Cbowen4
Community Member
So I've been reading (and watching) about the 165W dimmable LED full spectrum light by aqua star. I've seen reviews where it's praised but also where it's faulted. Anybody use these? Let me know why you guys think!
Conversial Chinese LED
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KoleTang
Valuable Member
The fixture is priced at what it would cost to buy the 55 bridgelux LEDs on your own. They have to be buying the LEDs and drivers in bulk, and they must be cheap drivers.
My biggest concern would be the drivers. When they say 165w they are referring to the amount (55) of 3w LEDs in the unit, not the power of the drivers or even the fixture (In the description you can see that in reality it runs at 120w). I highly doubt that the LEDs are being run at full power. (They would need around 198v of drivers to run 55 bridgelux LEDs at 100% power.)
My biggest concern would be the drivers. When they say 165w they are referring to the amount (55) of 3w LEDs in the unit, not the power of the drivers or even the fixture (In the description you can see that in reality it runs at 120w). I highly doubt that the LEDs are being run at full power. (They would need around 198v of drivers to run 55 bridgelux LEDs at 100% power.)
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KoleTang
Valuable Member
DIY Cree panels. The Crees are more expensive per diode, but end up being cheaper since they have a lower forward voltage than bridgelux. This means each driver can run more Cree LEDs than bridgelux, so you are spending less money on drivers.
Driver Voltage ÷ LED forward voltage = LEDs per driver
Driver cost + Cost of the amount of LEDs each driver can run ÷ Amount LEDs per driver = Cost of each LED including the price of the driver.
LEDGroupBuy has good prices on solderless LEDs if soldering is a concern to you.
15 solderless Crees on a Meanwell ELN-60-48D and a small heatsink will cost you about $100 if you get them from a discount place like LEDGroupBuy. (If you are going to use a PWM controller get the ELN-60-48P)
Driver Voltage ÷ LED forward voltage = LEDs per driver
Driver cost + Cost of the amount of LEDs each driver can run ÷ Amount LEDs per driver = Cost of each LED including the price of the driver.
LEDGroupBuy has good prices on solderless LEDs if soldering is a concern to you.
15 solderless Crees on a Meanwell ELN-60-48D and a small heatsink will cost you about $100 if you get them from a discount place like LEDGroupBuy. (If you are going to use a PWM controller get the ELN-60-48P)
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I'd buy the ones you were looking at. No one runs their LEDs at 100% anyways.
I have a unit on my tank for almost a year now, I've no trouble with it. Works just fine. Bridgelux LEDs
I have a unit on my tank for almost a year now, I've no trouble with it. Works just fine. Bridgelux LEDs
I am running a 240g tank
slaizer2000
New Member
I am looking at purchasing this for a 250gallon tank (5x3x2.25foot). Do you think 1 is adequate or would 2 be needed?
bboyvital
Active Member
I am running 2 of these over a 48x24x16 tank. The light came with 90 degree optics. I removed them and get great spread. For a 5 foot tank I might consider three depending on your rock work and what you are keeping in it.
You need to put 2 on that tank. One would be close, but you'd have some serious shadowing, thst would be up to you if the shadowing would be ok.
slaizer2000
New Member
Thanks for the quick replies.
I figured a minimum of 2 for the tank but just wanted to make sure as lighting is hard to visualize from the youtube videos.
The tank will be a new build so I can do the rock work around the lightning if needed.
I figured a minimum of 2 for the tank but just wanted to make sure as lighting is hard to visualize from the youtube videos.
The tank will be a new build so I can do the rock work around the lightning if needed.
