TaoTronics LED light fixture

[polarbear]

So I have been talking to one member here that runs this fixture on their tank and they advised that they have had good results so far. I have been researching the fixture trying to get additional information and everything that I have read online sounds good. So with that being said does anyone here have information about this fixture? Is it something that will prove to be good in the long run? I know what most would say about buying a better LED fixture but the price of most is what's holding me back. This fixture is only $169.00. Yes I know you get what you pay for. Only problem is I don’t know what that is unless I buy it and try it. I’m not sure if I want to spend the money to find out I hate it. Any input will help.
TaoTronics TT-AL09 Dimmable Aquarium Coral Reef LED Grow Light (120W Output, Blue/White Ratio- 28:27; Two-Year Warranty)

http://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-TT-AL09-Dimmable-Aquarium-Output/dp/B0092LXQRM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1369253384&sr=8-5&keywords=taotronics

[allan]

I hope that Texreefer sees this, perhaps he can confirm. This looks like the one I got from him, except that he added magenta stunner strips which I currently employ.

If it is the same device, oh yeah, it works. It works well. 120W is much more than the AI Sol 70 so it's not really a fair comparison. I like the color provided by this fixture, but I really enjoy the flexibility of the AI Sol. Pros and cons put this on Par (no pun) with the AI. For that evaluation I factored Light, Flexibility, Cost, and overall appearance.

[polarbear]

So you currently run this fixture?

[allan]

Yes sir, It's the center fixture with two AI Sols on either side.

In the sump I have a chinese fixture that has the dual dimming knobs and some other colors like green and red... and I've got a lot of coraline growth down there. But the only coral down there is anthelia and a very large open brain.

[polarbear]

Thats good to know. Have you seen good color and growth in your tank?

Also, whats the open brain doing in the sump?

[ducati996]

I have 5 of them good growth out of my corals so far

[polarbear]

Do you have SPS? And is yours this same fixture model? How long have you been running them?

[Southern Flame]

I have two of those fixtures on my 90 gal and my sps
has colored up great when I had them under t5 the polyps weren't as vibrant

[ducati996]

A few picecs of sps that doing great blue digi which has colored up awesome I've been running these lights about 7 months or so

[polarbear]

Well everythig here and from what I read online makes me lean more towards getting one. I'm going to buy one and run this on one side of the tank and leave my MH on the other until I see the results and until I can get money for the other one.

[allan]

Also, whats the open brain doing in the sump?

Copperband butterfly in the display.

The color from the fixture is really nice and it helps that I can control the amount of blue/white while I'm looking in there.

20758

20759


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[FireWater]

There are a bunch of these lights out there that look similar. The Chinese are masters of flattery via product replication.

The ability to dim is a great feature. Good luck and I'm sure you'll enjoy them for what they are.

[polarbear]

So are the Chinese version just as good as the others or should I stick to the name brand?

[Sherita]

I've got one of the TaoTronics, and two of the Reefbreeders LED Value fixtures.

Both have grown coral like crazy for me. The TaoTronics is not dimmable, which is the only downside I have found to it. The Reefbreeders LEDs are dimmable, and my corals LOVE them.

Personally, I think the Reefbreeders are comparable to the "name brand" fixtures, just from my personal experience with coral growth and happiness. I hear people talking about thunderstorm this and special features that........but, I live in tornado alley, so I don't need any artificial lightening. And I could care less about special features, I'm interested in what makes my corals happy. The reefbreeders value fixture is $179, grows coral like mad, is dimmable, runs cool, and works great. I'm very happy with them. The taotronics requires that I move it up or down to increase or decrease lighting, grows coral like mad, runs cool, and works great.

No one will every convince me that I should pay thousands of dollars to light my tank just so I can have a name brand, highdollar fixture. Not when I've already seen fantastic results with the TaoTronics and the ReefBreeders LEDs.

[polarbear]

Where did you buy the reefbreeders value fixture? Also they now have the TaoTronics fixture that is dimmable just in case your interested.

[Sherita]

Reefbreeders LED has a website reefbreeders.com (http://reefbreeders.com/index.html) they are located in the U.S.

I wasn't aware that TaoTronics now had dimmable available. Is there anyone selling them in the U.S.?

[polarbear]

you can get it on amazon for $169.00

http://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-TT-AL09-Dimmable-Aquarium-Output/dp/B0092LXQRM/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1369316326&sr=1-1&keywords=TaoTronics

[polarbear]

Which fixture do you like the best? I found the Reefbreeders fixture and notice that they have different LED configurations then the TaoTronics. Have you found that the Reefbreeders fixture grow coral better because of this?

[Sherita]

Cool. Something to keep in mind.

[Sherita]

As far as coral growth, I like them both the same. Both have shown explosive growth on my zoas, acans and chalices, as well as the few sps I have. The TaoTronics blue leds seem to be more royal blue-ish, whereas the reefbreeders blue seems to be more of the actinic blue we are all familiar with from T5's. My corals don't seem to care one way or the other.

I'm planning on buying two more reefbreeders fixtures within the next month, to replace a T5 fixture.

[polarbear]

Thanks for the info Sherita.:)


Just when I thought I was set on a fixture. Ill have to look closer at both then decide. Or maybe buy one of each.

[polarbear]

Hey Sherita one last question. Do you have both type of fixtures running on the same tank?

[Sherita]

Not now, but I did until I got everything set up. I could see no noticeable difference from one side to the other.

[alton]

Reef Breeders has a two year warranty?

[Cammed_02]

I also run a similar version of the taotronics LED light and it has been great. Zoas, palys, candy canes, open brain, and duncans have all had significant growth under them. I run two 150w metal halides with the LED in the middle on my 6ft 125 gallon and you can tell the growth is greater under the LEDs. The version I got came straight from China and was fully customizable, from led color, led layout, dimmable, optic size, and even moon lights. I paid 178 fully customized, and it was at my doorstep 7 days later. The rep I ordered through even emailed me every other month to make sure I was completely satisfied with the product. I wouldn't hesitate to get another fixture, even thinking of replacing my MH with 2 more of these fixtures.


No one will every convince me that I should pay thousands of dollars to light my tank just so I can have a name brand, highdollar fixture. Not when I've already seen fantastic results with the TaoTronics and the ReefBreeders LEDs.

This statement is full of win.

[Mr Cob]

i like "win", thx for all the info in this thread.

[polarbear]

Hey cammed_02 Where did you buy yours from?

[Cammed_02]

GEHL lighting online, i can give you the reps email i have been talking too if you want. He just emailed about a month ago saying his company came out with some new fixtures and the one i got went down in price. Real nice guy, turns out he loves the spurs lol.

[sobeones]

I have this one. But it's the evergrow brand from here in the u.s. I got mine of eBay with the 90 degree optics for 190. I like this fixture a lot. Looks amazing and my corals love it.

[polarbear]

Sent you a PM.


GEHL lighting online, i can give you the reps email i have been talking too if you want. He just emailed about a month ago saying his company came out with some new fixtures and the one i got went down in price. Real nice guy, turns out he loves the spurs lol.

[350gt]

No one will every convince me that I should pay thousands of dollars to light my tank just so I can have a name brand, highdollar fixture. Not when I've already seen fantastic results with the TaoTronics and the ReefBreeders LEDs.



I remember a time when you once said you would never place a led over any of your tanks!!

;)

[Big_Pun]

No one will every convince me that I should pay thousands of dollars to light my tank just so I can have a name brand, highdollar fixture. Not when I've already seen fantastic results with the TaoTronics and the ReefBreeders LEDs.


I remember a time when you once said you would never place a led over any of your tanks!!

;)


i said the same thing lol but sorry ask tony you can see why the high end ones cost so much....

[350gt]

Yup......


i have to admit.....

The led over Chris's tank is amazing, it looks so natural compared to my vega's.... Almost MH like... Very clean, not too much shimmer..... I've seen lower cost led fixtures and the Color is nice and I use to be all over that color pop.... But that natural look of the vertex was awesome...

you must see to appreciate..

[Big_Pun]

i will say this emily ran a black box and its no slouch very nice for the price

[polarbear]

Trust me. If I could afford the nice LED fixtures with all of the different colors and controllers I would but with having a new baby at home and still trying to keep my tank (dont want to sell it) I have to go with what’s affordable and with what works. I love my MH fixtures but with the heat and no chiller I rather not have that to worry about any more.

[350gt]

We don't knock em....

we are just kidding most of the time.....

Shoot I would run any of these before going MH!....

im glad too see Chris an now sherita are giving LEDs a shot!... Why not? There's too many ups not to give them a shot..

[polarbear]

I know you guys are. Yep thats why I want to give it a try.

[ducati996]

If u just wanna check em out I have one here I can run by ur house I'm pretty close to your area

[Sherita]

GEHL lighting online, i can give you the reps email i have been talking too if you want. He just emailed about a month ago saying his company came out with some new fixtures and the one i got went down in price. Real nice guy, turns out he loves the spurs lol.

Please send me the info as well.

[Sherita]

As long as my corals are happy with led's then I will stay with them. If the corals decide they don't like them, the mh/vho will be going back up. I've had a couple of corals react negatively, but that happens any time you change lights.

And, I've seen tanks lit with the vertex, they are nice. So are my tanks, lit with reefbreeders. It's a simple equation for me really. I'm not going to spend a truckload of money on an led fixture with all the bells and whistles that will be obsolete in a year at most, when my $180 fixture does exactly what I want it to do. I don't want/need/desire anything more than a simple fixture that does what I tell it to, when I tell it. And, since I didn't spend an insane amount of money on a fixture, it leaves me an insane amount of money to spend on new corals. Which are coming in next week, btw :)

Honestly folks, there is no "one" way to do something. If a simple, easy to operate inexpensive fixture performs up to the standard of the person owning it, then that is all that matters. Bragging rights come from the growth of the corals and the beauty of the tank, not the $$ signs attached to the light fixture. If a Vertex is what you want, then by all means get it. I just want a light fixture that comes on and off when the controller tells it to do so, and grows my corals. And meets my definition of "nice looking light".

These inexpensive fixtures are becoming more and more popular. And enough people own them, and enough reviews have been given out about them.........and it's pretty dang hard to find someone who isn't happy with their little black box.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Im glad there are good reviews on these. I used to think they would burn up. All good reviews. Im totally wrong on these fixtures and may start to become a fan.
The price is really really good for everything you get and they look sharp.

[polarbear]

Ok so I have to ask. Does anyone here have any of these fixtures for sell? If you do I'm interested.

[Big_Pun]

Ok so I have to ask. Does anyone here have any of these fixtures for sell? If you do I'm interested.

how many do you need i have one forsale buts its multi color and built in timers and controller separate channels to simulate sunrise and sunset.

[350gt]

As long as my corals are happy with led's then I will stay with them. If the corals decide they don't like them, the mh/vho will be going back up. I've had a couple of corals react negatively, but that happens any time you change lights.

And, I've seen tanks lit with the vertex, they are nice. So are my tanks, lit with reefbreeders. It's a simple equation for me really. I'm not going to spend a truckload of money on an led fixture with all the bells and whistles that will be obsolete in a year at most, when my $180 fixture does exactly what I want it to do. I don't want/need/desire anything more than a simple fixture that does what I tell it to, when I tell it. And, since I didn't spend an insane amount of money on a fixture, it leaves me an insane amount of money to spend on new corals. Which are coming in next week, btw :)

Honestly folks, there is no "one" way to do something. If a simple, easy to operate inexpensive fixture performs up to the standard of the person owning it, then that is all that matters. Bragging rights come from the growth of the corals and the beauty of the tank, not the $$ signs attached to the light fixture. If a Vertex is what you want, then by all means get it. I just want a light fixture that comes on and off when the controller tells it to do so, and grows my corals. And meets my definition of "nice looking light".

These inexpensive fixtures are becoming more and more popular. And enough people own them, and enough reviews have been given out about them.........and it's pretty dang hard to find someone who isn't happy with their little black box.


All I was pointing out was the swap to LEDs..... Never knew you took the plunge, I thought you were sticking with the tried and true methods....

all that other stuff, idk where or who ever said that...... We've joked about a few things but that's all it is...


Ppl been getting to bent out of shape too easily on here, which is why I've been trying to stay off so much....

[alton]

As long as my corals are happy with led's then I will stay with them. If the corals decide they don't like them, the mh/vho will be going back up. I've had a couple of corals react negatively, but that happens any time you change lights.

And, I've seen tanks lit with the vertex, they are nice. So are my tanks, lit with reefbreeders. It's a simple equation for me really. I'm not going to spend a truckload of money on an led fixture with all the bells and whistles that will be obsolete in a year at most, when my $180 fixture does exactly what I want it to do. I don't want/need/desire anything more than a simple fixture that does what I tell it to, when I tell it. And, since I didn't spend an insane amount of money on a fixture, it leaves me an insane amount of money to spend on new corals. Which are coming in next week, btw :)

Honestly folks, there is no "one" way to do something. If a simple, easy to operate inexpensive fixture performs up to the standard of the person owning it, then that is all that matters. Bragging rights come from the growth of the corals and the beauty of the tank, not the $$ signs attached to the light fixture. If a Vertex is what you want, then by all means get it. I just want a light fixture that comes on and off when the controller tells it to do so, and grows my corals. And meets my definition of "nice looking light".

These inexpensive fixtures are becoming more and more popular. And enough people own them, and enough reviews have been given out about them.........and it's pretty dang hard to find someone who isn't happy with their little black box.

Let me know when LEDs are perfected and I will jump on the band wagon. And yes I know they are our future, I just haven't seen very many last longer than my Radium lamps. (sorry it was going too smooth had to stir the pot) And yes if I had a choice I would still be using XP and not Windows 7 (junk). And yes I am a dinosaur, but if one of my MH went out tomorrow I would possibly think of replacing it with a RB 2040

[Cammed_02]

Let me know when LEDs are perfected and I will jump on the band wagon. And yes I know they are our future, I just haven't seen very many last longer than my Radium lamps. (sorry it was going too smooth had to stir the pot) And yes if I had a choice I would still be using XP and not Windows 7 (junk). And yes I am a dinosaur, but if one of my MH went out tomorrow I would possibly think of replacing it with a RB 2040

I'm going on a year and a half with my led fixture Alton. I'm sure these units may have started out with the manufacturers cutting corners but they seem to have come around to building solid fixtures now.

[Sherita]

Tony,

I'm not bent, I promise :)

Just trying to explain my reasoning. I hate texting/posting. It's so hard to figure out inflection and intent, and sometimes I come off as a jerk.........when I really wasn't trying to be one.

I'm sorry if it seemed that way.

[ducati996]

Im glad there are good reviews on these. I used to think they would burn up. All good reviews. Im totally wrong on these fixtures and may start to become a fan.
The price is really really good for everything you get and they look sharp.
+1

[alton]

Cammed I was talking about LEDs in general, not picking on just this light . Did you happen to take PAR readings then and now to see how well the LEds are holding up?

[Cammed_02]

Cammed I was talking about LEDs in general, not picking on just this light . Did you happen to take PAR readings then and now to see how well the LEds are holding up?


I really wanted to man, I tried getting a hold of the par meter ER lends out to charter members but I've found I would have better luck finding the lost city of Atlantis than getting to use the PAR meter.

Haven't found Atlantis yet either though......sucks

[Big_Pun]

Let me know when LEDs are perfected and I will jump on the band wagon. And yes I know they are our future, I just haven't seen very many last longer than my Radium lamps. (sorry it was going too smooth had to stir the pot) And yes if I had a choice I would still be using XP and not Windows 7 (junk). And yes I am a dinosaur, but if one of my MH went out tomorrow I would possibly think of replacing it with a RB 2040

come over alton and let me know what you think!

[350gt]

Tony,

I'm not bent, I promise :)

Just trying to explain my reasoning. I hate texting/posting. It's so hard to figure out inflection and intent, and sometimes I come off as a jerk.........when I really wasn't trying to be one.

I'm sorry if it seemed that way.



Same here sherita.....

I know you good ppl :)

[alton]

come over alton and let me know what you think!

I told you I am slow to change, two of my coralvue electronic ballast are over 9 years old. Chris maybe we need to get a mission going one Saturday, dig up the PAR meter and make several tank trips to study lighting levels on different tanks?

[Big_Pun]

I told you I am slow to change, two of my coralvue electronic ballast are over 9 years old. Chris maybe we need to get a mission going one Saturday, dig up the PAR meter and make several tank trips to study lighting levels on different tanks?

im off till monday, then after the june 4th im off till aug :). youve been in the hobby longer than i, you shouldnt need a par meter. if anyone had a lot to loose/risk it was me with all my sps. and so far everything is growing and color is great. you have my number hit me up. you know i was a metal hilade fan boy, and wanted leds to suck but so far Emily and i are happy with the move. she was the hardest one to sell it too. took a lil black box on her 20g and she slowly saw the "light".