Silent Lights Poll

[rhitee93]

Setting up a tank again?

 

[Pntbll687]

I voted for the quanta bars. I have the meso blue quanta bars, and they are great. Spectrum is awesome and paired well with my kessil ap700
Does the tank have a center brace? If it doesn't, i'd definitely look at the Quanta Atlas, could use one and pretty much cover the whole tank

 

[Joe31415]

I know you don't want these, but I'm going to mention it for others reading the thread. I have the AI Primes. They have a *loud* fan that runs almost the entire time the lights are on. However, with a 3D printable part, you can use Noctua fans, now they're quiet. They're not silent, but they're much, much quieter. I wouldn't suggest buying AI Primes with the intention of doing this, but for anyone that's thinking of replacing theirs... if you have, or have access to, a 3D printer, I'd suggest trying this before shelling out hundreds of dollars on new lights.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I voted for the quanta bars. I have the meso blue quanta bars, and they are great. Spectrum is awesome and paired well with my kessil ap700
Does the tank have a center brace? If it doesn't, i'd definitely look at the Quanta Atlas, could use one and pretty much cover the whole tank

Yes, I’m hoping to reuse my old Oceanic 120. It has a fairly large glass center brace.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Setting up a tank again?

Thats the hope.

 

[spsick]

If quality and longevity are the emphasis: Straton

If bang for the buck is: Helix

Quantas have the huge advantage of diode diversity vs basically every fixture on the market. Meso Blue for example has like 405,410,415,425,430, etc. nobody else does that.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Hmm tough choice, but I'd go either OR3 or ATI Stratton Pro 102. I don't know how much the middle brace would impact my choice tbh.

I prefer LED bars spanning across the tank for the best even coverage and to prevent hot spots.

​

 

[KStatefan]

I voted Helix bars but that is the only one listed I have experience with.

 

[buruskeee]

Switched from XR30s to ATI Stratons because of how loud and annoying fan noise was. Also I now don’t need to use light bars because the footprint is superb for coverage. Super sleek too. Phillips is a smaller chunkier version - I’d completely disregard that if you’re looking for that type of footprint.

 

[SpyC]

Switched from XR30s to ATI Stratons because of how loud and annoying fan noise was. Also I now don’t need to use light bars because the footprint is superb for coverage. Super sleek too. Phillips is a smaller chunkier version - I’d completely disregard that if you’re looking for that type of footprint.

How did you mount your stratons? Can’t find many options or much info on mounting.

 

[buruskeee]

How did you mount your stratons? Can’t find many options or much info on mounting.

I’m using the Ecotech RMS bar and have the wire loops from the Straton kit hugging the bar (the ecotech hanging kit act as a stop). I didn’t want 4 holes to drill into my ceiling and so this allowed me to do just 2m with room for adjustment laterally if needed without touching the anchor points.

Can also use some version of this method with 80/20 bars to wall mount.

 

[rtparty]

AI Blades. 2 Grow and 1 Glow

 

[lbacha]

Which color type did you like? There seem to be several, and I generally don't like the heavy blue look.

I would go with OR3 reef days with a Blue plus to add a bit of pop. I have this combo over a small softy tank I have and it has a very nice daylight look to it vs the windex or royal blue look of many lights. The new OR4 reef days unfortunately are much more blue than the OR3's. The OR3 is an on off type light but Orphex does may the Osix which can control up to 6 bars as well as the Dim driver that is for a single light. These drivers let you control the light with their Icon app. The other nice thing with the OR#'s is they have a narrow angle lense so you will get plenty of penetration in a 24" tank.

 

[14 foot reef]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Don't forget the Quanta Atlas, perfect match with the Quanta helix. The Atlas is an amazing full spectrum LED light source that has benefits most people don't mention. They are commercially designed and can handle being washed off and cleaned. 3 manual power ratings 100,150, & 240 watt also has dimming capabilities with 0-10v dimming

I have since added the Helix Meso Blue 71" Light Bars also

I absolutely love mine !!!

Atlas

Designed for simplicity, reliability, and easy installation, this industry-leading light features 720 LED chips along with both primary and secondary optics to optimize light output, spectral blending, and efficiency. The unique, science-based spectrum design incorporates the correct ratios of...

www.quanta-lights.com

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

The Quanta and Orphek are essentially the exact same thing from my understanding, but the Quanta has a longer cord.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Once you hear the ac, the chiller, or the good ol outdoors (windows open for ventilation) due to the heat…..or the slurry of pump whirring and whizzing…..or the drains…..the skimmer…..the calcium reactor pump, the automated testing equipment that sounds like a quiet version of an mri……meh, those fans don’t seem to be a big deal. Ha

Good luck though! I dream of a dead silent aquarium. A couple years back there was a group that was paying a handsome award for anyone that could survive x amount of time in a specially designed room that was completely devoid of all sound (my kind of utopia!). No one could do it. They say that although the room was silent, that the sounds your own body makes became glaring obnoxious.so much so that it became maddening. If I could travel, I would have loved to give it a go. Especially for the amount of money they were offering as a prize!


Edit… bummer, it was a scam!

Tours / Events | Orfield Laboratories Inc

www.orfieldlabs.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Once you hear the ac, the chiller, or the good ol outdoors (windows open for ventilation) due to the heat…..or the slurry of pump whirring and whizzing…..or the drains…..the skimmer…..the calcium reactor pump, the automated testing equipment that sounds like a quiet version of an mri……meh, those fans don’t seem to be a big deal. Ha

Good luck though! I dream of a dead silent aquarium. A couple years back there was a group that was paying a handsome award for anyone that could survive x amount of time in a specially designed room that was completely devoid of all sound (my kind of utopia!). No one could do it. They say that although the room was silent, that the sounds your own body makes became glaring obnoxious.so much so that it became maddening. If I could travel, I would have loved to give it a go. Especially for the amount of money they were offering as a prize!


Edit… bummer, it was a scam!

Tours / Events | Orfield Laboratories Inc

www.orfieldlabs.com

All of the things you mention that make noise will be in the basement. Only lights and power heads will be in that room, and the power heads are also being optimized for quiet.

 

[14 foot reef]

The Quanta and Orphek are essentially the exact same thing from my understanding, but the Quanta has a longer cord.

I think there are a few people that may disagree with this statement............. @telegraham

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would go with OR3 reef days with a Blue plus to add a bit of pop. I have this combo over a small softy tank I have and it has a very nice daylight look to it vs the windex or royal blue look of many lights. The new OR4 reef days unfortunately are much more blue than the OR3's. The OR3 is an on off type light but Orphex does may the Osix which can control up to 6 bars as well as the Dim driver that is for a single light. These drivers let you control the light with their Icon app. The other nice thing with the OR#'s is they have a narrow angle lense so you will get plenty of penetration in a 24" tank.

In reading about the OR3, I do not seem to have control over spectrum the way I would with the Stratton or Mitras. Is that true?

 

[lbacha]

In reading about the OR3, I do not seem to have control over spectrum the way I would with the Stratton or Mitras. Is that true?

That is true. They are a fixed spectrum light. that is either on or off like a metal halide or T5.