What do you guys and gals think of this LED light?

[Just Prince]

What do you guys and gals think of this LED light?

http://www.royalaquarium.com/ViewProduct.asp?ModelNumber=23DNLED-V1

[nickmcmechan]

not for me, however Practical FishKeeping mag in the UK recently trialled a new LED light only sytstem on a Coral tank. The Corals didn't like it at first, but after a while did really well. a much lower power consumption alternative to fluorescents.

i think led light sources are the way forward.

don't know about US but power supply prices are rocketing sky high over in UK!

(my current Gas + Electricity bills = $3000+ per annum)

[Ozymandias]

not sure i know some people thing thay are the future but that may be in a while.

if thay worked on coral i wonder how plant might react to them?

[BoredAgain]

Meh, I wouldn't spend the money on it. They would need to provide a lot more information to convince most hobbyists that it's worth the cost.

[CBWMN]

I bought 2-15" dark blue cold cathode tubes on ebay. I hooked them together to make a 30" moonlight. You can get several different colors including red.
Total cost including shipping/handling was about $20.
They work great and are waterproof. I found out because one end slipped into the tank about 3" and still worked. They put out a very impressive moonlight and you can see the nocturnal fish at work.

Good Luck

Charles

[BoredAgain]

I bought 2-15" dark blue cold cathode tubes on ebay. I hooked them together to make a 30" moonlight. You can get several different colors including red.
Total cost including shipping/handling was about $20.
They work great and are waterproof. I found out because one end slipped into the tank about 3" and still worked. They put out a very impressive moonlight and you can see the nocturnal fish at work.

Good Luck

Charles

This light can't be compared to cold cathodes (I also use these) because it does a lot more than just provide simulated moon light. If the OP only wants a moon light, then this LED is definitely not worth it.

[CBWMN]

I ONLY wanted a moonlight so I could see the fish at night. Also it has a beautifull blue glow.
If Blackstar desires all of those bells & whistles, then it's a good buy. For me tho, I would go the cold cathode route again.
AND they supposedly last 30000 hours (if I remember right)
Charles

[CBWMN]

not sure i know some people thing thay are the future but that may be in a while.

if thay worked on coral i wonder how plant might react to them?

OZ

I've had the cold cathodes burning continuously for about 6 months on my 46G bowfront. Look at the 9th & 10th pictures at Photobucket:
http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/cbwmn/

All of the plants are growing great The sword on the left side is taller than in the pictures and is approx. 17" wide and the leaves are 18" tall and trying to grow immersed.
That tank is a 46G BF.

Regards
Charles

[CBWMN]

OZ
You've some good looking planted tanks there.
What are the short foreground plants in your tanks?
Charles

[Ozymandias]

which ones? my for ground (now more mid ground) in my 30 from left to right is Blyxa japonica then Hemianthus Callitrichoides (HC) and finally Downois. in the 4 i assume it's some type of dwarf sag

for the 30 i plant to evenchally move to a 40 br and them the blyxa will becaim and oficial mid ground plant and i'll replace the HC with Utricularia graminifolia and do some sloping with some rock work in the front

[jpappy789]

I personally don't trust the light based on brand name alone.

[CBWMN]

OZ
"japonica then Hemianthus Callitrichoides (HC) and finally Downois"

That's them, I want to get some HC & Dowois.

Thanks
Charles

[Just Prince]

OZ

I've had the cold cathodes burning continuously for about 6 months on my 46G bowfront. Look at the 9th & 10th pictures at Photobucket:
http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/cbwmn/

All of the plants are growing great The sword on the left side is taller than in the pictures and is approx. 17" wide and the leaves are 18" tall and trying to grow immersed.
That tank is a 46G BF.

Regards
Charles


What kind of lights are those?

[Just Prince]

I personally don't trust the light based on brand name alone.


Yeah that's what people said about Honda too a long time ago.

[CBWMN]

Do a search on Ebay for Cold Cathode. Here's one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Akasa-Dual-Blue-Cold-Cathode-Kit-with-Inverter_W0QQitemZ300240644399QQihZ020QQcategoryZ7 5520QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[SchizotypalVamp]

The thing is, all the reputable aquarium brands have put out faulty products from time to time. So I wouldn't trust anything in the aquarium hobby on brand name alone, though I don't trust anything on brand name alone.

[BoredAgain]

I wouldn't buy cold cathodes from ebay, prices seem a bit too high for an auction site.

Here are some links to what I use: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1499499&postcount=99

[jpappy789]

But with the reputable brands there is an expectation that they are releasing products that are of high quality. I can't even figure out who actually manufactures this light.

[BoredAgain]

But with the reputable brands there is an expectation that they are releasing products that are of high quality.
They have to be reputable first.

[Que]

Based solely on the poor english used in this ad I wouldn't go for it. Lumens or lux numbers are something I look for when comparing lights. If they can't or don't provide this then I am suspicious about just how bright they really are. Seems expensive to me if you need 2 for a heavily planted tank. I wouldn't risk my money.

Q

[jpappy789]

They have to be reputable first.

And this one isn't ;)


Based solely on the poor english used in this ad I wouldn't go for it. Lumens or lux numbers are something I look for when comparing lights. If they can't or don't provide this then I am suspicious about just how bright they really are. Seems expensive to me if you need 2 for a heavily planted tank. I wouldn't risk my money.

Q

I too am not a fan of the website. Anything that uses fancy word fonts and colors seems like a risk...

[jpappy789]

Also look at the forum that is distributing this...would you trust them? I wouldn't.

[CBWMN]

Bored

The prices on the CC moonlights look good.
What's the shipping/handling charges like??
Thanks
Charles

[BoredAgain]

Bored

The prices on the CC moonlights look good.
What's the shipping/handling charges like??
Thanks
Charles
On newegg they usually range from free to 6.99. Though prices are higher these days.

[1oooop]

:wall: I'm disappointed in all of you, nobody mentioned a DIY one, NOBODY.:mad2:
I can actually make one of those, only one thing, it would be square, but I guess you can cut into pieces. BTW, you can get LED strips form ikea and make them waterproof by sealing off one end with silicon and pouring acrylic resin into it.

[BoredAgain]

:wall: I'm disappointed in all of you, nobody mentioned a DIY one, NOBODY.:mad2:
I can actually make one of those, only one thing, it would be square, but I guess you can cut into pieces. BTW, you can get LED strips form ikea and make them waterproof by sealing off one end with silicon and pouring acrylic resin into it.
DIY LED is kinda pointless in this hobby, in my opinion.

[1oooop]

actually, it's not, my friend, Tman (that's not his screen name, I just call him that), PWNED me with an article. This one guy, he made a DIY led fixture and compared it with PC lighting. It proved that LED is better than PC and that we should all switch to LED, here's the link to Tman's thread (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158749)