Are they better quality today than the past?

[Jcr's Reef]

If LEDs are suppose to last up to 10yrs, why do manufactures or vendors offer a 1-2yr warranty? :squigglemouth: Why not a 5yr? I see where others have 1 or 2 leds burn out relatively quick in their DIY fixtures, and past manufactured fixtures had the same problem as well, so I guess I'm just concerned about the actual life of these things and the claim being made about the whole average lifespan 50,000+ hrs. A few years ago I was going to order a Solaris, and man am I glad I didn't.

Am I being to negative here :misdoubt:

 

[m and m]

Most say 10 years if they are used right, we do not use them right. I would say its safe that users get 5 years out of them, but you gotta think two years is a while and the companies need to cover themselfs.

 

[swannyson7]

I always kind of wondered the same thing, but I think it has to do with the fact that these are theoretical lifespans. Seeing as none of these new fixtures has had extensive testing, a manufacturer could wind up going out of business if they offered a lenghty warranty only to find out that a certain component of the fixture failed after a shorter period. If you're looking for a fixture with a longer warranty, I know that Luke's fixtures have a three year... longer than most of the LED fixtures I've seen in the hobby.

 

[m and m]

I would go with luke unless i wanted to spend a little more and that IO is SUPER sweet i love them things.

 

[Jcr's Reef]

I have really been contemplating Lukes fixture just bc of his warranty. I just wish each color was on a separate cord or I would already have them :cry:

 

[swannyson7]

I have really been contemplating Lukes fixture just bc of his warranty. I just wish each color was on a separate cord or I would already have them :cry:

He had a thread about new ones coming with Cree diodes and they were supposed to be a 20k look with seperate cords for the blue and whites. I have the gen2 fixtures with the optics and couldn't be happier with them. I use 468 watts of T5 in addition to the 450 watts of LED, so I can get dawn/dusk effect. You should PM him and ask about them... not sure when he's going to have them in.

 

[Jcr's Reef]

Yeah I've been reading all the pages of it to see what exactly he's offering now. There is only one fixture listed on his site

 

[m and m]

You can get each color a diffrent cord i think they are the g modals or something but i do know you can get the controllable.

 

[Jcr's Reef]

You can get each color a diffrent cord i think they are the g modals or something but i do know you can get the controllable.

I know Reef Koi offers that option but that is only on a certain model and on either the 14k or 20k from what I have read. I'm still awaiting a response from him. I just PM'd him last night and I'm sure it will take him a few to respond back.

 

[m and m]

What kinda tank do you need this t fit on and what look are you wanting? all three dimensions i would need.

 

[Jcr's Reef]

DT is 48" x 20"H x 24". Only wanting 1 or two fixtures for it. Would like only one I could suspend and spread about 36" across. I don't grow coral on the sidewalls of the tank so there really is no need to light the whole 48" and then some. My tank build is in my signature. For me, running the blue's on one cord and the whites on another is a must. If it has a dial to + or - the intensity that is a plus but not needed.

Frag tank is 40Br.- 1 fixture only...thinking of going with Reef Koi's on this one

 

[dougers31]

As much as I like the look of led's and the idea of prolly never haveing to replace bulbs(not to mention the energy savings), I just don't see myself pulling the trigger on anything more than for supplementation purposes. Still too many questions for long term use IMO. They do look nice though.

 

[Mr. Microscope]

They have to be properly heatsinked to last long.

 

[m and m]

I would go with two fixtures im sure one of the newer ones he just came out with would work but two of the smaller ones would be best

 

[Jcr's Reef]

As much as I like the look of led's and the idea of prolly never haveing to replace bulbs(not to mention the energy savings), I just don't see myself pulling the trigger on anything more than for supplementation purposes. Still too many questions for long term use IMO. They do look nice though.

I'm in the same boat. If I could build my own and not have it looking ghetto like some that I have seen I would do it. I don't have the material to make a nice hood, and I don't like the look of the rails or a big heatsink.

 

[m and m]

I mean you cant beat the Reefkoi fixture it is so amazing, the price guilty and the warranty.

 

[Jcr's Reef]

M and M...Yeah if I do two fixtures I'll probably go with Reef Koi's since the blue and whites can be run separately, and I really want that deep actinic look at night time. I was just leaning towards Lukes becasue the leds are stronger and might be able to do 1 fixture. It's all still up in the air though. I'm kinda like everyone else and skeptical, but willing to take the plunge if I can get what I want I guess

 

[aalvarado87]

yeah man its pretty nerve racking because their is so much riding on it. when i went with the 120w evos i just knew in a month my reef was going to fall apart and all my time and investment was going down the drain i really wish reefkois were able to hook them up to a controller like the AI i would be pumped but for the price i cant complain.. i really am enjoying my lights

 

[swannyson7]

M and M...Yeah if I do two fixtures I'll probably go with Reef Koi's since the blue and whites can be run separately, and I really want that deep actinic look at night time. I was just leaning towards Lukes becasue the leds are stronger and might be able to do 1 fixture. It's all still up in the air though. I'm kinda like everyone else and skeptical, but willing to take the plunge if I can get what I want I guess

Luke has new ones with seperate cords for the white and blue, but I'm not sure when he'll have them in stock. Here's a link about them:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-filtration/53473-cree-led-blowout-special.html

 

[Jcr's Reef]

Luke has new ones with seperate cords for the white and blue, but I'm not sure when he'll have them in stock. Here's a link about them:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-filtration/53473-cree-led-blowout-special.html

Thanks- I didn't see that thread. Don't like the price of the new 20k fixture though. Thought he said the price wasn't going up?