The real Black Box light study

Ruben's Reef · May 2, 2019

@Manose I will be following your light studies. You're doing an AMAZING job that benefits all of us. I always will be grateful for you personal help with the Noopsyche lights.

crusso1993 · May 2, 2019

Manose said:
I think people come here and should expect one thing, and that is numbers and data on different lights.
So lets do this and do it correctly!
After considering all the options I think the best way to proceed would be getting another person involved to help.
I want to have @dantimdad help get this study back where it should be by looking at various lights all over the world and study them for quality,par,spectrum and overall performance.
@dantimdad could do a light one week and post his results here and I do one the next. Then we can take that data and put it on the front page with links.
I have 2 lights that I really want to test first and foremost:
The spectra- I found it here=https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/New-Design-Timer-Dimmer-Moonlight-Marine_60856191285.html
I have had these up and running once but no data yet

Next is the Pixie 150=I have had this light for awhile and it needs a full test and review
I bought this light here for 239ea. plus shipping=https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/LuminiAqua-Hot-selling-150W-led-aquarium_60489185694.html

I've said this before and I'll keep saying it, many kudos to you for the time, effort, money and self-sacrifice in doing this study!

Now, to address the new and real elephant in the room; I realize you're not necessarily looking for funds but, if you are serious about working with @dantimdad , I'll happily start a GoFundMe account for the bills you'll be racking up for upcoming psychiatric care!

Manose · May 2, 2019

crusso1993 said:
I've said this before and I'll keep saying it, many kudos to you for the time, effort, money and self-sacrifice in doing this study!

Now, to address the new and real elephant in the room; I realize you're not necessarily looking for funds but, if you are serious about working with @dantimdad , I'll happily start a GoFundMe account for the bills you'll be racking up for upcoming psychiatric care!

LOL!!

dantimdad · May 2, 2019

Let's put our heads together and get on this!

Rybren · May 2, 2019

I really appreciate the time and effort that you have put into this study. Thanks!

now get cracking on the Spectra

Manose · May 4, 2019

dantimdad said:
Let's put our heads together and get on this!

Msg me bro so we can get this bad boy going again

Manose · May 4, 2019

Rybren said:
I really appreciate the time and effort that you have put into this study. Thanks!

now get cracking on the Spectra

I must say this little light seems like it is going to be nice. The App is awesome once I figured out how to connect it to the light. Here are some pic I took on page 37:

Manose said:
Testing another light with a cool little app. I should have some numbers tonight or tomorrow but here are some pics................

Rybren · May 4, 2019

Manose said:
I must say this little light seems like it is going to be nice. The App is awesome once I figured out how to connect it to the light. Here are some pic I took on page 37:

Excellent! Looks promising. Thanks

Sarah24! · May 4, 2019

Lowell Lemon said:
I noticed in passing these pages you have 407 posts and only 76 likes....there is this book called how to win friends and influence people...you should pick up copy and read it. Have a great day!;Blackeye

Hello,

Isn’t there a movie that’s called how to lose friends and alienate people? I thought it was based on this book by an ex employee who worked for a fashion magazine.

Lam-Luxbid · May 5, 2019

awesome! and which light is going on? lol

dantimdad · May 5, 2019

So I have secured the use of the same PAR meter @Manose has been using to keep consistency.

I have to get ahold of a 60 cube and then we are off to the races.

swayd · May 9, 2019

This is awesome!
Def following along, I just set a new tank up and am deciding whether to go black box or "big" box lol.

Demonic · May 9, 2019

Manose said:
I must say this little light seems like it is going to be nice. The App is awesome once I figured out how to connect it to the light. Here are some pic I took on page 37:

That light is probably the coolest on I have seen yet. Did you snag that one at Alibaba? I might give it a try. I love the Noopsyches you recommended by the way. I did order an Orphek and an AI Prime as well to give them a shot

Manose · May 9, 2019

Demonic said:
That light is probably the coolest on I have seen yet. Did you snag that one at Alibaba? I might give it a try. I love the Noopsyches you recommended by the way. I did order an Orphek and an AI Prime as well to give them a shot

Yes I got it from Alibaba pretty cheap. Took me awhile to get the app going but once I figured it out is was awesome to use.

dantimdad · May 9, 2019

So here is a question about this study: After we have concluded the stock testing, would the next logical step be to mod a light in different ways to see which mods are improvements and which aren't? And, when it is an improvement, is it worth it? Finally, given the cost of the mods, should you skip them and just buy something more expensive?

I have 2 black boxes. One is still stock. the other is only modded by removing most lenses, upgrading the fans and adding moonlights.

dantimdad · May 9, 2019

double post

cvrle1 · May 9, 2019

dantimdad said:
So here is a question about this study: After we have concluded the stock testing, would the next logical step be to mod a light in different ways to see which mods are improvements and which aren't? And, when it is an improvement, is it worth it? Finally, given the cost of the mods, should you skip them and just buy something more expensive?

I have 2 black boxes. One is still stock. the other is only modded by removing most lenses, upgrading the fans and adding moonlights.

I like that idea, as if there is a way to make some of these lights even better for cheap, it would be great to know. Do you think there are any possible mods to NP lights that would improve them even further? I think you were working on defuser for them, but not sure if anything came out of that.

Demonic · May 9, 2019

Manose said:
Yes I got it from Alibaba pretty cheap. Took me awhile to get the app going but once I figured it out is was awesome to use.

Do you remember what it was called?

Demonic · May 9, 2019

cvrle1 said:
I like that idea, as if there is a way to make some of these lights even better for cheap, it would be great to know. Do you think there are any possible mods to NP lights that would improve them even further? I think you were working on defuser for them, but not sure if anything came out of that.

Put them in an Aquatic Life fixture and add LED bars accordingly to reach the desired PAR.

dantimdad · May 9, 2019

I finished the diffuser but removed the light to test other options.

I worked very well for my purposes. Absolutely no disco effect, smooth color, still some shimmer I lost about 12% which didn't matter because, at the time I was only running 60% blue and 10% (minimum setting) whites.