What is the best LED Fixture?

[rookie07]

I am considering buying an LED system for my 48" tank.
What do you consider to be the best?*
*When I say "best", I mean:
value, features, quality, company backing, warranty, power, life span, etc

The only one I know of is the aquaillumination [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]48" 4x90 watt/

What else is there? I believe solaris went out of business?
[/FONT]

 

[FLUKE411]

If your handy check this out http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14502630#post14502630
I'm thinkng about giving it a go just saving up some dough for it. I do think Solaris went under patent lawsuits. Hope this helps, if you decide to build let me know how it goes.

 

[pmoneyt]

right now beside them i know of Thortek

 

[Marteen]

Aquailluminations new modular LED setup is awesome. If I had the cash I would get one of those.

 

[rookie07]

I am not building anything.
I want to buy a great LED sytem.
The aquaillumination has a great controller on it, and it will simulate actual 24 hour cycles, and do moon/sun cycles based on the day in the month...can anyone touch that?

 

[pecan2phat]

And if you pair it with a Profilux controller, you can simulate cloudy days, storms & lightning.

 

[rookie07]

what!!!????

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Yes with the profilux comtroller you can simulate all types of weather types with that light. It will even pair up with your pumps and create turbulent waters during the storm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLHkdvDAViA

 

[rookie07]

Wow..that is cool!
I found this old, but great thread on the aquaillumination:
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/lighting/3953-new-led-lighting-company-aqua-illumination.html

Matching the PHs and lights seems like over kill to me(I dont think that much can be gained by doing so, i'm guessing), and I am not buying a new controller...but still very cool(Does it only work with Tunze pumps?)

 

[rookie07]

Aquailluminations new modular LED setup is awesome. If I had the cash I would get one of those.

This is not helpful. Please explain why you believe this.

 

[Marteen]

It is also completely dimmable so no more need for screen sheets or anything to acclimate new corals.

contact solace aquatics one of the vendors here at MR:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/solace-aquatics-llc/

They are listed as the local vendor for AI here in New York. I bet may have a demonstration fixture or something.

 

[rookie07]

It is also completely dimmable so no more need for screen sheets or anything to acclimate new corals.

You acclimate corals?!(I just place everything in the sand at first, never used any screens)....
yeah, so creating "low sunlight" days is easy, I believe that these "low light" days allow for over-the-day growth, which is a nice suprise

 

[rookie07]

does anyone think AI is NOT the best unit currently available?

 

[albano]

I just picked up two 72" solaris I5 units, for my upgrade, and I have to say that they are unbelieveable. I am currently running 1 unit on my 170g tank...the day lights are great, the nite actinics are awesome, and the controller is the icing on the cake. The units I purchsed (on MR marketplace) were less than 4 months old, 1 had only been used for 1 month, they cost me about a 1/3 of the original price! You're more than welcome to come by to see them in person. If you look around, I'm sure you can find them used and save some $$$$

 

[rookie07]

I was led to believe that Solaris is no longer selling units as they are in a law suit over the use of their LED's...so, I do not want to buy a solaris unit as that may be a major problem, in the case that something goes wrong with the units.
I am not sure why AI is not in this lawsuit, but that is what Ive heard.

 

[albano]

I was led to believe that Solaris is no longer selling units as they are in a law suit over the use of their LED's

They ARE out of business, my understanding is that the lawsuit was NOT about their LEDs, but was about the controller, because the means of dimming the leds, had been patented by someone else. That is why other makers are not affected by the lawsuit. Regardless, getting about $10,000 'worth' of LEDs for $3000, was worth the risk, in my opinion. For that savings, I'll take the chance or having to repair, or replace something, myself!

 

[Marteen]

This is not helpful. Please explain why you believe this.

Well besides being dimmable and having a great controller they are modular so you can add more units if you upgrade your tank instead of buying a whole new fixture. They also use the newer Cree XR-E LEDs using royal blue and cool white LEDs which IME the royal blues are superior to other blue LEDs in color. the Solaris fixture uses the older Luxeon III LEDs which IME are not as efficient in terms of lumen/watt output. The AI units are also equipped with 45 degree optics which greatly increase the levels of PAR that reach the lower levels of your tank.

While I did like the look of solaris units over the AI units I wouldn't buy a solaris unit now since they won't be supporting them anymore. There are other companies like sunbright but the jury is still out on whether those kind of strip light LEDs actually provide enough PAR for coral growth.

Also as others have mentioned previously they are able to create clouds and lightning storms etc... If you are not going to DIY a LED setup I'd get one of these but they are quite expensive, although AI has always had good customer service so I wouldn't worry if something went wrong.

 

[rookie07]

Albano: I think im going with the AI, just seems better(That includes the fact that Solaris is out of business)


Marteen: excellent! That was very helpful

 

[albano]

Albano: I think im going with the AI,

NP, I only suggested it as $ saving possibility for you, I have nothing to gain by it. I'm sure that you will love the LEDs, you'll have to post pics, once you're all set!

 

[AlohaTropics]

Has anyone checked out Sunbrite? These LED bulbs are set within aluminum T5 tubing so it gives you a full spread unlike other "spotlight" LEDs. Heres some info:

Here is the official Data Chart that show performance comparisons to non LED units.

http://www.exotic-aquarium.com/sub/datachart.jpg

Here are a few videos:

PAR Output Test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD5yy0RDwxQ

Easy Install into Sunbrite fixture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oggv8gYU6dE

Easy hookups without a fixture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkLb1LU9ezA


Although the bulbs can be run without the fixture, the fixture does have an integrated digital timer that controls all 8 bulbs individually. This is how you can simulate sunrise and sunset. You also purchase the bulbs individually so you can configure your light exactly the way you want it in terms of nm and K's.

The bulbs that are available are:

440nm Actinic
470nm Actinic
12000K Daylight
16000K Daylight
22000K Daylight
390nm SPS UV Light
PRO PINK Plant Grow Light

Each fixture can hold and control up to 8 bulbs. The fixtures and bulbs come in 12", 24", 36", 48", 60" and 72".

If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask. Or you can PM for pricing details.

PS - I would be slightly wary of systems that use Dimmable RGB LED Controllers as that is what Orbitel is going after with their lawsuits.