More LED questions

I'm currently out of the game while I plan my next tank (I'm thinking 30 gallon JBJ cube) but I'm trying to find the right lights. I've seen these recommended a few times elsewhere, but there are some voices on this forum that I really trust from my lurking position the last few years (hi Reefdup, fatman, more)

They are perfect.  I have six of them on my tank right now, feel free to come over anytime.

There is plenty of light there for a 30 gallon cube. The optics are 90 degrees which should let you get them fairly close to the water surface and still spread the light out to cover. The LEDs are listed as Bridgelux which are good LEDs, not the most efficient, but I have them on my tank. The datasheet shows a lot of different spectrum on the light and my opinion is you don't need them all, but it won't hurt to have them. All the whites are on one dimmer, the colors on another which works, but I like to have some blue mixed with the whites; just personal preference.

My guess is that the pots (dimming knobs) can be hacked to let these run on a controller. I don't know for sure what the drivers are (PWM or analog)but if they are analog you can run them on any controller with a slight modification to the controller if it's output is digital (PWM). If they are analog drivers either will work but the dimming on a digital controller not be linear.

If these are what I think they are I see two problems with them:
1) The led is soldered directly to a circuit board (no star pad) which makes them slightly more difficult to replace if you lose one, and 2) the units I have fixed in the past like these use a very obscure driver that is difficult to replace. Neither of these issues is a deal killer.

You can spend way more and have more control of the colors and a better selection of colors, but for the price these appear to be a great deal if you are willing to accept the limitations.

Fat

Thanks very much for your post. Thankfully the limitations you listed are related to DIY tasks, and I'm so useless at fixing things that I'm not at risk to even attempt those things. For now these are looking like front-runners for me, especially with an endorsement from a presidency member. 

Good point.  I'd listen to anything Reefy says.  

Is your 45 a cube or a rectangular tank? One would work on a cube but on a rectangular it would be right at it's max (probably get some shadowing and have to run it at 100%). If you mount it in a canopy you have to make sure it is open top or cut out for the fans to move air through. If not they will overheat and not last very long.

Not a bad light for the price but I find they don't give the best colors to my corals. I know many that use them and are happy with them. I just find I'm a little more picky apparently. Krazie

Beege, probably not enough lights then. There are 55 on there, but they're close together so your spread might leave uncovered spots.

Fat