Chinese Black Box LED or Expensive LED?

[vetteguy53081]

I would say for reliability and longevity- SB Reef OR Mars aqua

 

[Daniel D Dawson]

Well, I had bought 4 of the wifi models but havent been terribly impressed. The wifi app is no longer supported so I am now using them on a timer through my Apex and manually adjusted the white and blue. The colors are not the same between the 4 lights. One light has almost a pinkish hue to it. My personal experience says to buy quality equipment. I can say this now that I have wasted money over the years trying to cheap out. Now we are looking at replacing all of the fixtures with something of higher quality. But probably just fine for a smaller tank. I wouldnt buy the bb lights as multiples. Too inconsistent

 

[vetteguy53081]

Well, I had bought 4 of the wifi models but havent been terribly impressed. The wifi app is no longer supported so I am now using them on a timer through my Apex and manually adjusted the white and blue. The colors are not the same between the 4 lights. One light has almost a pinkish hue to it. My personal experience says to buy quality equipment. I can say this now that I have wasted money over the years trying to cheap out. Now we are looking at replacing all of the fixtures with something of higher quality. But probably just fine for a smaller tank. I wouldnt buy the bb lights as multiples. Too inconsistent

Hate to say this , but we get what we pay for

 

[alpinestar]

there are a million "chinese black box's" on amazon.ca someone wanna link the correct one or give the correct name. i 100% need a budget light for my first aquarium to grow simple corals like torch's etc

Search the real black box light study by @Manose
viparspectra and marsaqua are a couple amazon options. Several others are mentioned in this thread. Good luck!

 

[Manose]

Hate to say this , but we get what we pay for

It is true in some instances but not in the lighting world. The Noopsyche K7 @247$ is as good or better than the big 3 light companies 360x,AI26hd,Radion XR15w.
If you are saying that about the 60$ black box with no name then yes I would agree.

 

[vetteguy53081]

It is true in some instances but not in the lighting world. The Noopsyche K7 @247$ is as good or better than the big 3 light companies 360x,AI26hd,Radion XR15w.
If you are saying that about the 60$ black box with no name then yes I would agree.

Yes, the $59 ones that take a month to arrive

 

[actik]

Its really difficult to get the beautiful color of the light and its really intense my eyes actually hurt when i turn it up...lol but this is my novice aquarium set up. Just started cycling today, added the shrimp and i use a WattShine blackbox i got from aliexpress for about 95$ it was recommended and i have no regrets this thing is about 15 lbs and looks like its built to last... well see in time i guess

 

[actik]

Oh... and i just used a simple sort of hanging rod on the wall.... purchased it from the dollar store..put the light on it. cheap n eassy

 

[Arcadiareef]

I have a viparspectra and coralline grows like crazy for me,

 

[lost66]

THEY SOMETIMES DO CAUSE FIRE!!!!

I used used tank with these black box light. I cannot tell if they are good or bad because I don't have comparison and I don't have any knowledge but they almost burnt my house. I felt burning plastic/wires and lucky me because I was at home that time.
So the way they are constructed is that there is a sealed section with LED and power supply. Separator is some of metal plate and this is the place where dust will collect over time. And in my case the dust collected near power supply cable and I guess that was the problem because I noticed that small pile of dust gave me a smoke and the power cable which was on it had burnt isolation and it was also smoking. Don't have pictures, I hope I described in a good way so you can imagine the problem. English is not my native unfortunately.

Right now I don't have a budget to replace them so I turn them off when I am not at home, I don't want to take any risk here. But as soon as I have spare ~$700 I will switch to hydra32 (need 2 of them).

 

[Lasse]

THEY SOMETIMES DO CAUSE FIRE!!!!

I used used tank with these black box light. I cannot tell if they are good or bad because I don't have comparison and I don't have any knowledge but they almost burnt my house. I felt burning plastic/wires and lucky me because I was at home that time.
So the way they are constructed is that there is a sealed section with LED and power supply. Separator is some of metal plate and this is the place where dust will collect over time. And in my case the dust collected near power supply cable and I guess that was the problem because I noticed that small pile of dust gave me a smoke and the power cable which was on it had burnt isolation and it was also smoking. Don't have pictures, I hope I described in a good way so you can imagine the problem. English is not my native unfortunately.

Right now I don't have a budget to replace them so I turn them off when I am not at home, I don't want to take any risk here. But as soon as I have spare ~$700 I will switch to hydra32 (need 2 of them).

I´m sorry to say - the dust problem is not only a problem for cheap LED fixtures. The problem is the use of fans - they collect dust. just look at these pictures from a friend of mine and how his KESSILs looks after 1 year!

​

I use a fixture without fan by myself partly because of the risk for a fire (GHL Mitras LED Bar 2)

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Flippers4pups]

I´m sorry to say - the dust problem is not only a problem for cheap LED fixtures. The problem is the use of fans - they collect dust. just look at these pictures from a friend of mine and how his KESSILs looks after 1 year!

​

I use a fixture without fan by myself partly because of the risk for a fire (GHL Mitras LED Bar 2)

Sincerely Lasse

Wow!

 

[jreefier]

I changed over from a metal halide to a Viparspectra T300 several months ago. I keep it set at 30% intensity. I have been very happy with the look and my xenia, bta's, other soft corals are doing just as well as they were under metal halide and now I don't have all the heat buildup. Maybe not enough for high light corals but just fine for fish and softies, nems. Also it looks a lot more sleek than my metal halide did .

 

[BugXprt]

Well, I have seen some BB's that have adjustable wifi lights and all the other cool stuff for a higher price. Another question is, have you guys figured a way to hang/mount the leds? I have a high ceiling and I am concerned with mounting as it may fall (really heavy)

What did you do? I'm contemplating getting new hydra 64x2, I have 300watt Chinese led from amazon. Vivaspectrum

 

[BugXprt]

As some others have said, BRS did an amazing video on it. BB LED's will grow corals and will works as a light source for any tank. The question isn't will they work because the answer to that question is yes. The question is are you willing to trade the quality, safety, reliability, adjustability and flexibility to save some money. Your entry level BB lights simply aren't made as well, in many cases don't use UL listed power supplys, don't cool as well, don't have spectrum adjustability or WiFi access. What's important to you?

Link?

 

[MR.BEE]

I run a few viparspectra over my 5ft tank, I grow Zoa and SpS. I can say the SPS grow like a weed and the zoa have tripled in volume ever since adding these lights, I run them at CH 1 55% and CH 2 28% no where near the full intensity. The only thing I have noticed is I dont get much Caroline growing as I did with the T5's I used to have but oddly the corals have flourished under the viparspectra's

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can you show pictures of the mount you're using.