SBReef vs populargrow vs RB Superlux

[Mjp83]

Hi fellow Reefers:
Have a 72" 125 with mostly softies.
Have a $500 budget for lights, and after doing much research I have a few questions:

1. Populargrow (evergrow) makes other more expensive black boxes on the market. Will mixing a SBReef SBox look much different next to a Populargrow? I have seen the OceanRevive/RB Superlux next to a Mars Aqua, and the MA was warmer/red. I like the T247b, but it has no moonlights!
2. Is the disco effect more noticeable on cheaper black boxes? Or is it due to hanging them to low to the waterline? One of the major reasons I am so undecided.
3. How well does the app for the eBay lights work versus the SBox? Is it the same?
4. I would buy 2 SBReef Sbox Wifi 's as they have supposedly a proven color spectrum (no disco effect, cool mix of LEDs), and add a third box at a later time.
BUT- I can buy TWO Populargrow WIFI boxes for the price of one SBox.
I am not going to ask, and put anyone on the spot, but I am not looking to grow sps corals, so is it worth spending the extra money??
Ps. I would not be afraid to solder and replace some warm whites/red LEDs in the China box if they are similar to the Mars Aqua ones, and a write up exists.

Sorry for all the questions, and please be aware I am not looking to put down any company, every light has its purpose, I am just looking to see which fits my particular tank the best!

Thanks!

 

[mcarroll]

Literally any light can be made to work.

The lights you are looking at are much better at working on a cube shaped tank.

Your tank is long and skinny, so something in the strip format would fit better. There will also be much less shading. Something like the 72" Orbit Marine Pro.

 

[mcarroll]

Consider DIY if budget is tight. I've got a very easy plan I can link you to...

 

[Mjp83]

Here is my rockscape. I would be super happy about DYI, but there is so much info out there I got super overwhelmed! Send me the link pls?

 

[Mandrew]

I would like that link as well. I just got a 75g I'm looking to light cheaply!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

GO with the SB. You can pull lenses to reduce disco or for better coverage. Plus Theres a guy you can call on the phone if you have problems or need parts or help when the unit arrives(see his threads here and FB.)
The ramping rocks!

 

[Mjp83]

Yeah, I am thinking the same. I emailed SB yesterday, waiting for a reply.
I did notice today for the first time the amount of shimmer the MarsAquas has on the 125. Wondering if it's due to no glass lids, whereas on my 72 bow I had glass lids under them??

 

[mcarroll]

I would like that link as well. I just got a 75g I'm looking to light cheaply!

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/267432-gu10-led-build-thread-chinese-ebay-lights/

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yeah, I am thinking the same. I emailed SB yesterday, waiting for a reply.
I did notice today for the first time the amount of shimmer the MarsAquas has on the 125. Wondering if it's due to no glass lids, whereas on my 72 bow I had glass lids under them??

Yea if you had salt and smudges on them it diffuses the light.

 

[Mandrew]

None of the pictures showed up for me in that link. [emoji17] anyway you can show me a before and after pic of some of your corals?

 

[mcarroll]

Ps. I would not be afraid to solder and replace some warm whites/red LEDs

It seems like you're going after the gimmicks, btw. Red lights and wifi add nothing to the effectiveness of the fixtures. Lenses can't make up for the emitters being too concentrated - there are unfavorable side-effects. You have to reach to say that even sunrise/sunset is of benefit since corals don't seem to care about that either. It's fine to have all these things (like my Maxspect Razor), but it can be useful to know that all you need is a blue+white fixture that turns off and on (like my DIY's). That's it.

If nothing else, knowing that can help prioritize the budget a little.

2¢

 

[Mjp83]

Mcarroll,

You are correct, gimmicks can cloud ones real needs quickly, but why do we keep glass boxes in our homes imprisoning all types of aquatic life?
My reason would be for the challenge, to buy a frag, and through proper care, see it grow into a thriving colony of a coral, and fish to interact with the mini Eco system we create. So good lights are essential!

But bottom line, when I want to show off my hard work, I lower the white channel and ramp up the blue LEDs, and my corals and fish pop like nothing ever seen by most people, and that is saltwater!
My wife and kids gaze, and my wife understands why I just spend $600 on lights, and my kids know why I didn't play uno with them, since I had to do a water change instead.
As for the lights, to meet in the middle, I did lots of reading, educated myself, and reached out to the community, and was able to secure a good quality set of lights, with a solid spectrum, and....wifi! And they are not from eBay!

So here is what I found:

I would have liked to build my own lights, but my tank is in need of lights asap. Unfortunately, as Mandrew noted, none of the pics in the given link worked. At this moment, my research was exhausted, and I needed a light now!

Sbreeflights did email me back, and I would highly recommend them. Ocean revives seem to have a good growth spectrum, but their website only lists the t247, so I was a bit worried about ordering from them.
Reefbreeders sells the t247 as the superlux, and I almost ordered it, but wanted to have dedicated moonlights, as in three separate channels. They only offer dimable whites and blues on a timer.
The Populargrow lights on eBay are out. Low budget, but also questionable quality? I didn't want to take the risk.

All others were way above my price point, and I enjoy softies as much as more serious reefers like their acroporas. My bud has a high tech tank, apex controller, and everything top of the line, including very expensive lights. And it has some issues.
I like a simple approach, and use a sump with filter pads, carbon and phosban in bags, a skimmer and a simple uv sterilizer. I dose a few things a week, and follow James Fatherree's keep it simple approach.

Sorry for the ramble, just wanted to share where I am coming from, and thanks for the advice!!

I will update with the arrival of the lights some time next week!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Mcarroll,

You are correct, gimmicks can cloud ones real needs quickly, but why do we keep glass boxes in our homes imprisoning all types of aquatic life?
My reason would be for the challenge, to buy a frag, and through proper care, see it grow into a thriving colony of a coral, and fish to interact with the mini Eco system we create. So good lights are essential!

But bottom line, when I want to show off my hard work, I lower the white channel and ramp up the blue LEDs, and my corals and fish pop like nothing ever seen by most people, and that is saltwater!
My wife and kids gaze, and my wife understands why I just spend $600 on lights, and my kids know why I didn't play uno with them, since I had to do a water change instead.
As for the lights, to meet in the middle, I did lots of reading, educated myself, and reached out to the community, and was able to secure a good quality set of lights, with a solid spectrum, and....wifi! And they are not from eBay!

So here is what I found:

I would have liked to build my own lights, but my tank is in need of lights asap. Unfortunately, as Mandrew noted, none of the pics in the given link worked. At this moment, my research was exhausted, and I needed a light now!

Sbreeflights did email me back, and I would highly recommend them. Ocean revives seem to have a good growth spectrum, but their website only lists the t247, so I was a bit worried about ordering from them.
Reefbreeders sells the t247 as the superlux, and I almost ordered it, but wanted to have dedicated moonlights, as in three separate channels. They only offer dimable whites and blues on a timer.
The Populargrow lights on eBay are out. Low budget, but also questionable quality? I didn't want to take the risk.

All others were way above my price point, and I enjoy softies as much as more serious reefers like their acroporas. My bud has a high tech tank, apex controller, and everything top of the line, including very expensive lights. And it has some issues.
I like a simple approach, and use a sump with filter pads, carbon and phosban in bags, a skimmer and a simple uv sterilizer. I dose a few things a week, and follow James Fatherree's keep it simple approach.

Sorry for the ramble, just wanted to share where I am coming from, and thanks for the advice!!

I will update with the arrival of the lights some time next week!

What lights did you get?

 

[mcarroll]

What does SB sell that adds up to $600 for that tank?

 

[mcarroll]

None of the pictures showed up for me in that link.

none of the pics in the given link worked.

You mean this link that I posted earlier?

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/267432-gu10-led-build-thread-chinese-ebay-lights/

I guess the OP cleared out his photobucket or whatever....still don't get why forums allow links like that...countless threads have been ruined like that. (In case anyone doesn't know, Flickr allow unlimited uploads...or a terrabyte or something. Please don't post photos on a thread like that and then delete them....there's no good reason anymore.)

But here's the youtube vid from the opening post which shows the baseline build for an in-wall system....between $60 and $100 in sockets and bulbs:

And if you scroll down to just below the dead images, there are about 150 links to example builds - pay no attention to ones that deviate significantly from the baseline build. They use similar equipment, but the results would be inferior in all cases....consider them experiements.

Holler if you have technical questions!

(I do not have before/after pics...or many pics at all these days. Mostly being a Dad now....tank is on the back burner for about 4 years running. But you can read my history here for all the details. In a nutshell: use a light meter when switching lights. Even a lux meter works perfectly well. Even a $free lux meter app for your smartphone is great compared to guessing with your eyeballs! )

And @Mjp83 good luck with your SB's.....I was just posting this for posterity!

 

[Mjp83]

Ok, so update!
Black boxes came in super well packed. Three cooling fans, super quiet, can not hear them.
I mounted them by cutting a 1" smaller hole in the top of my canopy, and set the lights on top, then made wood channels on each side to keep them in tracks. The canopy is heavy duty wood, as it used to house MH. So the lights are 11" of the water, and draw fresh air in and exhaust it all on top of the canopy. My spread is super, very little shadowing. The wifi programming was somewhat confusing, but I figured it out. The sunrise/sundown and moonlight features are awesome!!
My iPad controls it, and when I have guests over I can quickly change to all blues and show off some amazing colors. My moonlights are UV range 420nm lenses, kind of purple, but I tell you, I never realized the colors I had in my corals!!!
I rather look at my tank in the reflection of my big screen tv than actually turn on the TV! My wife questioned me recently as to why I was sitting in the dark living room.
At this time I have programmed about 20 ramping times, and max out at 45 blues and 30 whites to acclimate my corals. That is plenty bright right now!
Attached is a pic, it's a sad representation of the actual tank, as it was taken with my iPad.
Plenty of great lights out there, know what your tank needs, shop smart and enjoy! There are many ways to get good results, some things work, some don't, but the LEDs sure have left my tank water nice and cool as well!

 

[Mandrew]

Which did you go with?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yes, do tell!

 

[Mandrew]

I'm really curious now because I decided I want LEDs again instead of t5 lol

 

[tj w]

Ok, so update!
Black boxes came in super well packed. Three cooling fans, super quiet, can not hear them.
I mounted them by cutting a 1" smaller hole in the top of my canopy, and set the lights on top, then made wood channels on each side to keep them in tracks. The canopy is heavy duty wood, as it used to house MH. So the lights are 11" of the water, and draw fresh air in and exhaust it all on top of the canopy. My spread is super, very little shadowing. The wifi programming was somewhat confusing, but I figured it out. The sunrise/sundown and moonlight features are awesome!!
My iPad controls it, and when I have guests over I can quickly change to all blues and show off some amazing colors. My moonlights are UV range 420nm lenses, kind of purple, but I tell you, I never realized the colors I had in my corals!!!
I rather look at my tank in the reflection of my big screen tv than actually turn on the TV! My wife questioned me recently as to why I was sitting in the dark living room.
At this time I have programmed about 20 ramping times, and max out at 45 blues and 30 whites to acclimate my corals. That is plenty bright right now!
Attached is a pic, it's a sad representation of the actual tank, as it was taken with my iPad.
Plenty of great lights out there, know what your tank needs, shop smart and enjoy! There are many ways to get good results, some things work, some don't, but the LEDs sure have left my tank water nice and cool as well!

After this long post, can we ask what kind of lights you ended up going with please?