait again, then they had me ship the boards back to their rep in the US, who then had to ask me to confirm if I sent the board as they didn't keep it labeled as to who sent it nor when it arrived.
They're absolutely fantastic lights when they're running right, but for that kind of $ I expect more than 2 years of function.
I was close to buy chihiros WRGB2 Pro 90, but @Unexpected suggested me Week Aqua P900. I bought it and it's a great light with nice features (fans and UV LEDs)
I'm still thinking about chihiros WRGB2 Pro, but I'd wait for chihiros when they'll drop WRGB3 pro, meanwhile I plan to push this light to 100% with stable growth and no algae before even thinking to buy a stronger light
I'm still thinking about chihiros WRGB2 Pro, but I'd wait for chihiros when they'll drop WRGB3 pro, meanwhile I plan to push this light to 100% with stable growth and no algae before even thinking to buy a stronger light
If I’m not mistaken, the WA pushes more PAR than the Chihiros. Aqua Rocks Colorado has a video on their FB page.
True, I saw it, but they compared the p900 to WRGB2 90 afaik, idk how par gives WRGB2 Pro.
On the paper, wrgb2 Pro 90 has 9000+ lumen, compared to 7000 of both P900 and wrgb2 90
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