Inexpensive led lighting

[redfishbluefish]

........The link didn't work for me, but I searched for mars aqua led's on ebay and I found a couple different ones are you talking about the boxes or the longer light fixture?

I fixed the link in post #7 above.

As far as the price....that very recently just went up to 89.99. Again, eight months ago, I paid 78.

 

[Dtackett]

Really? All of the mars aqua ones I see on ebay are 89.99 or higher. Could you link me?

i only paid 70 for mine 2 years ago lol.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dimmable-Fu...360195?hash=item43d6d916c3:g:vdwAAOSwsB9V-OoO

this is a slightly better version of the mars aqua. its got:
Dimmer One(28 LEDs): Cool White 14,000k, Warm White 2700k, Red 660nm, Green 520nm
Dimmer Two(27 LEDs): Royal Blue, Purple 430nm,Blue 460nm

where as the mars aqua is:

• Dimmer One(28 LEDs): 8 x Cool White 12000k, 6 x Neutral White 7500k, 6 x Warm White 3500k, 2 x Red 660nm, 2 x Green 520nm, 4 x Blue 460nm

• Dimmer Two(27 LEDs): 7 x Royal Blue 450nm, 20 x Blue 460nm

while the mars aqua has a wider spectrum, most of it is unused. the link I posted has more whites in the range that you want plus 430nm purple and 460nm blues instead of the 450/460. this will give you better color, better growth and 2 of them will only cost you 160.
the only downside to the one I posted is theyre all 120 degree lenses whereas the mars aqua is 90/120. but this light will still give plenty of par at depth and prevent shadowing.

 

[Jwalker814]

As for the two plugs that's an easy fix also adding a ramp timer shouldn't be too hard either. It would also eliminate the power cord issue as you would have to replace the power supply in the housing.

Basic electronic knowledge would help but don't think it wouldn't be a big issue without.

 

[bobman]

Yep 89.99 they go up and down on price all the time. I got mine for 80 but that was a few months ago. I love mine never had an issue with them and my corals do well under them. They do get a bad rap from others with a light budget more than I make in a year. But dollar for dollar they are nice.

 

[Dtackett]

Yep 89.99 they go up and down on price all the time. I got mine for 80 but that was a few months ago. I love mine never had an issue with them and my corals do well under them. They do get a bad rap from others with a light budget more than I make in a year. But dollar for dollar they are nice.

yeah they only get a bad rep from people who have never used them whether they claim they've used them or not.

 

[Jwalker814]

@redfishbluefish you happen to take pics of the labels and wiring of power supply inside the housing when you removed the lens or messed with the fans?

 

[redfishbluefish]

@redfishbluefish you happen to take pics of the labels and wiring of power supply inside the housing when you removed the lens or messed with the fans?

The only thing that had labels were the fans....here's a picture of the inside of a Mars Aqua:

 

[bobman]

Ahh yes I remember this I removed the top plugs to reroute my cables through the back of the fixture to mount it in a canopy. They are pretty simple once to get to look into it.

 

[Jwalker814]

Could u tell if the fans were powered by drivers or were they 120v.

Trying to see if light board is 12v or 24v.

 

[ou12004]

I have the RB photon 48 and it is a great light. You grow anything with it.

 

[Killerflash]

i only paid 70 for mine 2 years ago lol.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dimmable-Fu...360195?hash=item43d6d916c3:g:vdwAAOSwsB9V-OoO

this is a slightly better version of the mars aqua. its got:
Dimmer One(28 LEDs): Cool White 14,000k, Warm White 2700k, Red 660nm, Green 520nm
Dimmer Two(27 LEDs): Royal Blue, Purple 430nm,Blue 460nm

where as the mars aqua is:

• Dimmer One(28 LEDs): 8 x Cool White 12000k, 6 x Neutral White 7500k, 6 x Warm White 3500k, 2 x Red 660nm, 2 x Green 520nm, 4 x Blue 460nm

• Dimmer Two(27 LEDs): 7 x Royal Blue 450nm, 20 x Blue 460nm

while the mars aqua has a wider spectrum, most of it is unused. the link I posted has more whites in the range that you want plus 430nm purple and 460nm blues instead of the 450/460. this will give you better color, better growth and 2 of them will only cost you 160.
the only downside to the one I posted is theyre all 120 degree lenses whereas the mars aqua is 90/120. but this light will still give plenty of par at depth and prevent shadowing.

I seen those they look about the same as the mars aqua ones; they're cheaper and yeah as far as numbers are concerned they are better.
I think I might go with these instead.

 

[Dtackett]

I seen those they look about the same as the mars aqua ones; they're cheaper and yeah as far as numbers are concerned they are better.
I think I might go with these instead.

they look the same but have slight differences that make them better all around beyond just the price. chances are they are made in the same factory (most of the Chinese lights are all made in the same factory) but these have a better spectrum for coral and will come out with a deeper blue and less of a windex color.

 

[bobman]

Could u tell if the fans were powered by drivers or were they 120v.

Trying to see if light board is 12v or 24v.

Dont quote me on it but I think they were 12V to the fans not sure about the drivers though

 

[mcarroll]

If you can consider DIY, I would strongly suggest a GU10 based lighting solution...for $90-$160 depending on the exact bulb choices you make.

It will be a much better solution than any of the premade boxes you're looking at because it will be designed for your tank: Mounting height will be up to you, whether you spill any light outside the tank will be up to you, etc.

Making the fixture to mount the sockets into is the only real DIY part. [emoji6]

You mount all the sockets, then the 3-watt bulbs just screw in. Super easy to wire. Not dimmable, but fully functional.

I've been running these for several years by now.

 

[Jwalker814]

Well I was thinking of going DIY using the sb upgrade boards. They are only $60 each. And I'll need 3 so $180. Just gotta see about a driver/power supply.

If I can find a place to source the individual LEDs cheap enough I'd like to make a solid 7'x1' board specific for my tank with 8 channels. 1 every foot and one for moon light.

Would minimize shadowing and increase spread.
150 white green red uv leds for the 7 channels and 50 LEDS for moon light

Putting roughly 600watts into my tank.

 

[JerSaint]

These are the ones I went with, I really like them! I like the layout of the leds and that they are 3w bridgelux branded leds.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Full-Spectr...433320?hash=item2c78741068:g:lE8AAOSwQTVV~N62

 

[gus6464]

Mars Aqua

Then to take to the next level.

Remove the optics, replace some LEDs for better ones.

All reds and greens - replace with violet
https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/single-color-diodes/

Profit.

 

[Dtackett]

well, that just got more complicated than it needs to be...

 

[Killerflash]

they look the same but have slight differences that make them better all around beyond just the price. chances are they are made in the same factory (most of the Chinese lights are all made in the same factory) but these have a better spectrum for coral and will come out with a deeper blue and less of a windex color.

I just remembered they are at a 120 degree angel and my tank is taller than it is deep 24" tall/18" deep so would it be better for me to get the 90 degree ones?
Not sure if the Mars Aquas angle makes up for the rest for the light to reach the bottom of my tank better.

 

[domination2580]

i only paid 70 for mine 2 years ago lol.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dimmable-Fu...360195?hash=item43d6d916c3:g:vdwAAOSwsB9V-OoO

this is a slightly better version of the mars aqua. its got:
Dimmer One(28 LEDs): Cool White 14,000k, Warm White 2700k, Red 660nm, Green 520nm
Dimmer Two(27 LEDs): Royal Blue, Purple 430nm,Blue 460nm

where as the mars aqua is:

• Dimmer One(28 LEDs): 8 x Cool White 12000k, 6 x Neutral White 7500k, 6 x Warm White 3500k, 2 x Red 660nm, 2 x Green 520nm, 4 x Blue 460nm

• Dimmer Two(27 LEDs): 7 x Royal Blue 450nm, 20 x Blue 460nm

while the mars aqua has a wider spectrum, most of it is unused. the link I posted has more whites in the range that you want plus 430nm purple and 460nm blues instead of the 450/460. this will give you better color, better growth and 2 of them will only cost you 160.
the only downside to the one I posted is theyre all 120 degree lenses whereas the mars aqua is 90/120. but this light will still give plenty of par at depth and prevent shadowing.

So these are better than the Mars aqua? Any chance they have a bigger version?