Programmable, dimmable LED recomendations

[Kyla]

Hello!

I'm currently running a programmable marineland LED light strip ony tank. The colour is great but its so bright that it grows algae on the BB floor even tho its only on for a few hours a day (no plants in my tank). Plus I feel like the fish would look just as nice and prob be happier under a dimmer light. I'm seeing a lot of threads mentioning dimmable LED strips and wondering if I could get some recommendations? My light doesn't turn on gradually either, it just comes on full blast and sometimes it spooks the fish and sends them slamming into objects. Having an LED light that would boot up and down gradually and for which i could choose the brightness setting myself would be ideal. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance!

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/kylasfish/Mobile%20Uploads/F6991D88-D18C-48D9-BAFF-F2F49FC0C762_zpssn2osqim.png (http://s296.photobucket.com/user/kylasfish/media/Mobile%20Uploads/F6991D88-D18C-48D9-BAFF-F2F49FC0C762_zpssn2osqim.png.html)

[jim LI]

Aquatic life edge . i have 2.... https://www.aquaticlife.com/light-fixtures-accessories/edge-led-light-fixtures/aquatic-life-edge-led-light-fixture.html..

just as an fyi. drs smith and foster has them on sale...http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=28127

[Jenene]

Hi Kyla,
I bought the Current Satellite Plus Pro a few months ago and I really love it. It does come on slowly and turns off by fading as well. It is fully programmable with red, green, blue and white that you can customize in color and intensity and comes with a remote too. It is really easy to program. Nice moonlight feature. It does have a bit of nonsense on it like some weather features of lightening storms. That is just crazy mean. Not really sure why your fish would enjoy wild flashing lights. I guess just a gimmick but the light itself is very good IMO. Not sure if you can find it cheaper but this is where I got mine-
http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-lighting/current-satellite-plus-pro-freshwater-led-24-36-inch.html

[Jenene]

Aquatic life edge . i have 2.... https://www.aquaticlife.com/light-fixtures-accessories/edge-led-light-fixtures/aquatic-life-edge-led-light-fixture.html..

just as an fyi. drs smith and foster has them on sale...http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=28127

Oh... that one looks nice too! So many decisions...

[Yom]

I too run the Current USA FW Satellite, love all the customization options and cloud cover options.

http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/satellite-led-fixtures/satellite-freshwater-led-plus/

http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/satellite-led-fixtures/satellite-led-pro/

[Jenene]

I too run the Current USA FW Satellite, love all the customization options and cloud cover options.

http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/satellite-led-fixtures/satellite-freshwater-led-plus/

http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/satellite-led-fixtures/satellite-led-pro/

Oh yes! Forgot about the clouds- I do like that feature. Thanks for posting the links. I was not sure if mine was the best deal or not or the tech differences between the pro and plus. I just went straight to the top since I am getting tired of trying to save a few bucks and having to re-buy equipment to get what I should have gotten the first time. I do like this light. I put my old LED on the community tank. They get the leftovers-:p

[Kyla]

Awesome! Thanks guys, these are exactly what I was looking for. Gonna watch some youtube reviews and replace this marineland. Love the remote option!

[Lido]

If you really want to go fancy you can look at the Radeon Pro, MaxSpect Razor, Current USA Satellite Plus Pro, Kessil AP series, and Ecotech all make very good programmable high end LEDs. If you're looking for a step down from those you can look at KOVAL, Finnex, or Beamswork.

I hope this helps. Kessel's are great, small and look nice hung above a tank if you aren't into the whole "big fixture" thing.

[DatDiscusDude]

I am also a big fan of the current satellite pro... I just wish I got the timer and I am too cheap to do so now, so I just manual turn it off and on...

[Neptune]

I run an Ecoxotic E series. Full featured, very nice light. It is one of the few LED lights with a built in reflector.

[Jack L]

current usa satellite pro plus

i now run them at 50% of the power, so i probably could have saved $$ and not bought the plus version.

https://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Satellite-Plus-Light/dp/B00QVIEP88/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487903912&sr=8-2&keywords=current+usa+satellite+freshwater+led+plus +light+for+aquarium

[Jack L]

I am also a big fan of the current satellite pro... I just wish I got the timer and I am too cheap to do so now, so I just manual turn it off and on...

i have the plus pro, the ramp up and ramp off and built in timer is very nice

[Jack L]

Awesome! Thanks guys, these are exactly what I was looking for. Gonna watch some youtube reviews and replace this marineland. Love the remote option!

i was just reviewing the plus vs plus pro.

they look like all the same features, though the cheaper one, the plus, has 4 memory slots, mine the plus pro that was $300 bucks has 2 memory slots. and as i mentioned i have mine now running at 50% power. which uses 30 watts, and that is what the plus says it uses.

so basically, i wasted a lot of money since i don't used the extra light power, and that is the only different of substance i see from the two versions.

if you don't think you need the extra light, i'd steer away for the plus pro (expensive version)

[Kyla]

i was just reviewing the plus vs plus pro.

they look like all the same features, though the cheaper one, the plus, has 4 memory slots, mine the plus pro that was $300 bucks has 2 memory slots. and as i mentioned i have mine now running at 50% power. which uses 30 watts, and that is what the plus says it uses.

so basically, i wasted a lot of money since i don't used the extra light power, and that is the only different of substance i see from the two versions.

if you don't think you need the extra light, i'd steer away for the plus pro (expensive version)

def dont need the extra par cuz there are no plants. did the plus pro and plus both have timers? Datdiscusdude, when u say u wish u got the timer, was it not included with your version?

[Kyla]

If you really want to go fancy you can look at the Radeon Pro, MaxSpect Razor, Current USA Satellite Plus Pro, Kessil AP series, and Ecotech all make very good programmable high end LEDs. If you're looking for a step down from those you can look at KOVAL, Finnex, or Beamswork.

I hope this helps. Kessel's are great, small and look nice hung above a tank if you aren't into the whole "big fixture" thing.

i saw some nice kessels on someone's minimalist tank with red melons, loved the way the water rippled under them.

[Neptune]

i saw some nice kessels on someone's minimalist tank with red melons, loved the way the water rippled under them.

When I win the lottery I'll get some Kessels! I love them, but can't afford them!

[Jack L]

def dont need the extra par cuz there are no plants. did the plus pro and plus both have timers? Datdiscusdude, when u say u wish u got the timer, was it not included with your version?

looked at site again. looks like the pro + mentions the timer and regular pro doesn't. the remote on cheaper one doesn't have buttons for timer either.
i do not know if a basic lamp timer would work or not.
but i see they sell a timer for 30 bucks. that would still be a LOT cheaper if you don't need the par compared the pro + i have running at 1/2 power.

also the modes, lightning and stuff, i NEVER use them.

[DatDiscusDude]

def dont need the extra par cuz there are no plants. did the plus pro and plus both have timers? Datdiscusdude, when u say u wish u got the timer, was it not included with your version?

Yes, the version I purchased from kensfish was just the light and the remote, no timer, no ramp up or ramp down.

[Jenene]

Yes, the version I purchased from kensfish was just the light and the remote, no timer, no ramp up or ramp down.

The ramp up and down on the Current Plus Pro is really a great feature since it doesn't snap on and off and spook them. It very gently wakes them and at night dims slowly it is a very gentle transition. The moonlight setting at it's lowest is a great nightlight for them as well.

One other feature is it is really easy to program. I still have not gotten the timer on the old LED I transferred to the community tank working. It takes me forever to get it figured out it is so complicated. I would break out in cold sweat when I accidently unplugged it or the power would go out for a minute- knowing the lengthy struggle I had coming to get it working properly again.

[DatDiscusDude]

The ramp up and down on the Current Plus Pro is really a great feature since it doesn't snap on and off and spook them. It very gently wakes them and at night dims slowly it is a very gentle transition. The moonlight setting at it's lowest is a great nightlight for them as well.

One other feature is it is really easy to program. I still have not gotten the timer on the old LED I transferred to the community tank working. It takes me forever to get it figured out it is so complicated. I would break out in cold sweat when I accidentally unplugged it or the power would go out for a minute- knowing the lengthy struggle I had coming to get it working properly again.

These features all make me a bit angry for cheaping out on the upgrade. However, my tank is in a place where it gets natural light as a wake up and ramp down so by the time I get to it they are already kinda awake on their natural sun vibe, so then I work the lights in my self.

[Jenene]

These features all make me a bit angry for cheaping out on the upgrade. However, my tank is in a place where it gets natural light as a wake up and ramp down so by the time I get to it they are already kinda awake on their natural sun vibe, so then I work the lights in my self.

No need to beat yourself up- there will always be something one step above what we already own. Trying to keep up with all the new toys will bankrupt us all. I reasoned with myself I needed to replace the old florescent 20 year old light on my neglected community tank. The discus got the upgrade and I knew the custom settings would highlight their coloring. I learned with heaters not to skimp since I was tired of ordering new ones for my aging barrels every two months. Things like lighting if it works for you it is golden. You are lucky you have sun where you live :sun:. In Upstate NY we are in the dark or under cloud cover more often than not.

[Ryan925]

I agree with the satellite plus pro. I just picked one up for my new planted tank and love it. I have two finnex lights on my discus tank that I do like but I do prefer the satellite plus pro

[JBurgo]

When I was first researching lighting for my setup I came across these lights. They are programmable day cycles and seasonal changes. There is a master and a slave unit available and they link together. They are hugely expensive though and the price was prohibitive. Thoughts?

Illumagic Blaze P Freshwater:
http://daluaaustralia.com.au/product/illumagic-blaze-p-series/