JonnyJ
Active Member
I wanted to write a review about my new Build My LED full spectrum 24" Strip. I'm not a blogger or a writer but a review wasn't available for me and i believe the product & company does in fact warrant a positive review and i thought this would be fun.
A little about me:
I have been in this hobby since '05 and have continuously changed aquariums and equipment along the way. I have ran MH,T5,& LED. I started using LEDS around 4 years ago. I have a very close local group of reefing friends and we all tend to spend a lot of money on equipment, so i have had the luxury of owning or visually seeing just about all the LEDS on the market.
PFO Solaris
PFO I5 Solaris
Chinese standard bridglux LEDs/CREE
PAR 38's Both 50/50, 20k, and full spectrum Versions
Ecotech Radion
Kessil
Aqua Illuminations
Maxspect [old and new RAZOR]
Vertex..
etc - the list goes on and on
I run a predominately SPS reef and recently i upgraded to an ELOS 70 and decided it was time to go back to T5, My corals just weren't coloring up correctly under LEDS and i felt it was time to revert back to good ol T5.
I bought an ATI 6 BULB Fixture and immediately loved the color but missed the shimmer and some of the pop that led offers. I started searching around for some sort of LED strip. I wanted to avoid DIY because i really like clean finished products.
I wanted to sway away from the normal white,blue, or 50/50 strips that are widely offered across the hobby. ie reefbrites, vertex, corvue, tru lumen,...and the closest thing offered was Stunner strips. I tried them and was right back at square one. I'll admit they are good for a nano but for a mid range tank they just couldn't do the job beside and ATI.
Review
I ended up coming across a Reef builders post for Build My LED. Scoped them out and called them. Researched a little about spectrum and ordered! [Nick is a great guy, very patient and was willing to explain anything and everything i asked,] These guys specialize in lighting first, reefing second. Which to me is important when buying a fixture.
I really wanted a combination of the shimmer, full spectrum, and pop.
I ended up settling for a 24" full spectrum strip. Nick gave me a "projected" ship date and unfortunately they missed it... so they ended up over-nighting it to me. [whats better than that, the ship date wasnt even promised
] They respond to emails and phone calls promptly.
The strip is 24" and has 30 LEDS.
14 6500k
8 Royal Blue 450nm
4 Blue 470nm
2 RED 660m
2 Green 525nm
They offer a few different optic options but offered me a 75 degree lenses which atm need to be requested.
Here is a diagram of the layout
Along with a photo with JUST the strip on. It actually covers my entire tank
Width: 29.5 in
Height: 19.7 in
Depth: 22.4in]
If your wondering, its a great blend with absolutely no disco ball effect present.
Now that i have received my strip i don't think their photos actually do this fixture justice. I was afraid it was going to be a bit bulky and toyish looking compared to what it is. Its Sleek and Slim and my anal self is very happy. The only thing i would change are the end caps.
The build quality is great, best of all its made in AMERICA.
It's very easy to mount with a few different available options. The fixture comes with 2 small mounting brackets. [they also offer a different mounting option which does cost additional money]
These brackets which come stock are all you need if your planning to mount on the side of a fixture.
Mounting was simple, I used the supplied hardware and the stock screws of the ATI. This way i didn't have to drill any unwanted holes or any modifications to the light itself.
Their were two things i did have to buy to mount the strip the way i did that totaled $1.50
Purchase 2 small washers &
Purchase longer screws [if you drill your own holes, this is completely unnecessary]
They come with what appears to be 8x32 x 1/4" and i replaced them with 8-32 X 1" and i believe you could get away with something a little shorter.
A Photo of the strip on
After 6 hours of running it's barely warm to the touch.
The fixture itself comes with a quick connect driver box which is equipped with a dongle to attach a dimmer. They sell a dimmer, or you have the option to hook up to your apex/rk/etc via cable.
One of my ballast blew on my ATI [ugh] so two of my bulbs are temporarily off. I am waiting for a replacement.
Heres a photo with 4 of my 6 bulbs and the strip running
[blue + [X2] / KZ pink / 6500k daylight ]
and heres one with my t5 daylight replaced with a blue plus
[blue + X3 / KZ pink]
For those that enjoy a bluer spectrum, i would suggest replacing some of the 6500k with additional royal blues. Either way, im happy as can be!
- Jonny
A little about me:
I have been in this hobby since '05 and have continuously changed aquariums and equipment along the way. I have ran MH,T5,& LED. I started using LEDS around 4 years ago. I have a very close local group of reefing friends and we all tend to spend a lot of money on equipment, so i have had the luxury of owning or visually seeing just about all the LEDS on the market.
PFO Solaris
PFO I5 Solaris
Chinese standard bridglux LEDs/CREE
PAR 38's Both 50/50, 20k, and full spectrum Versions
Ecotech Radion
Kessil
Aqua Illuminations
Maxspect [old and new RAZOR]
Vertex..
etc - the list goes on and on
I run a predominately SPS reef and recently i upgraded to an ELOS 70 and decided it was time to go back to T5, My corals just weren't coloring up correctly under LEDS and i felt it was time to revert back to good ol T5.
I bought an ATI 6 BULB Fixture and immediately loved the color but missed the shimmer and some of the pop that led offers. I started searching around for some sort of LED strip. I wanted to avoid DIY because i really like clean finished products.
I wanted to sway away from the normal white,blue, or 50/50 strips that are widely offered across the hobby. ie reefbrites, vertex, corvue, tru lumen,...and the closest thing offered was Stunner strips. I tried them and was right back at square one. I'll admit they are good for a nano but for a mid range tank they just couldn't do the job beside and ATI.
Review
I ended up coming across a Reef builders post for Build My LED. Scoped them out and called them. Researched a little about spectrum and ordered! [Nick is a great guy, very patient and was willing to explain anything and everything i asked,] These guys specialize in lighting first, reefing second. Which to me is important when buying a fixture.
I really wanted a combination of the shimmer, full spectrum, and pop.
I ended up settling for a 24" full spectrum strip. Nick gave me a "projected" ship date and unfortunately they missed it... so they ended up over-nighting it to me. [whats better than that, the ship date wasnt even promised
] They respond to emails and phone calls promptly.
The strip is 24" and has 30 LEDS.
14 6500k
8 Royal Blue 450nm
4 Blue 470nm
2 RED 660m
2 Green 525nm
They offer a few different optic options but offered me a 75 degree lenses which atm need to be requested.
Here is a diagram of the layout
Along with a photo with JUST the strip on. It actually covers my entire tank
Width: 29.5 in
Height: 19.7 in
Depth: 22.4in]
If your wondering, its a great blend with absolutely no disco ball effect present.
Now that i have received my strip i don't think their photos actually do this fixture justice. I was afraid it was going to be a bit bulky and toyish looking compared to what it is. Its Sleek and Slim and my anal self is very happy. The only thing i would change are the end caps.
The build quality is great, best of all its made in AMERICA.
It's very easy to mount with a few different available options. The fixture comes with 2 small mounting brackets. [they also offer a different mounting option which does cost additional money]
These brackets which come stock are all you need if your planning to mount on the side of a fixture.
Mounting was simple, I used the supplied hardware and the stock screws of the ATI. This way i didn't have to drill any unwanted holes or any modifications to the light itself.
Their were two things i did have to buy to mount the strip the way i did that totaled $1.50
Purchase 2 small washers &
Purchase longer screws [if you drill your own holes, this is completely unnecessary]
They come with what appears to be 8x32 x 1/4" and i replaced them with 8-32 X 1" and i believe you could get away with something a little shorter.
A Photo of the strip on
After 6 hours of running it's barely warm to the touch.
The fixture itself comes with a quick connect driver box which is equipped with a dongle to attach a dimmer. They sell a dimmer, or you have the option to hook up to your apex/rk/etc via cable.
One of my ballast blew on my ATI [ugh] so two of my bulbs are temporarily off. I am waiting for a replacement.
Heres a photo with 4 of my 6 bulbs and the strip running
[blue + [X2] / KZ pink / 6500k daylight ]
and heres one with my t5 daylight replaced with a blue plus
[blue + X3 / KZ pink]
For those that enjoy a bluer spectrum, i would suggest replacing some of the 6500k with additional royal blues. Either way, im happy as can be!
- Jonny
