[Brandon Scott Lessner]

I'm currently setting up a 75 gallon planted tank that will initially be a low-light/maintenance tank that I want to have the capability to take to high tech. I'm much more familiar with the reef side of aquariums and have radion Gen5 blues over my current 75 gallon reef. I'm in tune with all the different types of lighting for reef tanks (Radions, Kessil, AI, Neptune, GHL, cheaper chinese, etc) but am just getting back into the freshwater side of things (specifically planted tanks).

I've considered the higher end lights for freshwater, but ultimately want to accomplish my goal with a cheaper light (read Fluval or cheaper). I like the app control and warranty of Fluval, but the price point of getting two of their lights is a bit more than I'd like to spend, and I don't actually like the color their lights produce.

I've considered Nicrew, Beamswork planted (I currently have a 1`20x 0.5w 48" LED on the tank for low light), and Hygger, but think I'd still like some controllability of color channels.

My goal is to have a light that will make my fish pop and give me reds in plants. I think I've narrowed my selection down to the Finnex ALC and CRV lights and will initially purchase one bar and then add a second when possible.

I have read that people prefer the color lighting of the CRV (I know its personal preference), but obviously the light is brighter on the ALC.

What is the difference in color between the two, and what other differences am I missing other than the shell things are installed within? The ALC is separate LEDs for each color, where the CRV is a RGB LED all in one?

I'm not just concerned with plant growth and color (read I'd like to pull out reds) but also getting my fish and aquascape to pop, so trying to figure out my best option without being able to see these in person, or find pictures/videos giving a true comparison.

I'm open to other options still, just keeping budget in mind, and had a poor experience with Chihiros on another product, so I'd rather stay away from them.

I also have a canopy I can refinish and put over the tank, and considered using RGB flood lights, but wasn't sure I'd like the look.

 

[evil8]

I know you said you didn't like the Fluval, but I plan on ordering a 48" Fluval Plant 3.0 on Friday for my new 75g. The plan is to hang it high enough to get good light spread across the whole tank. I'm already invested in Fluval 3.0 lights so this will work best for me. That said I'd love to be able to put 2 Prime lights on with goosenecks. That would be double the cost. I'll be interested to see what you end up with.

 

[Michael John Scott]

I'm currently setting up a 75 gallon planted tank that will initially be a low-light/maintenance tank that I want to have the capability to take to high tech. I'm much more familiar with the reef side of aquariums and have radion Gen5 blues over my current 75 gallon reef. I'm in tune with all the different types of lighting for reef tanks (Radions, Kessil, AI, Neptune, GHL, cheaper chinese, etc) but am just getting back into the freshwater side of things (specifically planted tanks).

I've considered the higher end lights for freshwater, but ultimately want to accomplish my goal with a cheaper light (read Fluval or cheaper). I like the app control and warranty of Fluval, but the price point of getting two of their lights is a bit more than I'd like to spend, and I don't actually like the color their lights produce.

I've considered Nicrew, Beamswork planted (I currently have a 1`20x 0.5w 48" LED on the tank for low light), and Hygger, but think I'd still like some controllability of color channels.

My goal is to have a light that will make my fish pop and give me reds in plants. I think I've narrowed my selection down to the Finnex ALC and CRV lights and will initially purchase one bar and then add a second when possible.

I have read that people prefer the color lighting of the CRV (I know its personal preference), but obviously the light is brighter on the ALC.

What is the difference in color between the two, and what other differences am I missing other than the shell things are installed within? The ALC is separate LEDs for each color, where the CRV is a RGB LED all in one?

I'm not just concerned with plant growth and color (read I'd like to pull out reds) but also getting my fish and aquascape to pop, so trying to figure out my best option without being able to see these in person, or find pictures/videos giving a true comparison.

I'm open to other options still, just keeping budget in mind, and had a poor experience with Chihiros on another product, so I'd rather stay away from them.

I'm a Finnex fan, and have been for years. From time to time I've strayed to different brands but always return to the Finnex, either ALC or CRV. In my opinion the color range difference is insignificant.

 

[Brandon Scott Lessner]

I know you said you didn't like the Fluval, but I plan on ordering a 48" Fluval Plant 3.0 on Friday for my new 75g. The plan is to hang it high enough to get good light spread across the whole tank. I'm already invested in Fluval 3.0 lights so this will work best for me. That said I'd love to be able to put 2 Prime lights on with goosenecks. That would be double the cost. I'll be interested to see what you end up with.

I primarily don't like the color so much, its not terrible, but I prefer a bluer/whiter look than the Fluval gives. I have an aquasky on a holding tank, and I like the programming. It's also at the price point that if I need two of them I'd just buy two AI Primes and be done with it. I'm trying to stay cheaper on the light while still accomplishing what I want visually. I actually like that the fluval and finnex are basically on top of the tank as this sits on a lower stand in our family room, and won't get in your eyes like my radions can. That's my biggest gripe with the pendant style lights besides price. I could use a canopy to solve that, but that's a secondary issue to the price.

I'm a Finnex fan, and have been for years. From time to time I've strayed to different brands but always return to the Finnex, either ALC or CRV. In my opinion the color range difference is insignificant.

That's good to hear, I'd prefer to go with the cheaper of the two lights, but we'll see what I can find a deal on. Any other input on those two lights? Am I correct in the ALC is separate LEDs where the CRV is a RGB component led?

 

[jeffkrol]

I primarily don't like the color so much, its not terrible, but I prefer a bluer/whiter look than the Fluval gives. I have an aquasky on a holding tank, and I like the programming. It's also at the price point that if I need two of them I'd just buy two AI Primes and be done with it. I'm trying to stay cheaper on the light while still accomplishing what I want visually. I actually like that the fluval and finnex are basically on top of the tank as this sits on a lower stand in our family room, and won't get in your eyes like my radions can. That's my biggest gripe with the pendant style lights besides price. I could use a canopy to solve that, but that's a secondary issue to the price.


That's good to hear, I'd prefer to go with the cheaper of the two lights, but we'll see what I can find a deal on. Any other input on those two lights? Am I correct in the ALC is separate LEDs where the CRV is a RGB component led?

Believe crv has 7000k white diodes, 660nm red which I assume are "ganged" to the white channel and a center row of RGB.
It does give it a unique 2 different nm red component.

The 7000k white/660nm red is a nice crisp but colorful white.

ALC is a 660 red/green/blue/white array.

 

[Goodwood]

I do like the independent channel adjustment on the ALC, but getting it dialed in can be a chore. I had to take notes on a notepad to keep track of what the settings were.

 

[Brandon Scott Lessner]

My decision was changed to a CRV instead of the ALC, only because I found an amazon warehouse special Used like new for $93 for the 48". Hopefully it comes in good and everything works as it should. Then I can evaluate whether I want another or buy an ALC to match.

 

[Brandon Scott Lessner]

So the light I purchased came without a transformer, legs or remote.... womp womp. Trying to figure out what to do. May order a new light and try out the transformer to see if it works, than just replace parts as long as it works.

 

[jeffkrol]

So the light I purchased came without a transformer, legs or remote.... womp womp. Trying to figure out what to do. May order a new light and try out the transformer to see if it works, than just replace parts as long as it works.

You can use any switching power supply with the correct voltage and equal or more watts than the original.
Probably can find a cheap " brick" but suggest a simple open frame Meanwell.

Enclosed or Caged Style Power Supplies

Try Finnex for the other 2. Maybe all 3.

[email protected].

Good luck and sorry to hear that though.

Btw if you get a big enough power supply you can run more than one light off it
Plugs should be easy to find.

I'd bug Amazon about getting an unusable light as well.
Filing a contested charge with your credit card company is another option.

 

[Brandon Scott Lessner]

You can use any switching power supply with the correct voltage and equal or more watts than the original.
Probably can find a cheap " brick" but suggest a simple open frame Meanwell.

Enclosed or Caged Style Power Supplies

Try Finnex for the other 2. Maybe all 3.

[email protected].

Good luck and sorry to hear that though.

Btw if you get a big enough power supply you can run more than one light off it
Plugs should be easy to find.

I'd bug Amazon about getting an unusable light as well.
Filing a contested charge with your credit card company is another option.

I spent about 15-20 mins on the phone with Amazon. I ended up getting to keep the light and refunded which is great, but I really just wanted what I purchased to put on my tank, lol. I can get the parts from finnex or maybe saltwateraquarium.com. The problem I have is if I buy those and the lights don't work. I think it's safest to buy a working light and make sure it works and then get the extra needed pieces.

Is there somewhere that I can find wiring diagram to use the open frame meanwell? I really wouldn't mind running two lights off one power supply, I'm all for less cords.

 

[jeffkrol]

I spent about 15-20 mins on the phone with Amazon. I ended up getting to keep the light and refunded which is great, but I really just wanted what I purchased to put on my tank, lol. I can get the parts from finnex or maybe saltwateraquarium.com. The problem I have is if I buy those and the lights don't work. I think it's safest to buy a working light and make sure it works and then get the extra needed pieces.

Is there somewhere that I can find wiring diagram to use the open frame meanwell? I really wouldn't mind running two lights off one power supply, I'm all for less cords.

You really don't need a wiring diagram.
It's just a simple dc 2 wire connection.
All the control circuitry is past that point.

My 24" Finnex ps is listed 15v 28 watts.
Standard dc power plug, roughly. There is some moisture sealing plastic but could be cut off.

Anyways you just need to find the voltage " yours" runs at.

Should be center positive but I'd need to check.
But again it's an older 24/7 sooo...

Point is no need to crack into the head... unless you can't get a remote.

If "I" wanted to run say 3 24" off one power supply just multiply wattage by 3...or 4 or 5.
100 watts would be fine for the above example.
Try to keep it under say 2x the needed wattage just for efficiency sake.

Still .need the orig. voltage. 48" crv is listed 45-ish watts

Soo to run 2 100 w ps. Better to go w/ 150 though .
Voltage will likely be 12, 15, or 24v.