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I bought this light as a quick fix to lighting on a nano reef tank that I am getting started. I wanted something low profile and LED with blue and white but had no intentions of attempting to grow corals with it or anything, just a light for while the tank cycles while I decide on what light I want to use later on that will cost 6-10 times more. This light came well packaged and was in perfect shape when removed from the box. The build quality, for the price, is outstanding. The outer shell feels like aluminum or a thin metal of some sort and the covering over the LEDs is thick and seems quality as well. My first complaint is with the power cord. First of all the cord is rather short. I didn't measure it, but guessing I would say 3 to 4 feet max. This was fine for my application, but some others may find the cord to be a little short. Also the adapter that actually plugs into the outlet is huge! 2 3/4" wide by 4 1/4" long (guessing here as well) so if you are using a power strip or surge protector it will have to go on the last slot. The legs that extend out give you a lit of wiggle room and it will work with any kind of tank. Mine is rimless, but it would fit well on any kind of aquarium with rims, or euro bracing. You can even flip the supports over and create you own way of hanging the light of you wished which is nice as well. Now on to the light itself. The light has a three way toggle switch. In the middle position, the light is off. Flipped one way you turn on just the blue LEDs which truly look amazing. The blue LEDs in the size I bought were the middle two of the six. In other words, starting from the end there are two white LEDs, then two blue in the middle, and then at the other end two white LEDs again. If you turn the switch to off, and then flip it the other way you activate the while lights as well as the blue lights. Before going any further I do want to say that the LEDs are surprisingly bright and vivid for the price! Also the color is uniform among the white LEDs which is a unique quality as well with cheaper LED lighting. But now for the downside. What you end up with is stripes in your tank. What I mean is the area under the white lights looks like there is just white lights, the area under the blue looks blue, and then white again. Literally, when viewed from the side, my aquarium looks striped. I think if the LEDS were more scattered, the lighting would be more uniform. Meaning if it was a row of lights that was blue, white, blue; and the other row being white, blue, white... the banding or striping effect may be diminished. For now, this light will do and honestly is probably bright enough for some easy to care for soft corals. I had the light on for about 6 hours the day I got it and when I went to shut it off the top metal surface was slightly warm to moderately warm to the touch, but nothing severe and there was no impact on the temperature inside the tank and no heat was felt between the lights and the glass lid to my tank. Once again, the build quality for the price is amazing. I would have a hard time recommending this light for anyone serious about growing corals or serious about the overall presentation of their aquarium, however as a temporary solution, or a light for a hospital/quarantine tank I think it would serve very well. Only time will tell whether or not this light will last, but my first impressions were mostly positive. I would recommend this light for the purposes I mentioned but I can't recommend it for any long term or permanent solution for a reef tank lighting.Read full review
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As other reviewers pointed out, light divides tank into 3 strips - white, blue, white. Very noticeable. Raising the light much higher (3 feet above the tank) helps with the striping, but is still noticeably blue through the middle. My Zoanthids are doing great - almost as good as the algae. 3 gallon nano, zoanthids, hermit crabs and algae (for now)
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New