AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

[icedgxe]

I'm probably ordering 10 after testing one

So they are worth it in your opinion?

 

[Shooter6]

So they are worth it in your opinion?

I've not gotten my hands on one myself yet but from all my research the A8 s is built with all the same part as the g5 pro except the wifi controller vs the mobius/ Bluetooth. If that's the case then absolutely worth it.

 

[Matt1997]

I've not gotten my hands on one myself yet but from all my research the A8 s is built with all the same part as the g5 pro except the wifi controller vs the mobius/ Bluetooth. If that's the case then absolutely worth it.

Less channels of control as well. 6 vs 10. All blues are lumped together

 

[Matt1997]

Do you know if the Radion diffuser fits?

It does. Housing is the same

 

[Matt1997]

Have you placed an order for an aquarium? If yes, what size did you order?

I bought a waterbox 120 equivalent. Likely buying the LX 300 gallon equivalent next.

 

[Matt1997]

Did you have pictures of the boards inside? Real curious if you could swap out the mobius chip on the A8.

You cannot swap a Mobius chip. At least not easily. I also see no reason why you would want to seeing as my radions have lost connectivity significantly more than the A8

 

[Acros]

I bought a waterbox 120 equivalent. Likely buying the LX 300 gallon equivalent next.

I couldn’t find the new waterbox aluminum cabinets. They looks like the older plywood cabinet versions. Still a pretty good deal.

 

[Shooter6]

Less channels of control as well. 6 vs 10. All blues are lumped together

Yes I've stated the difference in channel numbers( due in my opinion to the wifi controller vs the mobius/ Bluetooth. I don't see an issue with this as the majority of people run their blues maxed out anyway.

I've not seen many people recommend setting the different blues to different levels.

 

[Matt1997]

I couldn’t find the new waterbox aluminum cabinets. They looks like the older plywood cabinet versions. Still a pretty good deal.

It’s aluminum constructed

 

[Guilherme Accorsi]

Well here is my 6 month review.

I have had the light running on my sps only tank (6 months old) since January of this year. I bought it for $250 USD shipped with a North American power supply. It is as close to a radion as you will ever see. The fans are the same, the lens cover is the same, the housing is near identical with the main difference being the cord runs through the back of this light. The LED count, color and type is the same. I have dissembled my radion G5s to compare components and the only striking difference is the radions run a 10 channel system controlling all colors of leds while the A8 runs 6 and the radion uses Bluetooth connectivity while the A8 uses wifi (will touch more on this).

I currently have the light running beside two g5 XR30 blues and 95% of people would not be able to tell the difference. The color blends perfectly and the par is actually slightly higher than that produced by the radions. The A8 runs a warmer color overall and more closely resembles the pro version of the radion but with minor tweaks in color you can produce the “radion blue” look with very similar par results. With the light set to full intensity I was pushing well over 800 par in the upper parts of the tank. I currently have it set to about 75% blue channels and 20-30% whites and reds and am achieving 600+ par at the top 6” and 150-250 on the bottom 24” down.

Upon first setup I initially struggled with programming the light as it is in Chinese and the English app was not functional at the time. With the help of Google translate and some back and fourth with the supplier I managed to get the Chinese app working while they made improvements to the English app (which is now fully functional). After setup I took the time to create a manual for the light that I provided to the supplier with illustrations on how to program the Chinese app if you only know English. Feel free to reach out and I will provide the document.

As for the connection. I have found it more reliable than the radions Mobius. I have come home many times to my radions being out of schedule, changing times, and only running red/green/individual channels. In all my time with the A8 I only lost connectivity twice. The first time the power went out and the light was running 1h behind schedule until I opened the app and set to current time. The other time the light must have completely lost connectivity and reset to the default 5% on all channels until I reconnected.

Now does it grow coral? Absolutely and oddly enough all my most vivid pieces are underneath the A8.

I have been so impressed with this light that I put my radion G5s up for sale. I figured for the price I sell my G5s for I can purchase about 10 of these lights as they give a discount on 10 units. In all aspects I see that as a win.

Hi, do you know how can i perform a hard reset on the lights? I got mine running on wi-fi via a old iPhone, It Lost It settings for some reason, now i switched to a Android phone and cant connect anymore.

 

[paul01609]

Is the A8 worth the extra cost over the SE model?

 

[Reefing102]

Is the A8 worth the extra cost over the SE model?

From what I understand, the biggest difference is the meanwell led driver and they use the same LEDs as radion where the SE is alleged to have used cheaper LEDs and a cheap LED driver.

 

[paul01609]

Just ordered the A8 light see what it’s like

 

[paul01609]

Will the genuine eco tech mount fit the A8?

 

[icedgxe]

Just ordered the A8 light see what it’s like

Where did you order it from?

 

[paul01609]

Ali express

 

[paul01609]

Just msg the seller asking about the x mount if it came with the light, he said no but would include one for free.
so far happy

 

[Rimsky]

Is this the model with the MeanWell and Cree LEDs?
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/215W-Full-Spectrum-Programmable-DIY-Reef_1600452410476.html

 

[paul01609]

It does say A8 model

 

[Rimsky]

It does say A8 model

I'm a little afraid they will send me the A8SE version with lower quality parts. Sent a message to the seller asking, just in case.

I hear that the App is already available in english. Can you confirm that?