Questions about purchasing a Robo-Tank DIY Aquarium Controller Kit

[jeremyh]

Okay! So one last question! What do you guys think?

Should I buy:

• Growbeams ($614.95, (I want 5 of them))
  
• Robo-Tank ($500ish)
  
• Mean Well NES-350-24 24V 14A AC/DC Switching Power Supply ($38)
  
• Mean Well LDD-1500L dimmable driver ($7.25)
  

OR

• Growbeams ($614.95, (I want 5 of them))
  
• AquaRay Lighting Smart Controller 8- ($399.99)
  
• at some later date get the Robo-tank (when I can get my wife to let me spend another $500ish).
  

Quotes to consider:

Low voltage & cool running utilizing large heat sinks & NO COOLING FANS TO BREAK DOWN due to higher efficiency drivers/PWM, UNLIKE most other popular LEDs; with the lowest running costs and carbon footprint of any lighting system available. http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/LEDLights.html

Simply put, the more emitters along with more specific light output requirements, the more complex and expensive the circuitry and thus NO LED fixture is going to have specific output light energy with say 100+ emitters AND be even remotely close in price to one using 10 emitters if both are using correct LED driver circuitry. http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/...hting.html

It is also worthy of note that the reef compatibility comes at a higher cost in electricity used due to less efficient emitters, drivers, & especially controllers used, as per PUR NOT PAR despite many claims of PAR µMol readings while overlooking the VASTLY more important “Useful Energy”/PUR. https://aquariumopinions.com/tag/aquaray-led/

Marketing claims include “replaces a 400 watt Metal Halide”. REALLY? I do not think so, maybe a 175 Metal Halide at best, especially when one considers how much wasted energy goes out as heat compared to better technology LED lights that utilize PWM, and more light energy is lost in less than optimum efficiency emitters and drivers. https://aquariumopinions.com/tag/aquaray-led/

...and omg lol: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showth...?t=2564806 (guy had 2 tmc controllers burn up on him...they were an old model that is no longer sold though).

Note that americanaquariumproducts.com and aquariumopinions.com can almost be considered the same site because the developers of both are good friends who seem to collaborate and agree on several topics.