China Leds: Testing
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edosan
Well-Known Member
Ok, so here is my first review. Please remember that I am not a native english speaking, but I do my best!
Also this is not intended to be a pro review, I am just a normal reefer trying to help others is selection on Chinese brands.
I have 3 months with reef so my experience is very limited, and this review is intended for the lamps not grow.
Also I believe that Ecotech and Aqua Illumination have the best leds arround for reef, and I also have this lights in order to compare.
I will not dig in tech specs since you can find those in the web of the lamps.
SANRISE:
Model:Aqua Sanrise Plus R60
http://www.aquasanrise.com/List.asp?L-8276417065.html
Price Range: US$ 300-400 FOB China + Shipping + Taxes
Need a aditional controller: No
IOS available: Yes
Android Available: Yes
General Impresions:
On paper this is the best brand from China. Cree leds good. Also is very pricy.
Price:
Pros: For the features is a good price, but it is expensive, Understandable with the use of cree leds (best ones) and features (6 channels)
Cons: Of the leds we tested (5 different brands), is the more expensive one. You can get sometimes AI (Hydra 52) or ET (Radion) for the same price (or less) once you add shipping and taxes. (US$140 shipping to Chile + arround US$100 taxes)
Quality build:
Pros: very slim and excelent design. Touch Pannel is a +,
Cons: acrylic protectors went loose (1) when I unpackage the lamp. Those where stick with just a double sticker. The double sticker was out of stick. That gave me a terrible impresion, but was quite easy to fix.
Accesories (rack mount) should be optional so the price should go low. But is a good feature that come include with the price.
Leds
Pro: Best setup so far and good leds
Cons: None so far
Controller:
Pro: Android App is good. Nice features
Cons: IOS controller is terrible (tested on Iphone 6 IOS 8.3), worst app ever. Crash everytime. Parts are in Chineese still (hour minutes), can't set extra timers like in Android. Just a few days ago they post an update on IOS and now is working ok.
Manual is needed (not included!) for app and for touch pannel. You do not even send me a PDF manual. Touch pannel is not so easy (Ex: reset wifi)
Android app is not too good for 10' screen tablets (pixeled images). Can't arrange timers without afect the lights (on the tank) on the setup that I am changing. Should be an option to not going manual. If I change 14:00 setup at night, the lights go on, that will streess some fishes and corals.
Thunderstorm is also "glitchy", if you want some lightning during nightime, it does not work, since lightning start with daylight, so no night lightning. Same with Clouds. Test both during daytime and night, in night mode will not work (thunderstorm mainly).
Timers
Pros: You can set up as many as you want (tried with 15 so far)
Cons: Timers work different from any light I have tested so far. If you set 10 AM 20% and 12pm 100%, almost all the leds I have tested increase gradually from 10 to 12. This lamp does not do that. if you have the intenisty in 0%, at 10am it will increase the intensity from 0% to 20% in 5 or 10 minutes, at arround 10:10 you will have 20% and will stay that way until 12PM, and at 12 pm to 12:10pm will go from 20% to 100%. I do not like that so much. But since you have multiple timers, you need to get use to that way. But I thing is very negative for my taste.
Coral Development: too soon to tell. This is the next and last stage in tests. But as you all know it is slow.
Custom Leds: No, you can not change the configuration of the leds. For example form 8.000k on whites to 16.000K on whites. (custom build I mean)
Customer Service: Nothing good to say about it. I will dish this lamp just for that.
I mention to one of the sales ejecutives from Sanrise that maybe if they do not include the rack mount the price might be lower, and the answer of them was: If you do not like it, get another brand. AMAZING! and that is just one example of many. Sanrise really need to work in customer service, right now they suck. I ask for a change of sales person (I need more than 20 lamps, just for my tanks), and cri cri.
Pic:
Video:
Next Review: Lumini Aqua
Also this is not intended to be a pro review, I am just a normal reefer trying to help others is selection on Chinese brands.
I have 3 months with reef so my experience is very limited, and this review is intended for the lamps not grow.
Also I believe that Ecotech and Aqua Illumination have the best leds arround for reef, and I also have this lights in order to compare.
I will not dig in tech specs since you can find those in the web of the lamps.
SANRISE:
Model:Aqua Sanrise Plus R60
http://www.aquasanrise.com/List.asp?L-8276417065.html
Price Range: US$ 300-400 FOB China + Shipping + Taxes
Need a aditional controller: No
IOS available: Yes
Android Available: Yes
General Impresions:
On paper this is the best brand from China. Cree leds good. Also is very pricy.
Price:
Pros: For the features is a good price, but it is expensive, Understandable with the use of cree leds (best ones) and features (6 channels)
Cons: Of the leds we tested (5 different brands), is the more expensive one. You can get sometimes AI (Hydra 52) or ET (Radion) for the same price (or less) once you add shipping and taxes. (US$140 shipping to Chile + arround US$100 taxes)
Quality build:
Pros: very slim and excelent design. Touch Pannel is a +,
Cons: acrylic protectors went loose (1) when I unpackage the lamp. Those where stick with just a double sticker. The double sticker was out of stick. That gave me a terrible impresion, but was quite easy to fix.
Accesories (rack mount) should be optional so the price should go low. But is a good feature that come include with the price.
Leds
Pro: Best setup so far and good leds
Cons: None so far
Controller:
Pro: Android App is good. Nice features
Cons: IOS controller is terrible (tested on Iphone 6 IOS 8.3), worst app ever. Crash everytime. Parts are in Chineese still (hour minutes), can't set extra timers like in Android. Just a few days ago they post an update on IOS and now is working ok.
Manual is needed (not included!) for app and for touch pannel. You do not even send me a PDF manual. Touch pannel is not so easy (Ex: reset wifi)
Android app is not too good for 10' screen tablets (pixeled images). Can't arrange timers without afect the lights (on the tank) on the setup that I am changing. Should be an option to not going manual. If I change 14:00 setup at night, the lights go on, that will streess some fishes and corals.
Thunderstorm is also "glitchy", if you want some lightning during nightime, it does not work, since lightning start with daylight, so no night lightning. Same with Clouds. Test both during daytime and night, in night mode will not work (thunderstorm mainly).
Timers
Pros: You can set up as many as you want (tried with 15 so far)
Cons: Timers work different from any light I have tested so far. If you set 10 AM 20% and 12pm 100%, almost all the leds I have tested increase gradually from 10 to 12. This lamp does not do that. if you have the intenisty in 0%, at 10am it will increase the intensity from 0% to 20% in 5 or 10 minutes, at arround 10:10 you will have 20% and will stay that way until 12PM, and at 12 pm to 12:10pm will go from 20% to 100%. I do not like that so much. But since you have multiple timers, you need to get use to that way. But I thing is very negative for my taste.
Coral Development: too soon to tell. This is the next and last stage in tests. But as you all know it is slow.
Custom Leds: No, you can not change the configuration of the leds. For example form 8.000k on whites to 16.000K on whites. (custom build I mean)
Customer Service: Nothing good to say about it. I will dish this lamp just for that.
I mention to one of the sales ejecutives from Sanrise that maybe if they do not include the rack mount the price might be lower, and the answer of them was: If you do not like it, get another brand. AMAZING! and that is just one example of many. Sanrise really need to work in customer service, right now they suck. I ask for a change of sales person (I need more than 20 lamps, just for my tanks), and cri cri.
Pic:
Video:
Next Review: Lumini Aqua
Last edited:
OP
OP
edosan
Well-Known Member
Lumini Aqua:
Model: Gemis 120R1
http://www.luminiaqua.com/gemis-120r1-aquarium-light/
Price Range: check http://www.luminiaqua-usa.com/ all prices there
Need a aditional controller: Yes
IOS available: No
Android Available: Yes
General Impresions:
This lights look like a good alternative.
They have 4 channels and each channel have 8 timers, wish is enough. Will be better to have more timers per channel.
Price:
Pros: Is not an expensive light, but for the wattage (arround 120w) is not very cheap also.
Quality build:
Pros: The design is great, aluminum case.
Cons: some electricity are passed to the aluminum, whan I toch the case I get a buzz on my fingers. But exept for that the case look great.
Leds
Pro: they look good, bridgelux mainly.
Cons: No cree leds
Controller:
Pro: Android App is good. Nice features. You can change the light settings without afect the whole systems in the channel you are changing. When you hit Apply, it will affect the whole system with a flash light (like thunderstorm). It has a preconfig setting called AUTO, manual, thunderstorm, moonlight.
Cons: They send me a manual that is out of date with the lights, and have some problems.
Android app in Google Play market was out of date, but they send me the correct version via email.
No IOS controller. They are working on one but is still not available
You need to get at least 1 (wire or wireless) so the lights can work. The lights work at 100% all the time without the controller.
When you hit Apply, it will affect the whole system with a flash light (like thunderstorm). Is not much, but some fishes get scared (yellow tangs for example)
Thunderstorm is also "glitchy", if you want some lightning during nightime, it does not work, since lightning start with daylight, so no night lightning. Moonlight is hard to understand and to bright
Android App is sometime portrait and others landscape, annoying.
Timers
Pros: They work ok.
Cons: Just 8 timers per channels sometimes is a bit short.
Channels: NOt the best config on my taste. UV Lights are with reds, greens and orange/yellows, wish is not very good, UV should be with royal blue or blues if you have only 4 channels, if you ask me.
Coral Development: too soon to tell. This is the next and last stage in tests. But as you all know it is slow.
Custom Leds: yes, you can change the configuration of the leds. For example form 12.000k on whites to 16.000K on whites. (custom build I mean)
Customer Service: Great. but they need to be more carefull with details. One of the orders I made from them, was via Miami, and then to Chile. They mark (China Shipping company) the packages as danger cargo because the controllers have a tinny little wrist watch like flat ion-li battery. So the freight forwarder in Miami, couln´t ship the lights for 2 weeks, waiting for clearence from the air cargo company. Finally that type of battery according to IATA was NOT needed to be labeled. But I lost 2 weeks and the shipping company charge me for storage. The answer on Lumini side was: sorry, but we didn´t mark the package ... was UPS. mmm. On the other hand, I have a problem with a wifi controller, and they send me (with out any charge) a new one ultra fast to Chile direct to my office (3 days) thumbs up on that!
Pic
Video:
Next Review: LEDZEAL
Model: Gemis 120R1
http://www.luminiaqua.com/gemis-120r1-aquarium-light/
Price Range: check http://www.luminiaqua-usa.com/ all prices there
Need a aditional controller: Yes
IOS available: No
Android Available: Yes
General Impresions:
This lights look like a good alternative.
They have 4 channels and each channel have 8 timers, wish is enough. Will be better to have more timers per channel.
Price:
Pros: Is not an expensive light, but for the wattage (arround 120w) is not very cheap also.
Quality build:
Pros: The design is great, aluminum case.
Cons: some electricity are passed to the aluminum, whan I toch the case I get a buzz on my fingers. But exept for that the case look great.
Leds
Pro: they look good, bridgelux mainly.
Cons: No cree leds
Controller:
Pro: Android App is good. Nice features. You can change the light settings without afect the whole systems in the channel you are changing. When you hit Apply, it will affect the whole system with a flash light (like thunderstorm). It has a preconfig setting called AUTO, manual, thunderstorm, moonlight.
Cons: They send me a manual that is out of date with the lights, and have some problems.
Android app in Google Play market was out of date, but they send me the correct version via email.
No IOS controller. They are working on one but is still not available
You need to get at least 1 (wire or wireless) so the lights can work. The lights work at 100% all the time without the controller.
When you hit Apply, it will affect the whole system with a flash light (like thunderstorm). Is not much, but some fishes get scared (yellow tangs for example)
Thunderstorm is also "glitchy", if you want some lightning during nightime, it does not work, since lightning start with daylight, so no night lightning. Moonlight is hard to understand and to bright
Android App is sometime portrait and others landscape, annoying.
Timers
Pros: They work ok.
Cons: Just 8 timers per channels sometimes is a bit short.
Channels: NOt the best config on my taste. UV Lights are with reds, greens and orange/yellows, wish is not very good, UV should be with royal blue or blues if you have only 4 channels, if you ask me.
Coral Development: too soon to tell. This is the next and last stage in tests. But as you all know it is slow.
Custom Leds: yes, you can change the configuration of the leds. For example form 12.000k on whites to 16.000K on whites. (custom build I mean)
Customer Service: Great. but they need to be more carefull with details. One of the orders I made from them, was via Miami, and then to Chile. They mark (China Shipping company) the packages as danger cargo because the controllers have a tinny little wrist watch like flat ion-li battery. So the freight forwarder in Miami, couln´t ship the lights for 2 weeks, waiting for clearence from the air cargo company. Finally that type of battery according to IATA was NOT needed to be labeled. But I lost 2 weeks and the shipping company charge me for storage. The answer on Lumini side was: sorry, but we didn´t mark the package ... was UPS. mmm. On the other hand, I have a problem with a wifi controller, and they send me (with out any charge) a new one ultra fast to Chile direct to my office (3 days) thumbs up on that!
Pic
Video:
Next Review: LEDZEAL
Last edited:
OP
OP
edosan
Well-Known Member
LEdZeal:
Model: Malibu S-200
http://www.ledzeal.com/p43.html
Price Range: US$ 200-300 FOB China + Shipping + Taxes
Need a aditional controller: No - Yes (remote controll included, not all the features, but it works)
IOS available: No
Android Available: Yes
General Impresions:
At the beggining I was under the impresion that this light was the same of Lumini, but I was wrong.
This light had impress me a lot, on the positive side.
Features are similar to lumini, but better in my opinion.
They have 4 channels and each channel have 8 timers, wish is enough. Will be better to have more timers per channel.
The best thing about ledzeal is that they have a the best option on lamp sizes. In a 2meter large quarium, I just need 2 Malibu S200.
Also of the 3 China lights, this is the only one with a long review in other forums, and all possitive.
Price:
Pros: Is not an expensive light, is about 200W (180).
Quality build:
Pros: The design is great, aluminum case, MW driver. Build looks very good. Shipping package caught my attention, very good including wood inside the carton package in order to get more safe shipping.
Cons: None so far.
Leds
Pro: they look good, bridgelux mainly.
Cons: No cree leds, but the can customize the light as you wish
Controller:
Pro: For this led I order the wire controller. Love it, is simple a quality buid. Nice features. You can change the light settings without afect the whole systems in the channel you are changing. It has a preconfig setting called sunrise, manual, thunderstorm, clouds and 3 DIY custom settings.
Cons: Didn´t try the android app
No IOS controller. They are working on one but is still not available
You need to get at least 1 (wire or wireless) so the lights can work. But they do include a remote control for basic configurantion in case you do not have a controller.
Timers
Pros: They work ok.
Cons: Just 8 timers per channels sometimes is a bit short.
Channels: They do have a good config: Chan 1: blues, chan 2: whites, Chan 3: Royal Blue and UV (like that) Chan 4: red, green, violet.
Coral Development: too soon to tell. This is the next and last stage in tests. But as you all know it is slow.
Custom Leds: yes, you can change the configuration of the leds. For example form 12.000k on whites to 16.000K on whites. (custom build I mean)
Customer Service: Best so far, no problems what so ever.
Pic (tank cycling)
video: Sorry not yet.
Model: Malibu S-200
http://www.ledzeal.com/p43.html
Price Range: US$ 200-300 FOB China + Shipping + Taxes
Need a aditional controller: No - Yes (remote controll included, not all the features, but it works)
IOS available: No
Android Available: Yes
General Impresions:
At the beggining I was under the impresion that this light was the same of Lumini, but I was wrong.
This light had impress me a lot, on the positive side.
Features are similar to lumini, but better in my opinion.
They have 4 channels and each channel have 8 timers, wish is enough. Will be better to have more timers per channel.
The best thing about ledzeal is that they have a the best option on lamp sizes. In a 2meter large quarium, I just need 2 Malibu S200.
Also of the 3 China lights, this is the only one with a long review in other forums, and all possitive.
Price:
Pros: Is not an expensive light, is about 200W (180).
Quality build:
Pros: The design is great, aluminum case, MW driver. Build looks very good. Shipping package caught my attention, very good including wood inside the carton package in order to get more safe shipping.
Cons: None so far.
Leds
Pro: they look good, bridgelux mainly.
Cons: No cree leds, but the can customize the light as you wish
Controller:
Pro: For this led I order the wire controller. Love it, is simple a quality buid. Nice features. You can change the light settings without afect the whole systems in the channel you are changing. It has a preconfig setting called sunrise, manual, thunderstorm, clouds and 3 DIY custom settings.
Cons: Didn´t try the android app
No IOS controller. They are working on one but is still not available
You need to get at least 1 (wire or wireless) so the lights can work. But they do include a remote control for basic configurantion in case you do not have a controller.
Timers
Pros: They work ok.
Cons: Just 8 timers per channels sometimes is a bit short.
Channels: They do have a good config: Chan 1: blues, chan 2: whites, Chan 3: Royal Blue and UV (like that) Chan 4: red, green, violet.
Coral Development: too soon to tell. This is the next and last stage in tests. But as you all know it is slow.
Custom Leds: yes, you can change the configuration of the leds. For example form 12.000k on whites to 16.000K on whites. (custom build I mean)
Customer Service: Best so far, no problems what so ever.
Pic (tank cycling)
video: Sorry not yet.
OP
OP
edosan
Well-Known Member
Also test Ecotech Radion´s and AI Hydra 52, lots of reviews on those, so my personal preference is:
1- Ecotech Radion´s
2- Aqua Illumination Hydra 52
3- LedZeal
4- Lumini Aqua
5- Sanrise
Hope it helps!
1- Ecotech Radion´s
2- Aqua Illumination Hydra 52
3- LedZeal
4- Lumini Aqua
5- Sanrise
Hope it helps!
OP
OP
edosan
Well-Known Member
I belive they come with 3 differents, but not so sure. i will check it later on my lamps. According to the webpage::
Second optical lenses gather up the dispersed light in the area of per unit resulting in higher efficiency in light use. (60°/90°/ 120° selectable secondary lens).
Second optical lenses gather up the dispersed light in the area of per unit resulting in higher efficiency in light use. (60°/90°/ 120° selectable secondary lens).
scardall
2500 Club Member
If you are referring to parts then you may be partially true. Their are others too, like Taiwan,Malaysia,Indonesia, Germany,USA and Japan. Now when it comes to high quality designs --NONE come from China. Electronics is my business.
Amoo
Professional Thread Derailer
yep saw that, if you want the independent control though seems well worth it, considering you pay $100 to control up to 2 kessils. I'm not even sure that the lighting control module would run for an apex, but I may not want to know. I believe the adrino Storm-X controller is somewhere in the $100 range as well, so it seems a good value.
OP
OP
edosan
Well-Known Member
Of the 3 light, Sanrise is Apex ready (According to them, haven't test that feature).
With the other 2, you can use 1 control (wire or wireless) as master, and chain several lights with just 1 control (50 + )
I have chain 2 and 3 lights and both (Lumini and Ledzeal) work very good. Nothing bad to say about it.
With the other 2, you can use 1 control (wire or wireless) as master, and chain several lights with just 1 control (50 + )
I have chain 2 and 3 lights and both (Lumini and Ledzeal) work very good. Nothing bad to say about it.
OP
OP
edosan
Well-Known Member
The Lumini lights are ok, they work. I have it in a frag tank now. They need to improve the features on software, but they are heading in the right path if you ask me.
Some doubts about penetration and power, but good so far. I have it side by side with Sanrise, and I like it more (Lumini).
Some doubts about penetration and power, but good so far. I have it side by side with Sanrise, and I like it more (Lumini).
Tek
Well-Known Member
I got the new android app emailed and it has the bugs worked out. The iOS is supposed to be out in a few days so I will test that also. So far my corals have responded to it very well but time will tell.
Tek
Well-Known Member
It has a default login and pw now. The landscape and portrait issue is still happening but the bug I had with manual control and lightning has been fixed. I actually like the fact sunset and sunrise is independent of the daylight cycle. I am able to cancel blues out completely to make it more realistic until night mode turns on.
