3reef Aquarium Forums

The SeaStar Helios 100w multi-chip LED pendant by LampCraft should light up some very deep aquariums soon. Prototypes of these new lamps were tucked away in a dark corner of the MACNA exhibition hall and caught my eye with their UFO vibe and high intensity light. Two versions will be available in early 2013: a 453 nm Royal Blue and a 10k white chip version. MSRP should be around $675. Versions with a dimmable driver will be slightly more at around $750. More details below.

Prototype of the SeaStar Helios 100w LED pendant by LampCraft



Helios Pendant
100W high intesity LED module; available in White (10,000K) or Royal Blue (453nm)

Features:

• 453 nm Royal Blue or 10000K White Chip On Board LED
• Ideal for Marine Corals, Fish and Fresh Water Tropical Fish
• High PAR Value
• Low Heat LED Light Source - Energy Efficient and Long Lasting
• 120V ~ 277V Input LED Driver....

The CPR AeroForce AP skimmers are low maintenance with incredibly high density micro-bubbles thanks to - gasp - an air-pump and lime wood airstones. What a novel idea not seen much in the last decade that in my opinion is due for a resurgence because… they work really well. I am literally testing out my 3rd skimmer this year due to impeller/restart issues with the last two. Sound familiar? You won't have that issue here. The CPR AeroForce and AeroFuge AP skimmers are HOBs so there is a feeding pump, but you are not married to that pump and could swap it with any powerhead you have around. Want to have fun? Hack that down pipe and gravity feed it. Low watts, better bubbles. Just look at the pics. More below.







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The new Aquamaxx Star Calcium Reactors are compact and feature-packed with a glossy, clean finish. Aquamaxx appears to have taken note that many reactors out there seem slapped together and can take over any open space fast. Aquamaxx deftly handled this issue by integrating a probe holder with a bubble counter on to a slip-on chassis that mounts on to a suspended SICCE Syncra pump. Quick-disconnects are everywhere on the Star reactors and the reactor cap was designed to be easily removed without full removal of the thumb screws. These are impressive reactors at great price points that should be available in the next couple weeks. Details below.

The New Aquamaxx Star Calcium Reactor




Aquamaxx Star 1 & Star 2

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The pre-release photos of the AquaticLife 3W LED fixture were very stark and I got the wrong impression. It looked cheap to me - plastic even. I was wrong, really wrong. Getting up close to one recently I immediately noticed the finish - anodized aluminum with cool blue trim and inset screws. Couple that with a bevy of 3W CREE XPE and XPG LEDS and the Aquatic 3W LED is a serious light. But I still didn't know how serious until I recognized a name inside on the controller and software - TIAOJIOU. Then I knew AquaticLife is playing for keeps. More below.



TIAOJIOU is a way ahead of the curve LED company in Taiwan. I stumbled on one of their LED lights 3 years ago. What the TIAOJIOU lacked in LEDs back then, it nearly made up for it with their proprietary software. You could control everything in a million...

If you have ever been curious what a Sun Systems PAR meter tops out at, it is 2890. We managed to hit that ceiling quickly several times while torturing the meter under a Gavita Pro 300 LEP plasma fixture recently. It was not very nice to put one directly under the lamp. Even at several inches down it hit 943. At approximately 2.5' it was at 272. The Gavita LEP is a 300 watt fixture with a 30,000 hour Luxim bulb producing 18,000 lumens with a CRI of 94. Available now. Just remember to move those corals down.








2890? Yikes.



Gavita Pro 300 LEP Details:

• The Gavita Pro 300 LEP produces light with a spectrum similar to that of the sun. The full light spectrum even includes UVB.
• The...