powerbrite led bars

Acroholic · Nov 10, 2009

benny z said:
i had issues finding the blue ones, too. the wholesalers are out of stock with no eta for backorder replacements. ended up paying retail through foster and smith also...

Current USA is going thru some stuff now. Either a bankruptcy or a a merger. I've heard both rumours. They've discontinued several of their product lines and replacement and warranty service is difficult to obtain from them now, per some LFS owners I know. I decided to get the PowerBrites while the getting was still good.

I found another product that looks similar here:

Finnex 23" LED Moon Light 9 x 1W Coral Fluorescent Blue with Dimmer - AquaCave

It is longer at 23", with 9 leds, but looks similar to the PowerBrites in intensity. Also has a dimming feature, so it can be used as a moonlite or a shimmer effect led like the PBs.
Dave

benny z · Nov 10, 2009

nice find!

Acroholic · Nov 10, 2009

Here's a link to a thread on uber frags about the Finnex product. Has some pics at the end of it.

Moonlight Recommendations. Finnex 23" LED strip? - UberFrags

Looks to be about the same as the PowerBrites, but the length could be an issue for smaller setups.
Dave

Sea MunnKey · Nov 10, 2009

RandyO started using the PowerBrite LED's way before it was even published or advertised anywhere else and I was fortunate to see it first hand and the best is when all the MH & actinics lights are all off ... everything's really dark and dim except .... from the "Glow in the Dark" fluorescence effect from the corals :beauty: It so Cool ... :neutral:

Paul

roscoe · Nov 10, 2009

benny z said:
wow - i figured up at that height the spotlighting wouldn't be so much. what footprint were you covering? i am now thinking 3 bars in a U-shape around the perimiter of my square t5 rig. the tank they'd be shining down into is a 24x24x8 lps/frag tank.

Yeah it surprised me also. The FP I was coving is 6'x3'. Also too for me the MH washes them out. I might end up getting rid of them if I can't find a use for them.

benny z · Nov 10, 2009

let me know if you do...might buy them depending on how things go with the set i just bought.

revhtree · Nov 10, 2009

I am fixing to do a cool DIY project on something similar to these power brites.

Ian · Nov 10, 2009

revhtree said:
I am fixing to do a cool DIY project on something similar to these power brites.

tease! :xd:

AD87 · Nov 10, 2009

To all that either run the blue powerbights or Finnex setup, are you able to tell when the leds are on while your mains are running?

roscoe · Nov 10, 2009

AD87 said:
To all that either run the blue powerbights or Finnex setup, are you able to tell when the leds are on while your mains are running?

As I stated earlier for me the MH washes them out. Granted you can see a little blue spot lighted in the area it is beaming down too but don't give a nice even color through out the whole tank like T-5s or VHO does which for me I don't like at all. IMHO I think it is a waste of money. At least for me it was:smile:.

gilmour01 · Nov 10, 2009

could these be used over an sps frag rack? thinking of swapping out the clamp on 70w halide for a couple of these.

eggie · Nov 12, 2009

This is my DIY LED buils way better then current power led bar

AD87 · Nov 12, 2009

wow very nice!! what type of led and what wattage are those?

eggie · Nov 12, 2009

AD87 said:
wow very nice!! what type of led and what wattage are those?

Thank you Creed Leds and they are 3.5
I made a LED build here is the link

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f30/led-diy-thread-30834.html

AD87 · Nov 12, 2009

eggie what are you using for your main lights. Can you tell when you led are on or do your main wash them out?

eggie · Nov 12, 2009

^ 6 T5 power module the picture is only with leds on no more
I use the leds for on my light hours start with

leds 11:00am on 11:00pm off
2 Blue plus 12:30 on 10:30 off
4 bulbs (combo 1 fiji purple,2 coral light and 1 new gen ) 2:30 On 7:30 off

I could tell when they are on you see the light more blue, colors pop more and the shimmer on the water

fsu1dolfan · Nov 12, 2009

That LED pic is awesome eggie.....i have a 30 gallon that i am working on attaching 6 of those type leds to my 150w sunpod...3 in the front and 3 in the back!!! Hope it something looks like yours.

AD87 · Nov 12, 2009

eggie said:
^ 6 T5 power module the picture is only with leds on no more
I use the leds for on my light hours start with

leds 11:00am on 11:00pm off
2 Blue plus 12:30 on 10:30 off
4 bulbs (combo 1 fiji purple,2 coral light and 1 new gen ) 2:30 On 7:30 off

I could tell when they are on you see the light more blue, colors pop more and the shimmer on the water

would it be too much to ask for a pic with the lights on and lights off?

CHALICEKEEPER · Nov 12, 2009

Just got my powerbrites!! Turned off my other lights put pb on for a minute to see what it looks like and wow never new my tank had that many colors makes everything unreal looking crazy wow factor.

benny z · Nov 14, 2009

well my led bars showed up today. i put three of them over my frag tank which is 24x24x8, and was trying to get coverage over the whole 24" footprint. the reports here of them being "spotlighty" is correct - i didn't get quite as much coverage as i was hoping, as i am left with about a 4" strip of darkness around the perimeter. however i am very happy with the results nonetheless!

here are some samples. this is blue leds only. the colors are super intense and i am seeing colors in corals i have never seen before. very cool!

this shot shows the perimeter of darkness: