Radik, I don't "consider" the "basic Arcadia cover as a lens", it IS a lens, just like the extra lenses TMC install over the LEDs in their fittings. But unlike the TMC units, you can change it. Yes you HAVE added 5 degrees on, as you clearly haven't even read the specifications for the actual unit and are going PURELY by the specs for the diodes. The "basic cover" as you call it is a 120 degree lens, it does what it says on the tin. It can be removed by undoing the small screws and replaced with one of the other optional lenses, to change it to either 60 degrees, or 40 degrees. If you have a particularly deep aquarium for example, you could simply swap to a 60 degree lens and use more units. Look do me a favour, just go look on the Arcadia site, they have actually PUBLISHED PAR figures etc for these. I'm not making them up, or taking dodgy reading myself. I am willing to bet George can access more figures as well from the tests at PFK.
As to the looks of the unit, I just have a personal preference for the metal construction of the Arcadia lamp, over the cheap plastic of the TMC. The shape isn't an issue, as fish aren't rectangular or square, nor are plants.
😉 Plus I like round lights anyway.
Just to be clear here, I was discussing the Arcadia units as these are what the original post was asking about. If it had been asking about TMCs I would have posted info about my experience with these. I posted because I saw nobody else coming forward who was using Arcadia EcoAqua 30 watt spotlights over a planted tank.
Yes I get a little narked when some folks start arguing without posting ANY actual number etc to back up their argument. I got the same reaction back when I was an early uptaker of the TMC 1000ND. It just seems that some folks get seriously set in their ways about equipment and argue for the sake of it. I don't mind discussion over the design, it's just personal taste, but I do mind argument based on assumptions regarding actual performance. Especially if it's from somebody who hasn't actually TRIED both units in the real world. I know from experience than in a 72cm aquarium plants below the half way mark struggled to get enough light from my 1000ND, I even used flow pumps to rule out dead spots been the cause. You could even see it visually, with the bottom part of the tank looking shadowy and shaded. As to growing carpet plants in there, even echinodorus tenellus struggled. I can't say from experience that the Arcadia will perform better (even when I can, the fact I am using 2 will cast doubts), but the figures certainly suggest that it will.
Also, do keep in mind that these are still VERY new. The TMC 1000ND was plagued with problems early on, not least dodgy psus and faulty sealing gaskets. Heck mine let water in, I'm on my second PSU within 2 years, my 2nd tile in 2 years as the 1st one not only let water in bud an LED blew, and my 2nd controller as the 1st one packed up again within 2 years. On the plus side, TMC customer service was excellent, and they had a new tile and controller out to me within days of my sending them my old ones. The bracket on the Arcadia is poor, I've told this to an Arcadia product manager and was told they were working on redoing the bracket. The design is love or hate, same as the TMC. The current units don't dim, V2 will, etc. TMC 1000NDs are much better now than they were, I think we can expect the same from the Arcadia units.
There's no embed I can see for vids on here, but you folks might enjoy these vids. First one is from when I was running my 1000ND over my 72cm deep tank:-
Second one is of my new tank with the 2 Arcadias over it. I modified the filter outlet quite a bit since, but I'm considering taking it back to this. The extra shimmer was really nice, would just mean turning the CO2 up more:-
If you can't say anything else for Arcadia, at least they have been open and public with the figures for PAR etc. I still struggle to find similar figures from TMC.
Ade
