Black Box or Name Brand what do you use?

[mikem101]

So in another thread I was posed a questions of what the majority of the community uses to light there tank. so I thought instead of making claims without know info. I thought I would post this poll and see what people are actually using!

[Jon0807]

I used to have this http://a.co/hQFNt3z My corals seemed to be doing ok but they never really seemed to thrive. Then I switched to Kessil A360 and I'm actually getting growth. But I do hear a lot of people getting good results from black boxes. This is just from my experience

[Tuffyyyyy]

I have a "black box" T5 fixture of sorts.

[zxknight]

im using these also https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMXAR5S...TZ1?pldnSite=1
but i think i will be adding a retro t5 setup.

[mikem101]

We need more answers y'all!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kmbyrnes]

I've used both. Got good results with both. Now use BB's exclusively.

[MurphyLong]

I have the 4x DSuny unit from Amazon, it was about $400, and gives great coverage on my 125 tank, with a WiFi interface that makes programming a piece of cake. My corals and nems seem to LOVE it. I guess it's technically still a black box, even though it's silver...

lights.jpg

[mcgyvr]

I've used black box Leds
I've used ATI T5 (currently using)
I've used MH
I've used coralife CF

All did the job BTW...

Many people use black boxes... many don't..
Good luck with whatever you are trying to figure out..

I'll say this though..
If you are hurting for money you use a black box.. If not there are better choices..

[Fredfish]

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

...
I'll say this though..
If you are hurting for money you use a black box.. If not there are better choices..

Very good summary.

I would add that, if you are new to the hobby and not sure how long you will be in for, start with a black box. You can always upgrade.

[mcgyvr]

yes...

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

If you are hurting for money you use a black box..

or

Originally Posted by Fredfish

if you are new to the hobby and not sure how long you will be in for, start with a black box. You can always upgrade.

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

If not there are better choices..

[kenneth wolfe]

Sensor half way in tank 12ish" down, my leds have diffusers on them par would be 30% higher with out , but with its wonderful. I have a lot of lights, but my goal is spread, I can control all pur, par is not a hard thing to accomplish , it's eAsy to get par, spread and blending imo is what its truly about.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[kenneth wolfe]

Originally Posted by kenneth wolfe

Sensor half way in tank 12ish" down, my leds have diffusers on them par would be 30% higher with out , but with its wonderful. I have a lot of lights, but my goal is spread, I can control all pur, par is not a hard thing to accomplish , it's eAsy to get par, spread and blending imo is what its truly about.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

If I wanted 500 par, no problem, its not par, truly, its blending and pur, pur is more important than anything else even par, most corals will thrive in good pur low par..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[Ron Reefman]

What group does the Reef Breeders Photon V2 fit into? They are Chinese made and the V1 was a true black box. The V2 has a new streamline case and 6 channel color control. Does that make it a 'fancy' black box or is it now a 'brand name'?

[homer1475]

I would classify reefbreeders as a name brand. They are not the same as the no name, mars aqua's brands on flea bay and amazon.

I personally would completely disregard any thing Kenneth has to say after his complete and udder lambasting of BRS in another thread. He's obviously a black box fanboi.

I've had my time with mars aquas, I will never make that mistake again. While they do work, work is about all they do.

[JTL]

Where does SB Reef Lights fit in? They look like a Mars Aqua but supposedly have a better heat sink, better leds, better circuitry and better optics. I have a Reefbreeders Photon v2 and it seems to work good but I have no basis of comparison. I was actually thinking about a SB Reef for a frag tank unless I can find something used that is better.

[nemosworld]

Currently using hydra 26 and love it
previous light was a pair of Radeon G3's
before that I had the following:
DIY LED setup
T-5's
VHO
Metal Halide

As stated above, they all grow corals just fine.

[ReefMaster48]

I'd prefer to add florescence with my LEDs, but just the black box works well so far. I cant stand spending 2, 3, even 400 bucks on a name brand LED. I can get 4 black box variants for that! Craziness i tell you!

But, there is no right or wrong way, so to each his own.

[is null]

I'm with Ron, went with the Reef Breeders Photon V2 after trying out the black boxes. It's not exactly name brand but not black box either. I chose them mainly just because I couldn't see any way to mount the black boxes over my 100g without it looking like crap and the Reef Breeders looks pretty sharp.

[JTL]

The Reef Breeders is a very nice fixture.

[Ron Reefman]

And it fits right in the middle between some good black boxes with some nice options and the high price name brands. It very good looking and IMHO the best value if you want that level of control. But it's made by EverGrow who makes a LOT of black box fixtures and the old Photon was a black box too!

[JTL]

Ron, you were in marketing if I recall. Tweek things a little and sell a hamburger as a steak. I like the RB product and I also think most of these lights will grow coral. As you well know, lights are only part of the equation.

[Reef Reaper]

Ocean revive arctic t247

[Reef Reaper]

I have terrific growth and colors

[ca1ore]

Seems to me there are three choices: OEM, rebadged OEM, and proprietary. Assume the RB v2 are in the second category? Kept my reef under RB v1 for a while, added in some Kessils and then replaced the RB with ETM Radions. I get slightly better color and growth now, but only slightly.

[JTL]

Everything today is a knockoff of something that is selling.