The Versa SL actinic LED striplight is the most significant product we’ve seen in the aquarium market since the Reefbrites and the Ecoxotic Stunners. Although the Stunners are more suited towards smaller applications and accent lighting, the Versa SL compares very favorably next to the popular ReefBrite actinic LED striplights. CoralSky sells the Versa SL for $279 but the actinic LED striplight will wholesale with enough margin for retailers to comfortably sell these for $249. In a way the $249, 17 watt CoralSky Versa SL delivers as much performance as you might expect from the $219, 18 watt 36″ ReefBrite actinic led strip, albeit in a much reduced 18″ length. The choice between the two will have more to do with space and lighting concentration rather than any real performance differences. Follow along for a full pictorial and thought stream of this very worthy new actinic LED striplight.
The meanwell driver is almost as thin and narrow as the fixtures themselves
Just in case you couldn’t read the specs on the meanwell driver in the image above
The Versa SL striplight can be had with and without secondary optics. For some people the primary 120 degree that comes with the Cree XR-E leds will be enough, for deeper tanks the lens option will be more necessary.
The Versa SL is equipped with 12 Cree XR-E which are run at almost 1.5 watts each, for a total of 17 watts per strip.
This angled aluminum bracket which is found on both ends helps to mount the fixture, or in our case we intend to use it as mounting feet on the edge of an aquarium.
The axially positioned mounting option allows the Versa SL to be angled in a 360 direction. being able to adjust an LED stripllight is a huge advantage that we hope to see in all future LED striplights, especially those used for actinic supplementation; the popular ReefBrite LED actinic striplight also does the angling trick.
A closer look at the backside of the lens-equipped Versa SL.
The heatsink on the backside of the Versa SL has very deep channels/fins which are more than adequate to keep the striplight cool while driving the XR-E at 1.5 watts each.
The LED optics from Ledil are very interesting. You can see that the tip of a finger fits inside the concave center of the lens.
In this view of the Ledil lens the micro-diveted surface diffusing texture is clear to see.
Although this connector is only supplying DC voltage, compared to the fixture this connector is a vulnerable component. CoraslSky will be coming up with a more moisture/water resistant option in the future. We wouldnt mind seeing the Versa SL being hard wired on the striplight, with a quick disconnection closer to the driver itself.
A closer look at the beautiful design of our favorite royal blue Cree XR-E led.
FTC regulations require that we inform you that we were given this product for review, but our opinion of a product is never affected by how we acquire them.
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