LED Day and Night Lighting

WooHoo, can't wait...TMC GroBeam dual will be in early next week. Been using a single strip Current Sat + strip for the moment but it's just not enough and now starting to see some deterioration on the plants.

So, food for thought. When something we buy is for aquarium use, no matter what they say if it's not water proofed, then think twice as it only takes a very small bit of humidity to damage anything electrical.

After close inspection of the current unit there are a few design flaws that could have been very well avoided. Accidents happen, especially in this hobby and to have to fight with a manufacture or supplier is a waste of my time and money. Not to mention it would need to be shipped back at my cost just to verify, like really! Rare that I do any reviews on anything, but this time I got irk'd big time and that does not sit well with me. If it cost me under a $100 bucks I would not even bother, but this was far more than that for the 48inch fixture.

So, be warned, If you purchase any of these current units, be sure to verify any and all closures and do yourself a favor, use a bit of silicone around all electrical connections and end pieces of the fixture or simply spend a little more and get something more reliable and better.

After speaking with many, the TMC Aquaray products are by far a superiour unit to current and others simular. It has a 5 year warrenty on the unit, water proofed (BIG PART) and 2 year warrenty on the PSU. That alone is worth the extra money spent which was $70 CAD more than the current unit.

I'll be doing a review of my experience with this unit soon once I get the bad vibes shook off, but don't be waiting for good as I will point out the flaws and weaknesses of the Current Sat + with some good points too but I simply will not suggest this unit at this time of their product releases.

 

Got my TMC GroBeam Dual 600 Ultima in today. Will install this tonight but let me say this, there are two 19 inch units with 5 LED's each and having just turned one on to see almost blinded me. One unit is alone is far brighter than the Current Satellite Plus unit at 48" so this is certainly a step up from the rest. 5 year warranty and 2 years on PSU. Not one unit such as finnex, current or other in there categrory compare on the warranty alone. So for a few extra bucks you step up to medium/high lighting. The manufacturing, packaging are top notch. Readable instructions well structured and easy to follow. Quite impressed so far and haven't even installed it yet. Still see sunspots 30 minutes after just getting a glimpse so fair warning "Do Not Look" into this light direct.

 

Ok, now I'm impressed. Take a look at any of the previous photos from day 1 of this build. Then take a comparative look at these photos as of today. Two 5 led units out do any multI led unit I've seen or used.

The shimmer effect alone is 100 times superior to the current sat unit that I was using up till now. This experience merits a full in depth review that every newbie and even experienced will well appreciate. So that's coming, for now here's the teaser.

 

and one more with the hood opened.

 

View attachment 171065 and one more with the hood opened.

Your tank is STUNNING!

 

Your tank is STUNNING!

Ah, now your making me blush Thank you though for the compliment. It's almost reaching 6 months now since the build. Lots of tinkering has happened along with experimenting to my own needs to push limits and boundaries. This is probably my most high-tech of my tanks. I will be working on the other 2 (55g and 20g) later on this year. My betta tank just lacks something so I got this rice field idea going on in the back of my mind some place and my fancies tank is just, well drab so got to tinkering with this one as well.

The last photo shows my custom cedar wood housing covered on the inside with reflective mirror foil. (shiny side of pure aluminum foil also works great). This in fact becomes a reflector for even more light passage back to the tank.

The new Aquaray Grobeam 600 is impressive in every way. 24 watt draw, 10 LEDs and it lights areas of my tank very naturally, more so than my previous Current Sat + did with 96 LEDs AND IT"S FRICKIN WATERPROOF!!!, NOTE: Not underwater waterproof) Something Current could pickup on!

As an ex tech(35 years IT) I well understand the inside of the tech as much as the outside flash. So my choice in going with a little unknown brand here in North America was unbiased as my first 2 LED's from current, 1 strip, and one bar died in less than 6 months. Ok, yes it has a warranty, but here's my personal choice on things. I come from a background where customer service gave and gives my 2 careers. 1, the high-tech world, and today, a world for wellness. Customer service need not be argued with or faced with roadblocks, it should be listening and accepting, to a point of course here. Strip unit got a splash (drop) and even with a dryloop it was enough to zap the controller. What do we expect imo from things for our hobby that involves water. Simple, waterproof them or don't market them imo. The bar unit picked up humidity from the cover closure which for me is an oversight of the manufacture or a cheap shortcut. This humidity also did the same, zapped the controller. So, that for me is a write-off for me on this brand.

So, more of this will come out in the review that I will give soon here on FL because it's coming straight from the hip .

 

Ah, now your making me blush Thank you though for the compliment. It's almost reaching 6 months now since the build. Lots of tinkering has happened along with experimenting to my own needs to push limits and boundaries. This is probably my most high-tech of my tanks. I will be working on the other 2 (55g and 20g) later on this year. My betta tank just lacks something so I got this rice field idea going on in the back of my mind some place and my fancies tank is just, well drab so got to tinkering with this one as well.

The last photo shows my custom cedar wood housing covered on the inside with reflective mirror foil. (shiny side of pure aluminum foil also works great). This in fact becomes a reflector for even more light passage back to the tank.

The new Aquaray Grobeam 600 is impressive in every way. 24 watt draw, 10 LEDs and it lights areas of my tank very naturally, more so than my previous Current Sat + did with 96 LEDs AND IT"S FRICKIN WATERPROOF!!!, NOTE: Not underwater waterproof) Something Current could pickup on!

As an ex tech(35 years IT) I well understand the inside of the tech as much as the outside flash. So my choice in going with a little unknown brand here in North America was unbiased as my first 2 LED's from current, 1 strip, and one bar died in less than 6 months. Ok, yes it has a warranty, but here's my personal choice on things. I come from a background where customer service gave and gives my 2 careers. 1, the high-tech world, and today, a world for wellness. Customer service need not be argued with or faced with roadblocks, it should be listening and accepting, to a point of course here. Strip unit got a splash (drop) and even with a dryloop it was enough to zap the controller. What do we expect imo from things for our hobby that involves water. Simple, waterproof them or don't market them imo. The bar unit picked up humidity from the cover closure which for me is an oversight of the manufacture or a cheap shortcut. This humidity also did the same, zapped the controller. So, that for me is a write-off for me on this brand.

So, more of this will come out in the review that I will give soon here on FL because it's coming straight from the hip .

I agree! "Aquarium" electrical components that are so close to the water should be "water proof"...

It's like "aquariums for dummies"

Can't wait to see more!

 

Gorgeous aquarium. And the light looks incredible.

 

Gorgeous aquarium. And the light looks incredible.

Thank you. Yes, this is quite a step up in LED tech and done right IMO. Everything from the packaging to the product is 1st class. While still only a few days old, my tank setup will be an ultimate test for it. But in the few hours it has been used it is already showing just how good this light is. They also have an entry freshwater model called the aquabar which is not that costly but I believe it would be good for low-medium lighting needs for freshwater tanks, The GroBeam is a step up offering mid to high light needs and I still see sun spots almost 3 days later so don't look direct into the light. I got away with this on my Current unit, but the GroBeam is a whole other level. I have it timed for an 8 hr spread and today even saw a little difference in the community activity so more to come as I work with this unit. For me, it simply stands out from the others I've tried or looked at. No gadgets, bells or whistles, just a solid state well-build light.

 

You're so good in aquarium and ponds I wish I could meet u

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I grew some amazin swords and waterletuce and thought I was doong great after seening your tank(s) I feel like a neon tetra in front of a Gaint oscar.

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Amazon swords*,Doing*

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lol, hey I'm no pro per say, just passion and out of the box thinking. What I love about this is how I create a very rewarding world of life. Sure it takes time and patience, but when you let your creativity flow, well, everything is possible, even if someone says otherwise.

My true love is my Koi and the environment I've created was not just in function of esthetics, but in function of their needs, meaning the koi. Everything in my current pond has a purpose that is beneficial both ways. My hindrance at times is knowing when to stop as I'm always tinkering