460nm Actinic Powerbrite LED review

[barometer]

Here's the link to the homepage http://www.current-usa.com/powerbrite.html
suggested retail: $69.99 for the powered system and $54.99 for the link module.
street price: I've seen them online in the range of $50 for the powered system and $40 for the link module.
I paid $110 for the 3 of mine :D

Pros: Great color (alone they act like blacklights, really glowing corals)
super small profile (can be used for many unique applications)
super low power consumption (4 watts per strip)
very little heat
up to 3 strips can be linked and powered by one plug
price/life ratio (I think even at retail price they're a good deal)

Cons: the light beam is a bit too directional. This might be an issue for those who cannot give sufficient vertical space between the strip and the water surface or for bigger tanks where large areas coverage is desired.
price (for the size, I think some will be put off by the price tag)

I have a unique situation. I want actinics. But in order to keep using my MH pendant I was going to have to build a custom canopy to house 3 PC actinic fixtures, which are bulky, produce heat (the ballasts anyway),would have run about 54 watts, and would have needed bulb replacements over time. After much research and going back and forth I instead purchased 3 of the 460nm Actinic Powerbrite LED strips to use as actinics on my 42g hex tank. This turned out to be a perfect solution for me needing no canopy, producing very little heat, using only 12 watts and lasting (supposedly) 10-15 years.

Personally, I love these lights. The mounting to my Hamilton bell pendant was pretty simple (one $20 trip to Lowe's, quick and easy install which I can document if there's interest). I can imagine so many different ways of mounting these in different applications and they can also be set on top of glass using some rubber feet provided in the package. They're mounted about 8 inches above the water surface so there's a decent light spread, but I wish they were a bit less directional (might be an issue if sitting on glass). I can live with it, I've actually been considering adding a second set :p As and actinic supplement they have made my tank look so much more like I want it to and stand alone they make things look pretty incredible. I've been unable to truly capture the colors (themselves and for comparison) but have some crappy pics (dirty glass and forgot to take off glass lid :o) below attempting to show what these babies do. BTW in case it isn't obvious in both sets of comparison shots the first pic is only MH, the second is MH and Powerbrites, and the third is only Powerbrites :).

All in all, I recommend these as a viable actinic solution, especially for unique situations where standard PC or T5 lamps would be difficult. I can't comment on using them as stand alone light sources for nanos, I'll have to let someone else give it a try and do a review of the 10k or 10k/460nm combos.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_comp4.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_comp5.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_comp6.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_comp1.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_comp2.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_comp3.jpg

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http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_actinics3.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_actinics2.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_actinics1.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/tank_progress/powerbrites/Powerbrites_actinics5.jpg

[GoTakuF1]

Nice job on rigging it up and good review. Well done, Ed!

[GoTakuF1]

BTW, the Powerbrites complement the Iwasaki very well. Couldn't believe the difference with those little LEDs!

[barometer]

Thanks Minh,

The setup is actually pretty clean for a quick job, maybe I'll post a DIY thread about it. I'm thinking that I get more yellow with my white pendant than you do with a metal reflector, and my glass is very green :( so the difference with these is probably more noticeable in my tank.

BTW everyone, I got the 2 link modules from a guy on eBay. A straight buy-it-now arrangement that I had been communicating with him about for weeks. He's an excellent seller and carries various aquarium products with good prices. If anyone is interested, his eBay name is tahoeltz2007, visit his store. He didn't have these initially, but was able to get them, posted a special BIN on eBay for me and beat any other advertised price I could find. I definitely recommend doing business with him. :)

[GoTakuF1]

Yeah, the vertical orientation isn't the best for halides but it works for your tank profile. The Iwasaki can compensate, it's a PAR monster!

[Jessy]

Is that my little baby yellow leather growing so big?!? :) Sorry for the side track...those are awesome lights. I was looking at getting a set of those for moonlights because I can't mount anything on my tek fixture.

[barometer]

no worries Jessy :)
Yup, that's your baby.....well not such a baby anymore. It's growing nicely, just starting to get the little wave around the edge :D

These lights would make some super crazy moonlights on your 90 Jessy. I'd think 3 linked straight across and as high as your tek fixture would give you decent coverage.

[jrlafrance]

Great review Ed! Makes a huge difference in how your tank looks also! Nice upgrade.

[pnguy3n]

Great review Ed. You are like Macgyver.

[ManTis]

Great review Ed. You are like Macgyver.

DITTO!!! Your tank is looking great Ed...KEEP IT UP...!!!

[davocean]

Great review, and nice mod Ed.
I was at Current yesterday, and picked up one 10k, one 460, and a 36" 12LED 10k strip.
Amazing how bright these are.
One note; Ike told me they lose intensity w/ heat, so best to keep as far from halides as you can, however in your situation that mount seems to be best option, and your still getting obvious good results.

[barometer]

Thanks David,

I was wondering if heat was going to have any affect on their performance. My pendant can get pretty hot, but it seems there's really no transfer of heat to the strips, so I'm happy with it so far. I'm definitely interested in your opinion of the other versions of the LEDs.....seems there's gotta be some cool applications for these. :D

[odyssey07]

Do you think these can be used as the sole source of lighting on a SPS tank? It seems that watt for watt they produce the same outout as MH lamps (50 lumens/watt), so you would need 150 LED lamps (or 37 modules) to equal a 150W MH lamp. Does that sound right?

[barometer]

Do you think these can be used as the sole source of lighting on a SPS tank? It seems that watt for watt they produce the same outout as MH lamps (50 lumens/watt), so you would need 150 LED lamps (or 37 modules) to equal a 150W MH lamp. Does that sound right?

I can't comment definitively on the 10k or the 10k/460nm combos because I only have the actinics. But from what I've heard from the company and other sources is that they are not intended to be used as a sole light source. That's not to say that it can't be done. I imagine for the right sized nano these should be able to grow most anything and if you used a grip of them as you mentioned you might be able to light even a larger tank. But that would get pretty costly up front @ $40+ per strip.

[davocean]

Actually I asked Ike this yesterday and he said no, PAR reading he took was terrible.
He said some guys are saying they think it has helped coral growth, but he says he can't imagine it does much for growth, and probably coincidence.
They do look nice for color supplement.
I have the 36" toward the front of tank to eliminate shadows in caves.
The main purpose the lights were designed for originally was to add MH like shimmer to T5 only units, and as my T5's came on today I have to admit, these light are excellent for adding shimmer.
I could easily see running just T5's and 2-3 rows of the 36" LED's for same look as halides and having no heat issues.
I'll play w/ the 460 tonight to see moonlight enhancement.

[barometer]

I have to agree with David here, the shimmer effect is pretty nice. I've always had shimmer since I run a MH, but even with just the actinics supplement I get crazy shimmer now. Would definitely be a nice enhancement to T5 only setups. :)

[odyssey07]

How much are the 36" LED rows, David? As for the shimmering effects, can you only get it with the actinic unit or can you use the other units?

[davocean]

Ike gave me the 36" unit to check it out, so I don't know price.
I've seen the 10k white bulbs, and the 460 blue, which look like really strong blue moons.
Everyone that has come over is imediatlely blinded when looking straight at these, pretty damn bright.
I put the small blue strip on last night and it looks incredible.
When just my T5's are on, the 36" 10k really adds alot of shimmer/light.

[dc_909]

Sweet rig

[GoTakuF1]

You guys seen the PowerBrite powered tank at OG yet? He's got 8 bars hooked up over one tank, beautiful glitter lines and nice and deep flourencense on the corals. Flippin' sweet!

[barometer]

I'm gonna go check it out Minh, it sounds similar to my plans for my nano. I'm gonna try a 12g low light, low flow tank with 4 10k strips and 2 460 strips as the only light source. It might be a while though, I gotta get it passed through the wife first :rolleyes: