AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

[Rimsky]

Did you download the latest version of the app and then changed the language to English?

 

[Maul85]

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.

 

[Maul85]

Did you download the latest version of the app and then changed the language to English?

Yea I have it on English. I go to to add in the top left. Connect wifi and link device. It says reading and the loading box has a spinning circle that just keeps spinning unless I click save device then it stops. Temperature says 0 Time says 00:00

 

[Maul85]

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.

 

[Maul85]

Yea I have it on English. I go to to add in the top left. Connect wifi and link device. It says reading and the loading box has a spinning circle that just keeps spinning unless I click save device then it stops. Temperature says 0 Time says 00:00

 

[sdl2087]

not exactly what you wanted but here’s my recent findings. Down below I wrote how I programmed it; a common problem for users and the biggest hurdle in my opinion:

Previously I ran Kessils for several years... Until they all magically died at the 2 year mark. I liked the look but they didn’t grow things well. I moved on to Radions which grow things really really well but create more of a T5 look (no shimmer). The A7 comes on around noon and runs into the evening so I get a late evening shimmer as the Radions power down on the AB+ schedule.

I purchased an A+ A7 online for less than alieexpress from “aquarium low cost” to add some accent lighting to my tank. It took about 30 days to arrive. I have another 2 on order and they’re taking a bit longer. The power supply died literally within the first 5 minutes so I upgraded it for now (The seller is sending me a new one).

It’s a Kessil A360x (more or less) and unless you have them side-by-side or have run Kessils you won’t know the difference. The light matrix isn’t as tight as the Kessil as others have stated online. Fortunately this is an easy fix by using one of the two included reflectors (90 degree and 55 degree) to redirect and focus the light. I think I paid $115 for the light and it comes with what Kessil charges $50 for in reflectors. The Kessil 35degree reflector also works on the A7 too to get a super tight beam for a clam or Anemone or to roast marshmallows.

It has a single 1/4-20 screw hole on top for mounting. I purchased a 1/4-20 x 1/2” carriage bolt at Lowe’s and an $11 swivel camera mount from Amazon and it slid easily on an RMS mount between my Radions. It can now be directed and locked in place. That thread size is common for mounts for cameras and things so mounting options are nearly limitless.

You will need the app to program it. The knobs don’t do anything meaningful. The problem? It’s in Chinese. They made an attempt at a US app but it’s broken as they forgot to make the “upload to device” button active. So…you HAVE to use the Chinese app.

How to program ANY OF THESE LIGHTS if you don’t speak Chinese: In the instruction manual is a QR code for the apps. DO NOT choose the one with English writing. Choose the Chinese one. Download it on a tablet. I assume most people own a tablet these days but if no, buy one on Amazon for $50 (You are still at less than 1/2 the cost of the kessil).

Download Google Translate on your phone and select Chinese (simplified) to English. Use the photo/live translate button. Hold your phone over the tablet with the app open. Voila! It converts everything on the tablet into English in real time as you use the app on the tablet. The app is just color sliders and setting intensity points on a timeline, saving your program, then uploading it to the device.

hey can i ask you something how did you manage to connect the A7 reef lights with that app i can't even connect the device in my iphone can you help me with that please?

 

[Hooz]

Given the recent price increase on the XR30, this knock off looks more and more appealing every day.

 

[paul01609]

Hoping mines here tomorrow

 

[paul01609]

Just come today just going to try it now

 

[paul01609]

Well it’s setup with my iPad straight away with no problems, some reason the iPhone won’t connect from app to the light but connects to the Wi-Fi part of the light to link your light to network
so will try figure it out.
over all looks great if it wasn’t for the A8 sticker on the front probably couldn’t tell the difference between this light and a radion.
sadly the company said they would send the x mount but haven’t unless they send it in a separate package
go to order a radion rail mount see if it fits

 

[Reefing102]

You went with the A8 correct? Not the SE?

 

[paul01609]

Yes the A8 but when I asked the company about the difference he recommended the a8se
because of the cost difference
yes this comes with the mean well power supply but doesn’t mean it’s going to last any longer then the cheaper version
only time will tell

 

[Northern Flicker]

90% of skimmers/lights/pumps are Chinese or made in a foreign country (as we all know). The skimmer thing really ticks me off. The “American way” for so many of these companies is to purchase them from China, slap a sticker on them, then sell them for 2-3x their retail price on aliexpress. Kudos to the companies making them here in the US but they’re few and far between.

With these direct generic/knockoff items it’s a risk vs reward though. The light I got literally blew the power brick in 5 minutes of its life. I wouldn’t use them as a primary life support system (except the aforementioned skimmers because they’re the exact same product) but $115 vs $400 for a Kessil A360x is a no brainer try. Especially since Kessils aren’t exactly high quality on their own.

I did look at the generic Radion and maybe the logic doesn’t track but at that price point I’ll take the $800 proven version vs rolling the dice on the $450 version for my main display. A softie tank or my goof off tank might be a different story.

At least when it's a know brand, you know they are doing their best to make the product work and not burn down your house. My issue with these random black box products that change names is that they are just unloading an unknown product on you and they do not care what happens after the sale.

 

[paul01609]

little update sent a msg to shop last night, just got up now with a msg back from the shop apologies with a link to make a payment of £0.14 for the mount and shipping.
happy days

 

[paul01609]

thought I would buy a eco tech mount to try on the light and it fit’s good, only problem is I have to use the screws that came with the light and slightly open up the holes on the ecotech mount

 

[icedgxe]

thought I would buy a eco tech mount to try on the light and it fit’s good, only problem is I have to use the screws that came with the light and slightly open up the holes on the ecotech mount

Have you messed with it much? How do you like it?

 

[paul01609]

Not Yet really had time hoping to get it on to rank this weekend

 

[Muffin87]

. The knobs don’t do anything meaningful.

Can you use the knobs to change the spectrum from blue to white and the intensity? Or you just need to get it to work using Wi-Fi?
Thanks!

 

[paul01609]

Just doing some basic par tests
every think set at 25% and light 15.5“ above water
water line 140 par and aprox 12” below 60par

 

[paul01609]

50%
190 par at water
aprox 70 center of tank