Removing Lenses from Mars Aqua Fixture

[redfishbluefish]

Up until now I have been extremely impressed with this very inexpensive LED fixture. I've been running this for about eight months with the pots set at approximately 50%. However, I just discoverd that the fans are tied into the pots, and don't come on until the pots are turned up to about 75%. I want those fans running at any setting....or reduce the focused light.

So what I was thinking, if I pull off the lenses, I'd be able to run the light at a higher setting, allowing the fans to run.

Has anyone ever taken off the lenses on these lights.....is it possible....and what's your experiences?

Thanks

 

[redfishbluefish]

OK, I figured it out. A slight twist....but not too much because the lenses are fitted to the LED beads. And then a pull. Comes off very easily.

 

[Jwalker814]

Curious to know how u like the fixtures.
In the mix of setting up a 7' 200g tank and I want to swap out these two 400w MH for LEDs. Was looking at running 2 300w Mars aqua fixtures or 3 165w fixtures (3 would give me a little better control)

How are your corals taking to the lights? Are they the only lights you are running?

Also saw a previous article about the fans dying, do you see an obvious way to bypass the pots for the fans and just hardwire them to run with power.

How is penetration? my tank is almost 25" deep and my goal is to eventually have a fully mixed reef including clams.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I really love this fixture. I use to have T5's, with approximately 130 dollar expense in new bulbs every year. With this fixture at $78 (it has since gone up to $83), if I got a year out of it, I'd still be ahead of myself. My only negative comment is if you do want to run at lower setting, the fans don't come on. But then again, the lower settings are creating less heat and maybe they are not really necessary.

With you at 25 inches deep, you might want to keep the lenses. I'm only at 18 inches and have three 120 watt fixtures over a five foot tank. (Note, they sell the Mars Aqua as 165 W, but it only runs at about 120W). My other two fixtures are old Apollo fixtures that have no adjustment, other then two separate channels. The Apollos also have no lenses. Here's a shot of the three fixtures, with the Mars Aqua in the middle. Note, both pictures are blues only. The first one is with lenses, the second without. Also note that the Mars Aqua only has 22 blues, while the Apollos each have 30.

As far as bypassing the pots for the fans, I don't know electronics, but my guess is that you'd have to add a small power supply for the fans and a bridge rectifier that would tell the fans when the lights are receiving power, and to therefore turn on. I'm sure that could be done for less than $10.


As far as my corals, they grow like weeds. I ran just the two Apollos for three years, and then added the Mars Aqua about 8 months ago.

 

[Jwalker814]

That's great to hear. I guess I'll be picking three of these bad boys up in the new year. I may opt for 4 as a back up but not sure.

I'm thinking of buying a few ramp timers and replacing the pots with them. The insides seem pretty simplistic and easy enough to modify.

 

[reeferbuddy215]

Whats the pots sorry just curious as I have 3 mars aqua 165 watts and I love how well my corals all of them are growing and coloring up so fast but I'd like to modify them if possible and if there's a way to make it so I don't have dark spots in between each unit as I have a 125 gallon 6' long with 40 gal dual refugium underneath