Returning to the hobby - Any LED systems that look like metal halide?

Bruttall

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 19, 2023
Messages
953
Reaction score
1,612
Location
Council Bluffs
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Now if only they would catch up with the time and actually write a decent UI for the application. I cringe and involuntarily twitch every time I see the Reefi UI

The 90's called and want their Netscape UI back. LOL
I like the app, easy to use.
1704623832315.png
 

VintageReefer

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 16, 2023
Messages
10,181
Reaction score
16,462
Location
USA
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
6 months growth under Reefi, seriously I can't say enough good things about these lights!
1703849615128.png

I’ve compared pictures and I see 6 months of purchases and not 6 months of growth

Almost anything in the original spot in the first pic, is not in the second pic and grown

Anything significant in the second pic is not in the first pic.

Bare spots in the first pic are filled in with corals in the second pic.

Small corals in the first pic that I can find in the second pic, are still small

6 months of growth? You are not growing coral from bare rock. The statement is a little deceiving. Sure some things have grown, but you should focus on those things with individual pictures to make a point. Anyone comparing the pics will see bare rock, then coral filled rock, and your claim that the reefi grew this is inaccurate.

Here is 9 months of growth for 2 torch in my tank, same corals and location and 9 months growth for a favia, different location but same tank and lighting.

If you want to make a point about coral growth, and I do think the reefi is a great light, then this is how to do it.

4226039E-544E-41DD-804F-D47555B3D126.jpeg 77ACFB19-A6AA-4FE8-A396-2ACFFF5A1BA1.jpeg 55BB4FE3-AE04-4BB5-8FE5-C31CA1E75365.jpeg F2436A25-5006-45BA-A1B7-333FD8312D31.jpeg
 
Last edited:

dhnguyen

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 23, 2010
Messages
553
Reaction score
770
Location
Kingston, Washington
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I like the app, easy to use.
1704623832315.png
Yeah but you have to admit the app UI looks like something somebody's grandmother threw together from a Frontpage template My friend and I (both software engineers) have been telling Daniel for years to update his UI to make it look more professional and polished. It wouldn't even take much either but he seems pretty stubborn and set in his ways. Sighs ...
 

DanyL

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 13, 2023
Messages
1,477
Reaction score
1,738
Location
Middle East
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I’ve compared pictures and I see 6 months of purchases and not 6 months of growth

Almost anything in the original spot in the first pic, is not in the second pic and grown

Anything significant in the second pic is not in the first pic.

Bare spots in the first pic are filled in with corals in the second pic.

Small corals in the first pic that I can find in the second pic, are still small

6 months of growth? You are not growing coral from bare rock. The statement is a little deceiving. Sure some things have grown, but you should focus on those things with individual pictures to make a point. Anyone comparing the pics will see bare rock, then coral filled rock, and your claim that the reefi grew this is inaccurate.

Here is 9 months of growth for 2 torch in my tank, same corals and location and 9 months growth for a favia, different location but same tank and lighting.

If you want to make a point about coral growth, and I do think the reefi is a great light, then this is how to do it.

4226039E-544E-41DD-804F-D47555B3D126.jpeg 77ACFB19-A6AA-4FE8-A396-2ACFFF5A1BA1.jpeg 55BB4FE3-AE04-4BB5-8FE5-C31CA1E75365.jpeg F2436A25-5006-45BA-A1B7-333FD8312D31.jpeg

Not the best shots because I never attempted to closely monitor growth rate and I had to hunt for old pics to new pics I have taken, but here’s Acropora Florida - first one taken on May 22, second was taken Dec 23 - that’s 20 months worth of growth with fragging along the way.

~4cm to ~40cm or ~1.57” to ~15.75” in your imperial measurements.

You can also see the Wall Gold Hammer, though it is closed on the second photo (and yes, it did touch both the Florida and the Spatulatha on the other side)

IMG_4567.jpeg

IMG_1983.jpeg


And if think “a frag here or a frag there” doesn’t matter, this is the size of the frags I do, when I do them to keep things from touching each other:

IMG_2441.jpeg


Anyone can show off what they grow and how well they do it, it can be done under lots of different lightings, and under lots of different conditions - but all I see you did in your post here is to try and bully someone new for showing off his creation.
It’s a lame move.
 

VintageReefer

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 16, 2023
Messages
10,181
Reaction score
16,462
Location
USA
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
No bullying, just constructive criticism. If you make an claim about coral growth, then have photos that demonstrate it.

My photos aren’t a “I’m better than you” or anyone else statement. It was an example of how to back up a claim. Ex: Here’s what happened over 9 months, with a before and after to support the claim. Someone can do better or worse. His tank is nice, his corals are nice, his light is nice, and that’s what the photos show. They don’t show, not clearly at least, 6 months of growth.
 

VintageReefer

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 16, 2023
Messages
10,181
Reaction score
16,462
Location
USA
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
I just want to reach out to @Bruttall for a moment and apologize.

I spoke to Dany and he made me aware that I came across as possibly hurtful and I want to publicly apologize to you. It was not my intent, but in retrospect I see Dany’s point.

First off - Bruttal has an amazing tank and everyone should check out his build thread. I mean it, it’s a full wall tank with a fantastic custom built filtration system and when I saw it I was truly impressed

Second off - I do agree with him that the Reefi lights are extremely good - and they have an almost cult like following. They are not the cheapest, nor are they the most expensive, but they do offer tremendous value and power.

Third - my comment was intended to be constructive criticism as is often used in the photo section of the forum. It’s not personal. I was trying to point out issues with the claim, and offer advice and examples on how to improve. I realize this is where I went wrong and maybe overboard and I apologize.

You do have a great tank, and corals, my suggestion is take photos of individual items every few weeks or month, and then you will be able to document how much growth you have, and can even make a thread about the capabilities of the reefi’s and showcase your favorites.

Again, sorry for the tone that came across over text, I did not mean to offend. Trying to guide. I realize I could have phrased things or explained better. I hope there are no hard feelings, and if there are feel free to take it offline with me via DM.
 

Bruttall

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 19, 2023
Messages
953
Reaction score
1,612
Location
Council Bluffs
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
First off - Bruttal has an amazing tank and everyone should check out his build thread. I mean it, it’s a full wall tank with a fantastic custom built filtration system and when I saw it I was truly impressed.
Thank YOU! This made my year. I have to admit I love when people see my tank in person for the first time, the eyes widen, jaw drops slightly and usually they exclaim, "oh **** dude!" Guess I love the attention :)
 

Bruttall

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 19, 2023
Messages
953
Reaction score
1,612
Location
Council Bluffs
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I see your point on the growth, it is a little misleading, but I posted it for this coral, the birdsnest, I should have pointed that out, I am sorry for being confusing.

1704720557835.png
 

Bruttall

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 19, 2023
Messages
953
Reaction score
1,612
Location
Council Bluffs
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Oct 12th to Jan 8th, 4 months of growth. I did add 1 more torch to this shelf. the 3rd from left was added after top picture was taken. FYI the only "coral food" I dose is Live Hatched brine, but about once or twice month I use a coral snow flocculant with Selcon, ZEOPlus, and Microbacter7 added to it. The spots on the glass are pods :)

1704721574271.png

20240108_074520[1].jpg


Encrusting I been growing by accident.
1704721930755.png
1704721949279.png
Also 4 months apart in pictures.
 

BurgerFish

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 26, 2018
Messages
503
Reaction score
215
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Kessil for sure. But to be honest, just get some reefbrites with twin arc bulbs and the blue LED bar for supplement.
How long they'll produce twin arc bulbs? Radium bulbs are already discounted.
 

ChrisfromBrick

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 29, 2024
Messages
1,026
Reaction score
1,287
Location
Brick, NJ
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
I have a question about this. If i use my A360x with 4T5's around it, will I still get some shimmer from the Kessil?
 

nickng

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 20, 2023
Messages
460
Reaction score
339
Location
Boston
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thats a trash talk.
The Uno 2.0 Pro basically won the game, it’s in the price range of the cheaper options, but defeats all high end fixtures as well.

I talk from experience with both the first generation Uno over my main system, as well as the second one over my frag tank - and oh boy how well they grow SPS.

Glass did not break on any of my 5 close-to m-3 years old first gen Unos, nor the 2 close-to m-1 year old second gen Unos - so I’m not sure what they’re talking about.

And the fact that it does use glass is actually a big big difference because it does not filter UVA like plastic does, which is one of the main benefits of running MH - the amount of UVA it produces.

I’m honestly a little surprised anyone tried to go against it, but given that it is a competitor, there’s probably a good reason for that.

You’ve seen my frag tank, now I’ll show my 206g SPS dominant reef tank, spectrum here is more purple/blue unlike the newer generation that actually does have a full spectrum (and the reason why I have another 2 Uno 2.0 pro waiting to be hanged over it).

That last pic is a 40cm in diameter Acropora Florida that I grew under this lights within 2 years from a little frag - so that’s my answer to “grows only LPS” lol

IMG_1899.jpeg

IMG_1917.jpeg

IMG_1908.jpeg

IMG_1983.jpeg
Oooh, I like the almost natural daylight look on these. Are the photos taken with filters and therefore looks more blue to the naked eye?
and is every single channel on teh lights maxed out?
Also could you share what your settings are? I'm thinking of getting the reefi uno to replace my radions(tired of the blue and flat windex look)
 
Last edited:

ChrisfromBrick

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 29, 2024
Messages
1,026
Reaction score
1,287
Location
Brick, NJ
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Kessil will do that for you. I've had MH and Kessil has the same effect. I have a kessil A360x (x2).
 

mizukage

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 20, 2024
Messages
119
Reaction score
42
Location
Toronto
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Have you looked at the Reefi Labs uno 2.0?

You won't get the Halide shimmer on anything but a Halide, so if your hearts set on shimmer, go with what ya know.

If you want a LED however, get the best LED Available right now, The Reefi out preforms everything else available right now due to the sheer wattage they produce, at 270 watts they are 50watt more powerful than any competitor. Plus they cost HALF as much or less than a set of KESSIL lights (overpriced even compared to Radion IMO).

Little data for you to look thru,
1703763036372.png



This Pic below is April (top) to November (bottom) with these Reefi Lights.
1703763315699.png
Is reef lighting all about the wattage ? For example, higher watts = better light. Higher number of LEDs = better too?

Noticed the reefi has the most watts and number of leds so I am curious. Thanks!
 

Bruttall

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 19, 2023
Messages
953
Reaction score
1,612
Location
Council Bluffs
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Is reef lighting all about the wattage ? For example, higher watts = better light. Higher number of LEDs = better too?

Noticed the reefi has the most watts and number of leds so I am curious. Thanks!
Not just wattage and number of lights, but spectrum seperation as well, Reefi have a real 400nm, and a 420nm spectrum setting. Those are what really makes the coral color pop. Reefi has more channels of light also I believe. Most lights do not have a true 400nm channel, they call 420nm Ultra Violet, it is but it is top spectrum UV not middle spectrum UV like 400nm is.

I guess I should explain my OUT PREFORM statement, I run mine at about 110 watts at peak for about 4.5 hours, they ramp to and ramp down from that. Since Heat is Electronics worst enemy, by running these lights at less than half I am expecting to extend Light Life much farther than if someone ran them at Max all the time. Mine just do not generate enough heat to really work the fans, so all the moving parts move less, less wear, longer life.

Now let me add my LFS has grow out area's in thier frag tanks, most stores do. I tend to shop those because I want what I can't have, ya know. So I get to see Radion, Neptune-Sky, Kessil and Vipar-Spectra in action in the Omaha area and I can see the growth in my tank compared to what they are doing in theirs.

Maybe I am biased, I do own reefi lights.

Thing is with a 3 year warranty, can you really go wrong for a light that is half the price of the leading brands and certainly looks better on paper?

There a facebook reefi page, people that have them seem to love them, I have even see people trying to trade other brand lights, or sell them, so they can buy another reefi, they loved the first one they got so much.
 
Back
Top