DIY Lights AliExpress again?

[msporleder]

I probably should’ve been more clear in my question. How would one mount them without a hood? It’s a rimless tank I’d be adding one or two of these onto.

I wish I had good options for mounting lights! I've actually struggled with it a lot. Custom 80/20 brackets? 3d printed stuff?

 

[Mick]

Right - day of truth. The scenario I’m hoping for is the one where they drop it at my doorstep and walk away.

 

[Mick]

I literally just got the email and then went to my door and saw the package - all by its lonesome!!

 

[Mick]

So this is what arrived - the top one is Amazon and the bottom silver one is AliExpress and although all the specs are the ‘same’ the AliExpress item is far better; producing less heat from both the power unit and the diodes. And that means less cooling which should result in a far cheaper potential build cost.

 

[Mick]

Back in business! These were delivered today, apparently all tarriffs and taxes included and no further cost. They were more expensive than my last order $21 vs $16 pre tariff but still cheaper than the alternatives, and I get the color of light that I like!

 

[Mick]

A glutton for punishment - we’re days away from racking these above the tank - 440-465nm 5w LEDs just waiting on lenses. 3d printed end caps designed to clip to t-channel and designed to spread over a 125g. I’m still a softie guy at heart so think that should be enough. The color is more windex with a dash of purple.

Yes - tariffs are slightly more expensive but now not worth mentioning

I have to PAR these I know - I need to connect with someone near East Cobb / J-Ferry who has one. Phone app not great

 

[Mick]

I’ve jumped the gun a little and used every loose lens I could find to start testing these lights. My corals are really responding well to the few of them I can use - lots of eyelashes on some zoas, big puffy mushroom action and some happy easy sps .. maybe a few more 465nm’s than 440nm’s so color is windexy but that’s solvable with a resolder. Or I get used to it.

And tariffs have made everything more expensive so this option is still way cheaper. If this continues the RedSea 90’s (which I’ve finally mastered!!) and the noop mini’s will be on the market in January