Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 04/10/2015, 06:22 AM   #76
CaptreeOne
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Nyc
Posts: 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by paullondon View Post
Which one? Which Mars, they have tons of models...? http://stores.ebay.com/marshydrousastore/
My bad, would want to mod the 165w.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MarsAqua-Dim...item5658ce27ed


CaptreeOne is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/10/2015, 10:35 AM   #77
cthetoy
Registered Member
 
cthetoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Posts: 1,891
Just to clarify that these units have no controller so you can dim the LEDs with a controller like an Apex. You CAN MANUALLY DIM the blue and DIM the white separately with the knob on top.

Since there is an AC plug for white and another AC plug for blues you can have you blues come on first then whites later on your Apex, timer, etc. You just can not dim them automatically. Just manually.


cthetoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/10/2015, 10:54 AM   #78
Swope2bc
Registered Member
 
Swope2bc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 1,066
Thanks for that, I was thinking some didn't quite understand. The question I'm still asking is if they can be modified to have independent dimming and programming. If anyone has a link to a how too that would be cool.


Swope2bc is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/10/2015, 03:32 PM   #79
paullondon
Registered Member
 
paullondon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London, ON
Posts: 127
Quote:
Originally Posted by Icefire View Post
http://www.esasafe.com/assets/files/...ins/2-7-29.pdf

It's part of the electrical code it, if it's not in the exeption (low voltage, low VA), it must be approuved. Leds can get in the 160 watts and more which can get hot enought to melt plastics if it's not dissipated correctly. GFCI won't help for arcing fault or a fire unless it short put.
That part of the code hereby does not concern you as a buyer, it is strictly for sellers who are distributing electrical products in Canada.
This LED lights are legally considered portable luminaries, a plug-in lamp. In order for an insurance company to deny coverage they will HAVE TO PROVE you voluntarily connected the lights to the home circuit in a wrongfully and criminal manner with the intent of causing fire or cause injury.
As a side note there are no aquarium fixtures CSA/UL approved. In order for that to happen they would carry the specification CSA for damp/wet and rated and listed as such in the directory. If a MH has CSA is NOT for use with your aquarium or near water. The only wet CSA/UL I've seen so fr was for the lights on boats. And your T5 fixture for example, it is not CSA/UL approved for marine aquarium use.
The information I posted previously is from an electrician running a company for 35 years...


paullondon is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/10/2015, 04:57 PM   #80
Mael
Registered Member
 
Mael's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 1,351
http://www.forum.digitalaquatics.com...p?f=21&t=13360

link for converting chinese black boxes with knob dimmers to work with the reefkeeper ALC module, I would assume a similar mod can be done for making it work with an Apex.


Mael is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/10/2015, 04:57 PM   #81
paullondon
Registered Member
 
paullondon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London, ON
Posts: 127
Quote:
Originally Posted by Atomic081 View Post
My light is 18" off the surface of the water. 12 inch deep tank. (Frag tank) .

Full blast both blue and white I was getting 400 par at the surface and 200 par 12 inches down.

Half power I was getting 250 par at the surface and 125 at the bottom (12" deep)
Quote:
Originally Posted by xghxh View Post
any par readings so far?
The values were posted at the beginning of this thread


paullondon is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/10/2015, 05:05 PM   #82
paullondon
Registered Member
 
paullondon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London, ON
Posts: 127
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swope2bc View Post
Thanks for that, I was thinking some didn't quite understand. The question I'm still asking is if they can be modified to have independent dimming and programming. If anyone has a link to a how too that would be cool.
https://youtu.be/FMnxrO8Fbug

https://youtu.be/sKj3l1d8gic

Also a very nice thread here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2332822


paullondon is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/10/2015, 05:06 PM   #83
Swope2bc
Registered Member
 
Swope2bc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 1,066
Sweet! Thanks guys


Swope2bc is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/19/2015, 10:31 AM   #84
SaltyMember
Premium Member
 
SaltyMember's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,355
I have a 65 gallon 36x18x24 tank that I want to change from T5s. It will be primarily softies. Would the 165wt unit give me enough spread or should I go for the wider 300wt unit?


SaltyMember is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/19/2015, 11:02 AM   #85
Bpb
Registered Member
 
Bpb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,148
Get two of the small ones or one larger one. A single 165 watt will be way too small


Bpb is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/19/2015, 02:28 PM   #86
paullondon
Registered Member
 
paullondon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London, ON
Posts: 127
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bpb View Post
Get two of the small ones or one larger one. A single 165 watt will be way too small
+1 Get 2 small ones or the 300W
This is how the 300W looks on a tank of about the same length as yours but is only 40 gallons...



paullondon is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/19/2015, 05:37 PM   #87
SaltyMember
Premium Member
 
SaltyMember's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,355
Thank you for the feedback Bpb and paullondon. The light spread looks good in the picture. Will likely just go for the 300wt unit then. Good thread here.


SaltyMember is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/19/2015, 09:54 PM   #88
Junk2
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 22
Thinking of going with a 3 pack of the 165w for my 120 (4x2x2). Softies, lps and an rbta. Think that gives me the coverage I need? Thanks all.


Junk2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/19/2015, 10:00 PM   #89
Junk2
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 22
Sorry, but also how far off the water should I mount them? Thanks


Junk2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/19/2015, 10:24 PM   #90
Swope2bc
Registered Member
 
Swope2bc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 1,066
I don't have the first hand experience but if your tank is only 4' I think a 2 pack would be sufficient.


Swope2bc is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/20/2015, 10:42 PM   #91
paullondon
Registered Member
 
paullondon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London, ON
Posts: 127
Quote:
Originally Posted by Junk2 View Post
Sorry, but also how far off the water should I mount them? Thanks
Since the measurements posted at the star of this topic were:
"My light is 18" off the surface of the water. 12 inch deep tank. (Frag tank) .

Full blast both blue and white I was getting 400 par at the surface and 200 par 12 inches down.

Half power I was getting 250 par at the surface and 125 at the bottom (12" deep)"

I placed my lights on chandelier chains on brackets (see pic above) so I can easily move them up and down. The lowest I can set them is 10" above water surface and the highest is 29"-30" above water surface.
This is sufficient to successfully keep most SPS and LPS


paullondon is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/21/2015, 11:42 AM   #92
Shark.Bait
Registered Member
 
Shark.Bait's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 244
Whats the length on the 300w unit? Would two be ok on a 265 (82x24X30) if i expect some shadowing? Or should I go with 3 165w units? Im worried about the 30inch depth.


Shark.Bait is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 09:48 AM   #93
80cent
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 20
I know I'm late to the party, but I'm looking to light the Nuvo 40 gallon, and I had been recommended the D2120 but wanted to know if these were better.


80cent is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 09:58 AM   #94
Swope2bc
Registered Member
 
Swope2bc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 1,066
Mars Aqua Chinese LED review (Ebay)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 80cent View Post
I know I'm late to the party, but I'm looking to light the Nuvo 40 gallon, and I had been recommended the D2120 but wanted to know if these were better.

Without any first hand experience, basically I just peaked at the add, they appear to be similar units with a different name pasted on to me... What are the dimensions of your 40g? (Just looked up the dims and one unit will be fine) I would try to research the customer support available from that company (if any). For the extra $25 for the Mars unit and some semblance of support and US warehouse for replacement, and support I would spend the extra. That being said the unit you listed does ship from California...


Swope2bc is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 10:30 AM   #95
80cent
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 20
Thanks for the response! I was really wondering if the wattage difference (120 vs 165) would really make a difference in a 40 gallon tank.


80cent is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 10:44 AM   #96
Swope2bc
Registered Member
 
Swope2bc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 1,066
Mars Aqua Chinese LED review (Ebay)

The 165 w is actually an over rating.. 55 3w LEDs in both fixtures. Rated 165w but actual output is only about 120w on the Mars units also. These are Chinese "black box" units and basically the same unit rebranded.



Last edited by Swope2bc; 04/22/2015 at 10:50 AM.
Swope2bc is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 10:44 AM   #97
Bpb
Registered Member
 
Bpb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,148
Quote:
Originally Posted by 80cent View Post
Thanks for the response! I was really wondering if the wattage difference (120 vs 165) would really make a difference in a 40 gallon tank.
There isn't a difference. 165 watts is just the "nominal" or "rated" wattage. They get this number by just adding up the max wattage of all the diodes. ALL of these units are only driven to 2.2 watts per diode at max power which rings in at around 120 watts actual power. Read the fine print. Hardly anyone runs them at 100% anyway


Bpb is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 10:49 AM   #98
Swope2bc
Registered Member
 
Swope2bc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 1,066
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bpb View Post
There isn't a difference. 165 watts is just the "nominal" or "rated" wattage. They get this number by just adding up the max wattage of all the diodes. ALL of these units are only driven to 2.2 watts per diode at max power which rings in at around 120 watts actual power. Read the fine print. Hardly anyone runs them at 100% anyway

Exactly! Only Bpb was much more clear than me lol


Swope2bc is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 11:29 AM   #99
80cent
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 20
Today I learned something! Thanks for your help guys.


80cent is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 12:35 PM   #100
Bpb
Registered Member
 
Bpb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,148
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swope2bc View Post
Exactly! Only Bpb was much more clear than me lol
LOL we submitted our posts at the exact same time.


Bpb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:30 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.