Best Chinese Lights - 120G

kiMxD · 06/01/2018, 10:06 AM

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!

AlSimmons · 06/01/2018, 10:12 AM

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

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

kiMxD · 06/01/2018, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

What are the dimensions of the tank? A couple of the fixtures pictured in the link below 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.

mcgyvr · 06/01/2018, 10:47 AM

"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.

top shelf · 06/01/2018, 10:55 AM

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

NO3 · 06/01/2018, 11:01 AM

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

AlSimmons · 06/01/2018, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiMxD

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.

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

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

Uncle99 · 06/01/2018, 11:32 AM

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...

kiMxD · 06/01/2018, 11:42 AM

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!

sde1500 · 06/01/2018, 11:56 AM

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.

kiMxD · 06/01/2018, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sde1500

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...

NO3 · 06/01/2018, 01:31 PM

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

lpsouth1978 · 06/01/2018, 02:04 PM

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.

nereefpat · 06/01/2018, 03:14 PM

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

Yolly416 · 06/01/2018, 04:34 PM

DSunY the full spectrum great affordable leds lights

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Uncle99 · 06/02/2018, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiMxD

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!

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.

top shelf · 06/02/2018, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

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

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.

E46er · 06/02/2018, 08:00 PM

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.

NO3 · 06/02/2018, 08:16 PM

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

E46er · 06/02/2018, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NO3

PLEASE READ

I can'tt stress enough the weakness part of these 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 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

90% of Sellers will respond to your service part request TO BUY A NEW LIGHT and throw away the burned up power supply. Seen it among sooooo many feeders, its a joke

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

NO3 · 06/02/2018, 08:32 PM

@

Quote:

Originally Posted by E46er

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

Drewbe147 · 06/02/2018, 09:43 PM

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.

JTL · 06/03/2018, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sde1500

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.

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.

kiMxD · 06/04/2018, 06:38 AM

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.

AlSimmons · 06/04/2018, 10:10 AM

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)

06/01/2018, 10:06 AM	#1
kiMxD Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 149	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!

06/01/2018, 10:47 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	"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. __________________ Who me?

06/01/2018, 10:55 AM	#5
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	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 __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube

06/01/2018, 11:56 AM	#10
sde1500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Glocester, RI Posts: 3,336	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. __________________ My build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548422 Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef, Eshopps sump and HOB overflow, RO-110int skimmer, Reefbreeder 32" photons V1.

06/01/2018, 02:04 PM	#13
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	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. __________________ Current tank: 40B work in progress w/20L sump

06/01/2018, 10:12 AM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	What are the dimensions of the tank? A couple of these fixtures might do the trick. https://www.amazon.com/MarsAqua-Dimm.../dp/B017GX73YY

06/01/2018, 11:01 AM	#6
NO3 In Memoriam Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 269	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

06/01/2018, 11:32 AM	#8
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	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...

06/01/2018, 11:42 AM	#9
kiMxD Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 149	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!

06/01/2018, 01:31 PM	#12
NO3 In Memoriam Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 269	Make sure it has a "programmable timer".... You'll be disappointed if you don't. Spend the extra $$

06/01/2018, 03:14 PM	#14
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Are reefbreeders considered black boxes? They are way more expensive than marsaqua et al. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

06/01/2018, 04:34 PM	#15
Yolly416 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 71	DSunY the full spectrum great affordable leds lights Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06/02/2018, 08:00 PM	#18
E46er Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: BC Posts: 136	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. __________________ 250G DD LED SPS corner blow out RIP 300 G build in progress 80”x36”x24” 180G LED see thru

06/02/2018, 08:16 PM	#19
NO3 In Memoriam Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 269	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 Last edited by NO3; 06/02/2018 at 09:48 PM.

06/02/2018, 09:43 PM	#22
Drewbe147 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 105	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. __________________ Livestock: Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty, Clown pair, Exquisite, Linespot, Christmas, Hoevens Wrasses, Trio Carberryi Anthias, CUC, Mixed Reef Drew Current Tank Info: 90 gal DT 29gal sump. Equipment: 2 OR T247B, RO Varios6 return, RO 150SSS, 2 XF250 Gyres, Jager 300W

06/04/2018, 06:38 AM	#24
kiMxD Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 149	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.

06/04/2018, 10:10 AM	#25
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	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)