auraled
Hey guys, I just saw this thread.
I have chatted with Rob\auraled on ebay on a few things. Good guy, but seems really busy. Response to me like 1x/week. Probably explain why it took so long to my setup going. So far I got a 10 light unit for my 8gal biocube. I had it customize with 6 white lights clusters and 4 blue.
For +$5. in ebay, he shipps fedex that got to me in 3-5 days. Great deal considering ebay stores seems to like charging $10-20. for shipping and "handling". When you get the item, there is isually a $2. stamp from USPS.
Each light module sticks in the hood with simple doublesided strong foam tape, and everything looks good. I messed up my placement and will need to knife it off. But, I can live with my layout mistakes (tip, use some scotch tape to do a dry test run, when you use the foam tape, it is more-or-less a *one* shot deal.). My hood still powers the fan even when no bulbs are plugged in, so I have it on a power strip with a single timer. The led's don't make any more heat than the stock lights, so everything seems to be running well.
I have been running for 3 weeks, and my xenias seem to like them more than the stock 50/50. They stopped pulsing a few months back, and now they seem to start twitching this week when I moved them directly under the white led. The light doesn't cast a large "glow" like PC do, but I think the light is stronger. My LPS seems to be doing fine without any relocation. And I have 2 birdnests and a monti cap that seems okay right now (at the 3 week mark). But, these easy sps came from super healthy and well fed (food and light), so it may be another month before I see any ill effects of my setup.
I think the led are only 0.5w white led's, but each white modulce has a cluster 4 of them in a single unit--blue is only 1. I think it is good enough for a nano tank. corals on the bottom of a 28g cube may not do well and need to be placed a little higher. But I think anything placed half way will do better than the stock PC.
I was over at flexrac to see his led setup. Definately no comparison of auraled and the high-end led systems--flexrac can possibly burn my corals 3-5x over compared to the auraled. But I also didn't pay more than $85. shipped.
Burns warm and not hot, last for 5 years, guarantee for 2 years. The savings of not having to replace bulbs in 5 years pays for itself a few times over. The added savings in lower electricty to power or cool the area will add to the "no-brainer" thinking of to-buy-or-not-to-buy.
If my corals survive another 1 month, I will place another order for my 28g nano cube. I am thinking of getting a combined 20 modules or maybe ask for a custom setup for 24 units for a little more light.
(I just received a custom order for my buddy Khan_man. He has a custom 12 unit set up with 4 blues and 8 whites (I think). I think he will set them up this weekend in his 12g nano. )
-KyleH
