Favorite "Black Box LED Light"

[mitchell01]

Yes that is the 300 watt version. Only difference between the 165 and 300 would be that the 165 watts are separate and can be positioned further apart. You need to look at the length of tank and spread of the 300 watt to maybe see if you need one 300 or two 165s.

Thanks for the reply are these better

 

[reeferfoxx]

Thanks for the reply are these better

I consider that to be subjective. That light doesn't have any 3500k warm white chips. Typically the warm white helps cancel blues for our viewing. Therefore you would see a more blue/purplish color to your tank. Compared to the Mars Aqua, they both grow coral.

 

[mitchell01]

I consider that to be subjective. That light doesn't have any 3500k warm white chips. Typically the warm white helps cancel blues for our viewing. Therefore you would see a more blue/purplish color to your tank. Compared to the Mars Aqua, they both grow coral.

Ok I seem to like the mars aquas better thanks again lol

 

[taintstick]

Ok I seem to like the mars aquas better thanks again lol

Search out galaxy hydro, that's what I rock controlled by my iPhone through wifi. 4 presets and one customizable with the app. I got 2 for 300. They are about 20" off the water surface, 45% whites and 90% blues and 90% royal blue.

 

[happyhourhero]

I liked my galaxyhydro while I ran it. SB makes just the light board that you can swap out to get a much better spectrum that works with GH and mars Aqua. I could tell an immediate difference.

 

[taintstick]

Call it riggin, in a way, but all I did was cover a few whites and ramped them up a bit to get the colors to be more pronounced. My "DIY" lol [emoji23] worked out quite nicely

 

[Jisko]

I'm running two 165 watt ViparSpectra Controllable fixtures over my 150g reef tank. I only paid 220$ out the door with a two year warranty. So far so good I have a GBTA that is doing well under these lights.

Two thumbs up.

how do you like them? I'm looking at buying a few boxes for my frag tank and display tank. They're about $130 each on amazon right now which seems like a bargain

 

[Murica]

Question here and tagging along... Radion g4 pro vs best black box? Mainly lps and shrooms. If black box then which one? Are they worth it or worth spending the extra money for the radions?

And what about sps, are they good for those?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Question here and tagging along... Radion g4 pro vs best black box? Mainly lps and shrooms. If black box then which one? Are they worth it or worth spending the extra money for the radions?

And what about sps, are they good for those?

Radions are plug and play units. Meaning they come with some really nice software to ease the consumer on "dialing in" the spectrum and intensity. Black box can be some serious guess work without an adequate PAR meter. That said, black boxes do grow coral and have the ability to be customized. So cost wise even if you went with a plain jane Mars Aqua for $90 +/- and an apogee or seneye PAR meter ($200 +/-) You are still only looking at $300 +/- for 1 light and 1 meter.

 

[taintstick]

Honestly, if your looking to have each individual color controllable, then AI or Radion is your best bet. If your looking for a good cheap light that you start out with and play with to learn, black boxes are your best best.
+1 on the finicky par reading from black boxes, but honestly, isn't that true about all dimmable LED's..? I would think even more with each channel controllable IMO.. and yes be aware of the black boxes, they are powerful! Start low and work your way up indeed haha.
I don't own a par meter, nor have I ever gotten a reading, I let my corals talk to me lol

 

[taintstick]

Well dang, did a quick search for my black box and there are none available...

 

[reeferfoxx]

Well dang, did a quick search for my black box and there are none available...

They are the same as the Populargrow wifi units.

 

[taintstick]

They are the same as the Populargrow wifi units.

Maybe that's why there was a huge sale on them not long ago.. wifi units going for $100. Changing the name I guess..

 

[reeferfoxx]

Maybe that's why there was a huge sale on them not long ago.. wifi units going for $100. Changing the name I guess..

Yeah. Most of them are rebranded with names. Typically the same manufacturer. I am noticing a lot of competition and new options. Options including 169w COB led boxes and newer companies like Zetlight emerging.

 

[mitchell01]

Yeah. Most of them are rebranded with names. Typically the same manufacturer. I am noticing a lot of competition and new options. Options including 169w COB led boxes and newer companies like Zetlight emerging.

How much modding do u really have to do can somebody watch a few YouTube videos and they are good or no

 

[reeferfoxx]

How much modding do u really have to do can somebody watch a few YouTube videos and they are good or no

When I first started I looked up removing 165w black box lenses. And then How to solder led chips on chinese black box. There are several videos on youtube. Once you watch those two, it's really simple. Since LED chips are cheap and there is a risk of burning one out with a soldering iron, it really doesn't hurt to damage one the first or second time. Those chips cost from $.40 to $.65 a chip.

 

[mitchell01]

When I first started I looked up removing 165w black box lenses. And then How to solder led chips on chinese black box. There are several videos on youtube. Once you watch those two, it's really simple. Since LED chips are cheap and there is a risk of burning one out with a soldering iron, it really doesn't hurt to damage one the first or second time. Those chips cost from $.40 to $.65 a chip.

Ok thanks how many do you need and would I need 2 165 watts on a 100 gallon 48 inch tank I have softies and Los but planning on sps

 

[mitchell01]

Chips

 

[taintstick]

Well dang! I've had mine for almost 2 years, guess things have been changing quicker than I thought

 

[pettoe90]

I'm running two 165 watt ViparSpectra Controllable fixtures over my 150g reef tank. I only paid 220$ out the door with a two year warranty. So far so good I have a GBTA that is doing well under these lights.

Two thumbs up.

I got the same works great so far