Lets talk lights

[celticstarb]

Currently I have T5HOs on my new tank. I am going to switch them out for LEDs. What do you guys and gals think about the "Black Boxes" from China?

I have one on my seahorse tank and it has worked wonderful. It grows zoas and montis very well.

Any advice is appreciated. I am trying to get this tank set up on a limited budget, so please keep that in mind.

[Troy Valentine]

I would recommend going with SB Reef when it comes to an inexpensive black box fixture. I've been using them for a few years without an issue. I had the original Reefbreeder value fixtures before, and I had issues with the LEDs burning out, or the blue LEDs turning black because they didn't have the proper uv shields on the diodes. Plus the SB Reef fixture's color/lenses were constructed with the reefer in mind. I have spoken to the owner of SB Reef several times and he told me they specifically designed the fixtures to correct all of the issues that early black boxes had. Like generic lens angles, led configuration, too many whites in the wrong spectrum ect. SB Reef also makes a retrofit upgrade for other black box fixtures for $69.95. I have a Reefbreeder value fixture you can have if you want to add the SB Retrofit.

[Justin]

I would agree that the SB reef lights are amazing. Jeremiah Nichols uses them and they can certainly get some awesome colors on SPS. I was able to talk to the owner at MACNA, and I'm going to see if he would be willing to come by and do a talk on lights and possibly attend our frag swap and sell his stuff!

I use RapidLED onyx lights on my tank and they do a great job as well. I supplement my lights with T5's and firmly believe that with any LED, you should supplement with actinic lighting.

[Jasonb]

I have ocean revives on my tank, i ran the cheaper BB's for a few years. My corals have done great under both.

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