Best Chinese Lights - 120G
 

Hello folks,

I am doing some research on the best chinese lights for a mixed reef 120G tank.

Can you guys please provide me with some of your choices as well links if possible to your cheap lights?

Thank you!

What are the dimensions of the tank? A couple of these fixtures might do the trick.

https://www.amazon.com/MarsAqua-Dimm.../dp/B017GX73YY

Thank you!

The dimensions are 4ftx2ftx2ft.
I am currently using this setup:

(2x) of https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Ligh...ef+tank+lights

But am I am not sure if that's enough.

"best" and "Chinese"... Thats an oxymoron like "Jumbo Shrimp" with respect to the typical reef lighting offerings out there..
In general all of those are basically the same "lower quality" product just rebranded/slightly modified base system..
None are really better than the other.. Some have a few extra features like timers, some have 1 plug vs 2, etc.. but other than that its basically all the same product.. same lower quality.. same "just safe enough" construction/design..
I have used them on my tanks/sumps in the past and they do just fine though for a few years...

2 x 165W fixtures is plenty though for a mixed reef 120G tank.

Out of the Chinese black boxes Reef breeders would be at the top of the list.

https://www.reefbreeders.com

Followed by viparspectra.

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-...s=pet-supplies

The problem with Chinese lights are not the LEDS......but the power adapter (that look like laptop power adapter blk blocks) inside the case. These power adapters all seem to burn up in 12-24mos. You reachout to the Seller for replace adapters and they only want to sell you a NEW UNIT.

I would definitely get a Chinese light that is PROGRAMABLE for sure

Read all the reviews on Amazon. Throw out 5star and 1star comments

The link below might help. Lots of different opinions, tank sizes & set-ups etc.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2474870

I use 2 VISPARSPECTRA 165watts, 2 years now, very happy, well made, corals love them, fan you can't hear even up close, each just $160 bucks and that in CDN $ and delivered to my door by Amazon, comes complete with a ceiling hanging kit...

Thank you'all !

Given your inputs, I think I will stick with mines for now. Ive got 2x165watts so It should be fine.

Question: on what percentage do you usually run your chinese lights at?

Thanks guys!

Love my reefbreeders. Currently peak at 70/30 blue/white. There is a ramp up and down time too. Considering your other post with struggles, I think it is a good idea to keep your current lights while you get other things straightened out first. Too many changes at once isn't a good thing.

That's true, it just worries me that the cloudy water isn't allowing light to penetrate the water as it used to do. So I was wondering if I should ramp it up a bit...

Make sure it has a "programmable timer".... You'll be disappointed if you don't. Spend the extra $$

I agree with the Viparspectra. I currently have a 165W Mars Aqua over my 40b and am planning to upgrade the the 300W Viparspectra as soon as possible. I DO NOT like that the Mars Aqua only has one spectrum of Blue LED's in it.

Are reefbreeders considered black boxes? They are way more expensive than marsaqua et al.

DSunY the full spectrum great affordable leds lights


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Light is a balance between the corals photosynthetic needs and keeping algae control. Percentage may vary dependant on what you keep. In my mixed reef, which includes clams I run 65/30 blue white on an 9 hour photoperiod.

I believe reefbreeders is still made in China but from my understanding they make the manufacturer build them to there exact specifications and use better quality parts which is why they cost more. I just picked up a roughly 2yr old 120w superlux and it looks like one of the black boxes. Couldn't pass up the deal though and is in great shape.

I also heard once maxspect is a Chinese made light as well, not sure how true that is, but I love mine.

I have 2-48" controllable Evergrows IT2012 . https://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-s...um-LED-48.html there ones but the older model I have over my 250 DD SPS and had the best colors and growth Ive ever had

and I just picked up a 16" one https://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-s...D-16-120W.html , 120W to go along with a single 48" one on my 120G

personally I liked the older ones with 2 channels and the green and red came on at certain levels
the new 1 with 6 channels takes just forever to program although its a remote so you dont have to stand at the tank and do it.

i would recommend these for sure.

PLEASE READ

I can'tt stress enough the weakness part of these Chinese lights are the power supply blk boxes inside the case powering the LEDS.

I would buy from a Seller that will COMMIT to you they will sell you the power supply boxes as service replacement parts....when (not if) but when they FAIL around 24mos

These power supplies can't handle the heat and the salt creep that gets into them. They will blow a capacitor in and around 24mos. Your LEDS are perfectly fine, the power supplies burn out giving zero power to the LEDS

90% of Sellers will respond to your service part request TO BUY A NEW LIGHT and throw away the burned up power supply light. So you basically are getting about 24mos of service out of these lights.....UNLESS you're really good at knowing the Volts and AMPS are needed and buying blk box power supplies off Amazon.....bc the use the same power supplies that a laptop power cord uses ;)

My original one has probably 4 years on it so far.........

@Is it a Chinese one off eBay? If so, you're lucky.

I worked for a LFS for 3yrs and my 1st month was rewiring a bunch of Chinese lights with new power supplies....like qty 30 of them....then word got out in the city and people would bring theirs in....I've worked on 100+ of them

I just recently bought the Ocean Revive T247B “Chinese black box”. Cost me aroune $175 I think. Using 2 of them on my 4ft 90 gal tank and love them. 2 controllable channels for intensity (1 for blues 1 for whites) and timer programmable for each channels on and off. My LFS aquacultures corals and uses these only which was a added selling point to me. They’re nice units IMO.

I like the RB as well and it maybe made in China, but what isn't these days, but is a slim well made fixture that uses Cree 3 and 5 watt and Semi 3 watt leds.

My peak is 45 on the blues and 15 on the whites. My corals did not do very will when I ran 70 and 40.

Up up up!

This thread is becoming great! Keep posting your thoughts!

I am also using two black boxes at 165W each with full spectrum (paid $65.00 each). They are the LightTimeTunnel ones. It has been 9 months since I bought them and I had zero problems and great growth.

Are those MarsAqua fixtures considered Chinese lights? I forget. Anyways, I've been using the 165 watt unit since November 8th, 2016 and so far so good. For the price I payed on Amazon I'm very impressed thus far.

Also, I'm not sure if this matters or not when it comes down to longevity, but I've been running the blues at 100% since day one. The whites are currently at about 75%, but this has been increased slowly over time. (mixed reef)