Nicrew Reef Lights - Anyone?

[doubleshot00]

I checked the IM 15G - looks awesome! I checked into it locally, no stock, so will have to place an order for it. What stand do you have the IM on?

You no longer have the EVO? I'm assuming you like the IM tank better?

The Fluval does not even compare to the IM 15 quality wise.

SONGMICS Nightstand, Storage Cabinet with Door, End Table with Steel Frame,
https://a.co/d/3KVDfcj

I still have the Fluval but trying to sell it locally.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Thanks - checking it out - it's a decent price for sure and with an App to control it. I wised the light was square versus round however.

Any particular reason why for square? Jw....here is a on the tank shot

 

[tbrown3589]

The 60w mini would be great i have a 15g column tank and it does awesome amazing growth and coloring app is super easy to use and again only around 80$. 60w mini by noopsyche is what i would suggest what is your price point. @tbrown3589 care to comment on this about your experience with noop?

I don't have the new mini but I have the older 75 watt K7 V3 and the Nicrew 30 watt. For the price point I'd go @noopsyche everytime. My noops are significantly more controllable and the new version with the app is even MORE controllable. My Nicrew has 5 settings for each color channel. I run my blues at 100% and if I even run my whites at 10% (the first setting supposedly) my tank has almost no blue - it's completely washed out. With my noops I run 85% each blue and UV channel and then I blend in the white, red, and green channels to get the look I want.

50 watt Nicrew - $100
Ramp Timer - $12.50*2 = $25

Noopsyche 60 watt w/app - $85 plus $22 shipping

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I used to use them, had them running on my 120g & 50g. They will grow coral but there are better options out there with control built in. I have a apex and they allow 0-10v dimming and that's about it for the control.

I'm using a smat farm fixture on my smaller 50g cube tank and I love that it has the built in timer & you can set levels for different lighting channels. I'm considering pulling my ali express led light strips on my bigger 120g and putting in 2x smat farm fixtures on the led side.

 

[TheReefDiary]

I can't afford an AI PrimeHD, so looking for alternatives, and came across the Nicrew line of Reef LEDs - wanted to see if anyone on the forums can chime in on these if they have one.

Thanks

Mine is great, but I upgraded to the noophysche k7 mini. I like the form factor better and it's a better light. I also like that it's wifi controllable. My nicrew did fine for me though, no issues corals were happy. Controller is a must for $40. 50w version is good for 15g and below above that would get the 100w imo.

 

[RaymondL]

The Fluval does not even compare to the IM 15 quality wise.

SONGMICS Nightstand, Storage Cabinet with Door, End Table with Steel Frame,
https://a.co/d/3KVDfcj

I still have the Fluval but trying to sell it locally.

Wow, so it's much better than the EVO - curious in what way. I'll have to pop into the local store to see it in person vs the website. Did you ever try using the stock light that came with the Fluval by the way?

 

[RaymondL]

Any particular reason why for square? Jw....here is a on the tank shot

Nice!!! Thank you for sharing I said square light fixture just because the tank is square/rectangle, but the reality is is that it doesn't really matter

 

[doubleshot00]

Wow, so it's much better than the EVO - curious in what way. I'll have to pop into the local store to see it in person vs the website. Did you ever try using the stock light that came with the Fluval by the way?

The stock light/lid works just fine but adds a TON of heat to the tank. My tank kept over heating.

Build quality. IM is like made in America quality and Fluval is like made in China.

 

[RaymondL]

The Fluval does not even compare to the IM 15 quality wise.

SONGMICS Nightstand, Storage Cabinet with Door, End Table with Steel Frame,
https://a.co/d/3KVDfcj

I still have the Fluval but trying to sell it locally.

Thanks for the info on the nightstand - going to get one and prep for the IM 15 - thanks for helping me spend

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

I don't have the new mini but I have the older 75 watt K7 V3 and the Nicrew 30 watt. For the price point I'd go @noopsyche everytime. My noops are significantly more controllable and the new version with the app is even MORE controllable. My Nicrew has 5 settings for each color channel. I run my blues at 100% and if I even run my whites at 10% (the first setting supposedly) my tank has almost no blue - it's completely washed out. With my noops I run 85% each blue and UV channel and then I blend in the white, red, and green channels to get the look I want.

50 watt Nicrew - $100
Ramp Timer - $12.50*2 = $25

Noopsyche 60 watt w/app - $85 plus $22 shipping

I would agree with this the new mini is awesome wifi control super easy and dialing in the blend amazing. For the price comparison like stated before i dont think you can beat the mini with the price point where it is. Will be using my 100w nicrew with 2 minis on my new build til i can snag the 140w to go with the 2 minis. Save some dollar bills for the upgrade thanks @tbrown3589 for the comparison and input

 

[doubleshot00]

Thanks for the info on the nightstand - going to get one and prep for the IM 15 - thanks for helping me spend

Yeah my wife found the cabinet. I didn’t use the backing on it. It holds a lot of weight.

I like this tank better than my 90

But this tanks parameters kick my butt

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

I recently purchased the Nicrew Classic, 18-24” Light. Appears to be a decent no frills light. Has two Channels on an in-line controller. Easy to set up, I just got the Channels mixed up. Swapped out the 12 Vdc Plugs. Channel 1 Blue Lights, Channel 2 White and a Few Green LEDs.
I will seal up the end caps and where the pull out wire supports come out, with some Silicone. It’s on a 29 Gallon Biocube. Love my 21LEDUSA ReefBar Pro too, for a Budget Light.

 

[RaymondL]

No this one you have pictured is only for the 30watt version.
View attachment 2871903

If I go the Nicrew route, should I go for the 50W version, so I can use this controller you think? 30W is all I need for my 13.5gallon as is.

 

[doubleshot00]

If I go the Nicrew route, should I go for the 50W version, so I can use this controller you think? 30W is all I need for my 13.5gallon as is.

You can use the $12 controller for the 30watt version. Its the one I used

This one. The problem is if you loose power it looses the time. I used a cheap upc from Walmart and hooked everything up to it.

 

[RaymondL]

You can use the $12 controller for the 30watt version. Its the one I used

This one. The problem is if you loose power it looses the time. I used a cheap upc from Walmart and hooked everything up to it.

So, I could put a controller to each of the channels: 1 for the white and 1 for the blue - cheap option.

 

[doubleshot00]

So, I could put a controller to each of the channels: 1 for the white and 1 for the blue - cheap option.

Idk if you can do that or not with two controllers. I don’t. Just hook the controller up and control the whole light with one controller.

Si the light comes with a controller built in so you can control the whites and blues. Then you can adjust it (i think) 8 or 12 hours. The controller is just for ramping and a percentage of power going to the light. So if you don’t have the controller you can ramp up or down.

There are 6 settings in the controller. So mine was like this.
12:00 20%
13:00 50%
14:00 80%
18:00 50%
19:00 20%
20:00 0%

Then the controller that comes with the light you adjust how you like the whites and blues.

 

[RaymondL]

Idk if you can do that or not with two controllers. I don’t. Just hook the controller up and control the whole light with one controller.

Si the light comes with a controller built in so you can control the whites and blues. Then you can adjust it (i think) 8 or 12 hours. The controller is just for ramping and a percentage of power going to the light. So if you don’t have the controller you can ramp up or down.

There are 6 settings in the controller. So mine was like this.
12:00 20%
13:00 50%
14:00 80%
18:00 50%
19:00 20%
20:00 0%

Then the controller that comes with the light you adjust how you like the whites and blues.

Ok, I think I understand now The intensity of the white and blues can be set on the built in controller. Using a Nicrew controller separately, one can then adjust the power of the light, which is for the entire light - ie. White and Blue together, but not individual channel.

 

[doubleshot00]

Ok, I think I understand now The intensity of the white and blues can be set on the built in controller. Using a Nicrew controller separately, one can then adjust the power of the light, which is for the entire light - ie. White and Blue together, but not individual channel.

It can also be used in the stock Fluval lights to. Just a little fyi

 

[Tyreefer]

I can't afford an AI PrimeHD, so looking for alternatives, and came across the Nicrew line of Reef LEDs - wanted to see if anyone on the forums can chime in on these if they have one.

Thanks

I’ve had mine for over a year and it is amazing, the timer is so helpful. You get to select 8 hours, 10 hours, or 12 hours. You can even change the setting of what color lights you want on. I love it because when I’m at work all day or if I come home late I don’t have to worry about my fish and corals missing out on having the light on. I’d say it’s a really good alternative and all my local fish stores have told me they’re good too just not many people know about them. My coral is thriving in my tank and my fish. I have a 37 gallon and have one nicrew light attached. Hope this helped!

 

[RaymondL]

I’ve had mine for over a year and it is amazing, the timer is so helpful. You get to select 8 hours, 10 hours, or 12 hours. You can even change the setting of what color lights you want on. I love it because when I’m at work all day or if I come home late I don’t have to worry about my fish and corals missing out on having the light on. I’d say it’s a really good alternative and all my local fish stores have told me they’re good too just not many people know about them. My coral is thriving in my tank and my fish. I have a 37 gallon and have one nicrew light attached. Hope this helped!

Thank you - which wattage do you have of the light?

Also, the description says not to mount on glass that is under 6mm!!! I don't know why, but that seems odd that they'd put a criteria on the glass thickness.