Chinese 165w led

[zslaugh]

Hey guys. I just purchased a Chinese 165 watt dimmable two channel white and blue led for $80. After a lot of looking around and research on them they seem like the real deal. I'll keep you guys updated on what I think.

Let me know if you guys have any experience with them.

 

[zslaugh]

 

[lauderdalestunner]

Yep I run something similar "Chinese black box" x2 on a 90. It will get you going but you will want better later. At least I do...

 

[redfishbluefish]

I love my Mars Aqua.....a "Chinese Black Box" LED. They are not the LED's that first came out of China in the early 2000's. I'm impressed for the $$$. I'm growing everything, like a weed.


FYI, they are really only ca 120 watts.....because they are not running at the labelled 3 watts each for 55 LED's.....only at about 2.1 or so watts per LED.

 

[cginter]

I use 4 of them supplemented by some t5's. I've had them for about 3 years and some of the leds are starting to die. They do the trick but add a couple t5's and you'll be even more happy

 

[Bdog4u2]

They are decent starter lights that allows you to spend your cash on other equipment but eventually you will want more control over your colors

 

[cracker]

I agree with the opinions, I " had" 6 over a 220 and they were OK. I'll be using them over a new 180. Good lights for starting out until You can figure/afford or even want more $$$ lighting.

 

[mcarroll]

eventually you will want more control over your colors

...but you are likely better off without control, IMO.

Seems like as many folks have trouble as not with those lights. They either can't stop fiddling with the color controls or they just go online to copy someone else's color profile. Either seems a little pointless considering the cost associated with the feature.

I remember walking through the TV section in any electronics or department store back in the 80's and the kids would have been messing with the TV knobs all day....especially the color controls. A lot of today's "full spectrum" tanks remind me of those TV's, so more control is certainly a double-edged sword.

Not all "full spectrum" tanks are like that, of course....just saying "ultimate control" is a double-edged sword and I've never had trouble growing coral without color controls. (...or without "full spectrum" for that matter.)

2¢

 

[Roberto Toala]

I personally have these light in the wifi version, they are great, and now i have them working with my Apex.

 

[zslaugh]

I was debating on getting them but I found out today that my lfs. "Artfully acrylic" has them for all their tanks. It looks amazing!!

 

[zslaugh]

...but you are likely better off without control, IMO.

Seems like as many folks have trouble as not with those lights. They either can't stop fiddling with the color controls or they just go online to copy someone else's color profile. Either seems a little pointless considering the cost associated with the feature.

I remember walking through the TV section in any electronics or department store back in the 80's and the kids would have been messing with the TV knobs all day....especially the color controls. A lot of today's "full spectrum" tanks remind me of those TV's, so more control is certainly a double-edged sword.

Not all "full spectrum" tanks are like that, of course....just saying "ultimate control" is a double-edged sword and I've never had trouble growing coral without color controls. (...or without "full spectrum" for that matter.)

2¢

Can't you just leave them on full blue? I like the way it makes everything glow

 

[Roberto Toala]

Be careful on putting them at 100% they are extremelly strong

 

[cracker]

Well said mcarroll, All the bells and whistles are not necessary.

 

[Waterjockey]

I have the marsaqua 300 watt box.
To repeat others, they are powerful units. I don't have any sps yet, mostly lps and a few softies. I ended up dialing mine down to 10% on the whites and 15% on the blues. I was cooking a frogspawn 1/2 way up the tank at 20% and 30%. Within 2 days of dialing them down she looks her old self and is fat and puffy again