Give Me Some LIGHT on LED fixtures

[Scream311]

Anyone have Past or Current Experience with Evolution EVO150 LED fixtures ?

[Scream311]

I'm considering Taking the Plunge as Many of you have, I used to Follow the Halide Craze from Previous VHO's and Now Thinking LED !!!

[Scream311]

Evolution

EVO

150

LED

[Scream311]

REALLY ? NO (LED) HEADS OUT HERE LOL

[kkiel02]

I haven't really seen anyone with an evolution fixture. The only one I've seen was at lmar when the distributor was there. It was nice but haven't looked at them since too much. Last I heard they were coming with digital controllers built in but I went with radions and haven't really done much after that research-wise.

[alton]

Halide wasn't the craze that would be T5 and LED. Halide was the reality! LED is still evolving?

[alton]

Seems like some are having good results with the razor, AI Sol, Radion Pro seems to be doing very well? Some of the Chinese fixtures have worked for some, you may have to search through the archives?

[Scream311]

Ah My Man Alton, haha Halide is Proof in the Pudding aint it ! Agree on led evolving as I am leery of making the Jump on an Expensive Piece of Equipment. What made you decide on ATX DIY LED Fixture Alton ?

[BBQHILLBILLY]

There are so many fixtures now. For some reason I keep looking at the EcoRay112DX v2.
Only because if an LED goes out it can be replaced. EZ maintenance and should be able to get 50000hrs.
If an LED goes out it does not affect the rest of the LEDs. 1watt compared to 3watt LEDS?
also get large coverage area.

[Scream311]

Im all For the Razor, as I have seen the proof in results with my buddy Tuan, however they do not have a 72" fixture but at longest a 27" and at $400 each OUCH. All reviews ive Googled have been much help as ppl opinions are concrete on results nor Par readings. Might have to take the Leap and See How we do :-/

[polarbear]

I just ordered 2 reef breeders value fixture with 120 degree optics. One will cover a 24"x24" and will be able to grow SPS towards the bottom of a 24" tank. I talked them yesterday before I ordered. Seems to have good customer service. I'll make a post once the come in of the MH I have now and the new LEDs I put on. At $179 each shipped I couldn't be more happy as of right now. Now it's just a waiting game.

[Scream311]

Hmmm, I may have to wait with you and have a look at your thread when these come in, as that price for 3 might just persuade me to change directions with Maker. Thanks

[BBQHILLBILLY]

that reef breeder is a nice price tag with a 2year warranty especially if you have to cover a lot of space

[polarbear]

Ya the 2 year warranty pushed me to buy them. And they are full spectrum.

[jrossjr79]

I just ordered 2 reef breeders value fixture with 120 degree optics. One will cover a 24"x24" and will be able to grow SPS towards the bottom of a 24" tank. I talked them yesterday before I ordered. Seems to have good customer service. I'll make a post once the come in of the MH I have now and the new LEDs I put on. At $179 each shipped I couldn't be more happy as of right now. Now it's just a waiting game.

Let us know how well they work, or not work. Those are the ones I am interested in, so this would put me more at ease with the purchase.

[polarbear]

Sure will. I'm hoping they shipped yesterday like the guy said they would. Maybe I'll have them this weekend.

[alton]

Ah My Man Alton, haha Halide is Proof in the Pudding aint it ! Agree on led evolving as I am leery of making the Jump on an Expensive Piece of Equipment. What made you decide on ATX DIY LED Fixture Alton ?

They make a 6' fixture, I don't have to build a support for multiple fixtures because I can't hang anything. For $15 I got a manual control.
Local distributor, any problems I call someone I know and they can ship it back.
3 year warranty
We shall see how it holds up?

[alton]

One thing I always hear 50,000 hrs on the LED. That is something manufactures use as an average on how long a lamp/LED will last up to 70% of its brightness. They say that LEDS will drop an average of 3% per year for ten years. As a comparison the new T8's are 30,000 hours, Pulse Start MH 20,000 hrs. T5HO's still suck (sorry but I get tired of replacing lamps every 12months). I bring this up because as an average if your LED does last 50k hours it will have dropped 30% in PAR and foot candles/lumens. The good thing about LEDs having a controller is starting them out at less than 100% and increase them each year to maintain the same PAR level. We did this recently with a border patrol office with T8 dimming ballast and a light sensor set at 50 foot candles. Starting out the fixtures are running at 80% and as the lamps get older and start to lose power, the sensor will increase the power to the ballast to maintain 50 foot candles.

[Scream311]

Local is a Plus, Keeping Small Texas Businesses in (well in Buisness) lol that's also a plus. Ive discovered the same in regards to the 50K Hours. I believe you and I have had a few discussions in the past regarding a bulb that can and will decrease in intensity as others have claimed will never happen. Ive never used T5s for that specific reason, although color choice has been a perk. Id like to see you get your hands on Dipan's PAR Meter and see the Readings for that 6' Light with and without the Glass Lids. DIY LED's site states that a low to high end LPS tank only requires 1) 6' fixture. I'd like to see that statement True without having to Max out the fixture in the First Year.

[polarbear]

One thing I always hear 50,000 hrs on the LED. That is something manufactures use as an average on how long a lamp/LED will last up to 70% of its brightness. They say that LEDS will drop an average of 3% per year for ten years. As a comparison the new T8's are 30,000 hours, Pulse Start MH 20,000 hrs. T5HO's still suck (sorry but I get tired of replacing lamps every 12months). I bring this up because as an average if your LED does last 50k hours it will have dropped 30% in PAR and foot candles/lumens. The good thing about LEDs having a controller is starting them out at less than 100% and increase them each year to maintain the same PAR level. We did this recently with a border patrol office with T8 dimming ballast and a light sensor set at 50 foot candles. Starting out the fixtures are running at 80% and as the lamps get older and start to lose power, the sensor will increase the power to the ballast to maintain 50 foot candles.

+1 for having a controller. I don't have one personally but the fixtures I'm getting are dimmable so I don't plan on running them at %100. One day I'll have a controller for my tank and lights.