Smatfarm G6 light reviews? Alternatives?

Solo McReefer

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Anyone take one for the team

And buy the smatfarms lights yet?

Curious

"With A Name Like Smat Farms, It Has To Be Good"
1000003445.png
 

rdirtytwo

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I use the G6 over a 24" L x 16" H 26g. I have not owned a higher end light to compare it to, nor a large system, but I'm happy with it. The color looks good (although it looks more Cyan to me), and the easy SPS frags I have had in the tank over the last couple months are doing fine.

I have measured par with a VBR Aqua meter and my lowest SPS is getting 210 par and I have a lot of room to crank up the white channel. I just finished dealing with dinos so disregard the dirty tank. I'm still a noob.

 

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Shooter6

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I use the G6 over a 24" L x 16" H 26g. I have not owned a higher end light to compare it to, nor a large system, but I'm happy with it. The color looks good (although it looks more Cyan to me), and the easy SPS frags I have had in the tank over the last couple months are doing fine.

I have measured par with a VBR Aqua meter and my lowest SPS is getting 210 par and I have a lot of room to crank up the white channel. I just finished dealing with dinos so disregard the dirty tank. I'm still a noob.

Pics look more violet/near uv then cyan. Cyan is closer to a greenish blue.
 

telegraham

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Pics look more violet/near uv then cyan. Cyan is closer to a greenish blue.
Can we collectively make "near uv" sleep with the fishes? Near UV is UV that is nearest the visible spectrum, NOT the violet that BRS somehow learnt the hobby into believing. UV, violet, indigo, blue, etc, not UV, near UV, whatever, whatever. It's like they tried to fancy up violet to near UV just to sound cool.
 

SteveMM62Reef

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21LEDUSA, ReefBar Pros. As you progress you can add more ReefBar Pros, since they are slim. Also they have the Separate SunSetter Control. They will grow Corals.
 

Shooter6

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Can we collectively make "near uv" sleep with the fishes? Near UV is UV that is nearest the visible spectrum, NOT the violet that BRS somehow learnt the hobby into believing. UV, violet, indigo, blue, etc, not UV, near UV, whatever, whatever. It's like they tried to fancy up violet to near UV just to sound cool.
I think you miss understand what I mean . The 390s are more violet blue then deep blue. But they are not in the uv spectrum or put off weak uv. Not true uva,uvb,or uvc correct?

That would be violet/near uv spectrum?
 

Shooter6

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I was explaining the color hue of the pictures. Not the lights spectrum capabilities
 

rdirtytwo

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Pics look more violet/near uv then cyan. Cyan is closer to a greenish b
You know photos don't do justice, especially when it comes to blue, but I know the difference in hues.
I have an led with 450nm, 420nm and a single 470nm blue and the other light is more royal blue/near uv spectrum. What I'm saying is the Smatfarm seems to have more 470nm, thus making it look more cyan to the eye.
I was explaining the color hue of the pictures. Not the lights spectrum capabilities
 
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Shooter6

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You know photos don't do justice, especially when it comes to blue, but I know the difference in hues.
I have an led with 450nm, 420nm and a single 470nm blue and the other light is more royal blue/near uv spectrum. What I'm saying is the Smatfarm seems to have more 470nm, thus making it look more cyan to the eye.
What phone is being used to photograph? If your using android, put it in pro mode and adjust the exposure to get a more to eye appearance. Example my lights have more 440nm, 420nm and 390nm then 470nm. They appear more on the purple side then blue if I turn off the white spectrum. See attached.
 

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Shooter6

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Video is same lights with whites turned down or off. This picture is the same display with a single A8s I tested out before I decide to swap over to those or the atlas.
What phone is being used to photograph? If your using android, put it in pro mode and adjust the exposure to get a more to eye appearance. Example my lights have more 440nm, 420nm and 390nm then 470nm. They appear more on the purple side then blue if I turn off the white spectrum. See attached.
 

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Shooter6

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This video is the same lights, previous system, 180g with whites turned up and the camera set to pro with exposure and color adjusted to close to in person appearance.
 

rdirtytwo

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What phone is being used to photograph? If your using android, put it in pro mode and adjust the exposure to get a more to eye appearance. Example my lights have more 440nm, 420nm and 390nm then 470nm. They appear more on the purple side then blue if I turn off the white spectrum. See attached.
I'm using a Google Pixel 7 Pro, so yeah Android. I don't have a pro mode on my stock camera, but when I've tried using pro camera apps, they tend to crash when I mess with exposure. So it just might not be capable on my phone. The only thing I can do is shoot in RAW format and adjust the exposure in a 3rd party app.

Also if you were talking about the top down shots, I think my hands were close to the light, making it look purple. Sorry that might have been on me.
 

Shooter6

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I'm using a Google Pixel 7 Pro, so yeah Android. I don't have a pro mode on my stock camera, but when I've tried using pro camera apps, they tend to crash when I mess with exposure. So it just might not be capable on my phone. The only thing I can do is shoot in RAW format and adjust the exposure in a 3rd party app.

Also if you were talking about the top down shots, I think my hands were close to the light, making it look purple. Sorry that might have been on me.
Understanding. I believe the pictures I commented about were from the side, but if you don't have the pro mode I can understand your issues with color rendition. Appears my last vid didn't post so I'll attach a picture of whites turned up
 

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Littlewolf

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Hey all so I’m trying to get some reasonable lighting for my 200 gallon tank with out spending 2k on lights
So i came upon the smatfarm. G6 lights decided to try one out from amazon seems really strong program looks easy linking looks easy
My major concern is will it grow sps lps corals like a big name will

I have run 2 G5s over my mixed reef 75gal for over a year and grow everything from zoas to acros no problem. My torches grow and split like crazy under those lights. I now have 4 of the G5s over my 200 and everything is very happy. I may increase the number of units when they go on sale (happens often), but right now 4 seems to be keeping everything happy. They're very customizable with lots of room for adjustments. I honestly don't care about having them on an app. They run exactly as I set them, without fail, even after a power outage.
 

rdirtytwo

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Understanding. I believe the pictures I commented about were from the side, but if you don't have the pro mode I can understand your issues with color rendition. Appears my last vid didn't post so I'll attach a picture of whites turned up
Oh, I see. Yeah I don't really have pro mode and 3rd party apps have limited functionality on my phone, considering it was a flagship phone a few years ago. The blues always look oversaturated and heavy, even with an orange filter. On a side note, your tank looks great. Thanks for the tips on settings for Android. I will keep that in mind.
 
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Bigreeflittlefish

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I have run 2 G5s over my mixed reef 75gal for over a year and grow everything from zoas to acros no problem. My torches grow and split like crazy under those lights. I now have 4 of the G5s over my 200 and everything is very happy. I may increase the number of units when they go on sale (happens often), but right now 4 seems to be keeping everything happy. They're very customizable with lots of room for adjustments. I honestly don't care about having them on an app. They run exactly as I set them, without fail, even after a power outage.
Probsbly going to do the same if i can’t find a cheap photon
 

Littlewolf

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Probsbly going to do the same if i can’t find a cheap photon
I honestly think they are just fine. Mine have good spread and have grown everything from sandbed level to avout 2/3 the way up the tank just fine. Even with only 10% white (brought up the light intensity slowly over about 2 months), I ended up with a couple things starting to bleach so they have plenty of power. I now run them at about 2% whites. Helps keep nuisance algae at bay anyway. I think it comes down to what you want to keep. My dragon soul torch went from 3 heads to 11 in 8 months with them. I feed my corals maybe once every 2 weeks so most of the growth I see is just from the lights.
 
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Bigreeflittlefish

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I honestly think they are just fine. Mine have good spread and have grown everything from sandbed level to avout 2/3 the way up the tank just fine. Even with only 10% white (brought up the light intensity slowly over about 2 months), I ended up with a couple things starting to bleach so they have plenty of power. I now run them at about 2% whites. Helps keep nuisance algae at bay anyway. I think it comes down to what you want to keep. My dragon soul torch went from 3 heads to 11 in 8 months with them. I feed my corals maybe once every 2 weeks so most of the growth I see is just from the lights.
Which. Coral feed do you use for your system I’ll be getting torches myself
 

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