Led help

[reefertank]

Has anyone used these, I understand what they are. Just looking for feedback, look more like a kessil style China box.

 

[reefertank]

Has anyone used these, I understand what they are. Just looking for feedback, look more like a kessil stile China box.

Drum roll please, and now the link lol

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/151732037408

 

[reefertank]

Bump

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Bump

Maybe try here

 

[vetteguy53081]

They don't look bad. I'd question the quality and warranty. If you decide to buy, Please update/inform us how they look (pics), and what coral response you are getting from them

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I think these black boxes are generally a lot better than most people think they are. This is probably nowhere near as good as an actual Kessil. But just like the regular black boxes, it'll probably at least grow corals.

One thing that is worthy of caution is the wifi/phone app "feature." Over the years, many black boxes have advertised having apps or having wifi connectivity. Then, when Apple or Google changes their store rules or updates their mobile OS, the app is removed from the store. Since the company selling this light is probably little more than an Ebay store for a giant factor that pumps out generics, they will likely be gone in a few years' time. This means that there will be no new apps or updates to the wifi connectivity, which means the light will likely go from black box to black brick. I would go for a light that either has physical knobs or a built-in simple LCD screen. If you have to have wifi or phone connectivity, I would personally not buy a black box.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I think these black boxes are generally a lot better than most people think they are. This is probably nowhere near as good as an actual Kessil. But just like the regular black boxes, it'll probably at least grow corals.

One thing that is worthy of caution is the wifi/phone app "feature." Over the years, many black boxes have advertised having apps or having wifi connectivity. Then, when Apple or Google changes their store rules or updates their mobile OS, the app is removed from the store. Since the company selling this light is probably little more than an Ebay store for a giant factor that pumps out generics, they will likely be gone in a few years' time. This means that there will be no new apps or updates to the wifi connectivity, which means the light will likely go from black box to black brick. I would go for a light that either has physical knobs or a built-in simple LCD screen. If you have to have wifi or phone connectivity, I would personally not buy a black box.

Well said especially on the WiFi aspect

 

[Instigate]

I think these black boxes are generally a lot better than most people think they are. This is probably nowhere near as good as an actual Kessil. But just like the regular black boxes, it'll probably at least grow corals.

One thing that is worthy of caution is the wifi/phone app "feature." Over the years, many black boxes have advertised having apps or having wifi connectivity. Then, when Apple or Google changes their store rules or updates their mobile OS, the app is removed from the store. Since the company selling this light is probably little more than an Ebay store for a giant factor that pumps out generics, they will likely be gone in a few years' time. This means that there will be no new apps or updates to the wifi connectivity, which means the light will likely go from black box to black brick. I would go for a light that either has physical knobs or a built-in simple LCD screen. If you have to have wifi or phone connectivity, I would personally not buy a black box.

You can generate an APK file for that app and you will forever have that app. True, that support and updates will be lacking to non-existant I'm sure.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

You can generate an APK file for that app and you will forever have that app. True, that support and updates will be lacking to non-existant I'm sure.

That's an option. I wouldn't personally choose to do it though. For that to work, Google can't make any major changes to how apps are run on Android or what APIs their VM exposes to apps. Google also can't introduce any controls that limit how apps are sideloaded. You also have to be on Android, because I'm not aware of any way to do this with IPAs on iOS. Not that you can do without jailbreaking (although I'm open to correction on that point, as I admittedly don't know much about the Apple ecosystem).

If anyone wants to do this and they're technically savvy enough, I won't try to dissuade them. All I can say is that I've seen a lot of threads saying "App is gone, my light is a brick. I've seen none that have said "App is gone, thank goodness I had an APK backup."

 

[Instigate]

That's an option. I wouldn't personally choose to do it though. For that to work, Google can't make any major changes to how apps are run on Android or what APIs their VM exposes to apps. Google also can't introduce any controls that limit how apps are sideloaded. You also have to be on Android, because I'm not aware of any way to do this with IPAs on iOS. Not that you can do without jailbreaking (although I'm open to correction on that point, as I admittedly don't know much about the Apple ecosystem).

If anyone wants to do this and they're technically savvy enough, I won't try to dissuade them. All I can say is that I've seen a lot of threads saying "App is gone, my light is a brick. I've seen none that have said "App is gone, thank goodness I had an APK backup."

For sure, wouldn't be for most people. No idea about what you can do on the Apple side of things, never had an interest in such a closed(and expensive) ecosystem. If it stopped working due to an Android update you could always revert back or even keep an older phone just to control the lights and don't update it. I'm sure most of us have an old cellphone in a drawer somewhere. It's hacky but it would work. But like you said you would have to know how to do all that. I think your observation on what type of threads you're seeing is likely only because people don't know how easy it is to save and install APK files.

 

[reefertank]

Well this one has the manual knobs. I am going to give it a shot. I've just never seen a China box this style.

 

[Instigate]

Well this one has the manual knobs. I am going to give it a shot. I've just never seen a China box this style.

I'm curious what the spread is like. The reviews on the listing are positive.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I still run an old wifi black box. The app is something to worry about. I have an old android tablet that I use. The app won't work on my newer android version 9. I might also add that it won't run on 8.0+ either.

The knobs will only work for the white and blue channel. I don't think it will have an effect on the 3 smaller moon lights.