Any serious SPS collectors use LED?
- Thread starter SPS_Addiction
- Start date
keepswimming
New member
I am also running radions on my sps tank.Although the sps was actually coloring up nicely, I recently decided to add some t5s because parts of my sps were not getting the light they needed.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23345817#post23345817
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23345817#post23345817
power boat jim
Well-known member
That may be a wise choice. It seems every lighting choice has a deficiency that can be helped by one of the others.
fishguy597
Member
I left mine in my canopy when I made the switch. I'm thinking about adding another set for giggles. I've seen a few of the hybrids and figure why not.
SPS_Addiction
New member
I just switched back to Metal halide 2weeks ago - 400 watt radiums after 4 years of trying T5's and LED's. I have to say that my SPS colors have solidified, more colorful and awesome. Even my chalices look happy with the Radium. A few of them(chalices) did not like LED's and lost color. The same chalices hated ATI Coral+ and started to bleach with the Coral+ bulb. Since switching back to 400 watt Radium, every coral are looking a lot happier. I'm very happy with switching back to halide.
jackson6745
Yeah Yeah
I was using LED on my fuge 
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
I was using LED on my fuge
Was...LED's not even good enough for your fuge. :lol:
On a serious note; I am a Metal Halide person at heart; but run T5/LED.
With respect to LED's, this is my opinion:
1. Spectrum wise, the Radion Pro and AI Hydra 52 are like 95% already there...I have seen very good results from both these fixtures for SPS.
2. Light coverage; this is IMO the biggest issue: its either issue of hotspots or not enough spread. My buddy has great colour on his SPS when looking from the top; but the colours arent as good looking from the front view.
You can see many LED users adding T5's front and back to counter this.
Shadowing is another issue related to the light spread. My buddy who keeps SPS under Radions isnt happy with the shadowing effect.
This whole light coverage issue needs to be addressed. Rather than relying on lenses, perhaps reflectors ought to be used?
Also; I dont see why the fixtures have to be 100% LED. Giesemann spectra etc are units that utilise both T5 and MH...
I would love to have a Radion Pro unit with T5 built in.
Traditional Metal Halide users on the whole used either T5 or VHO as supplements.
To fully cover my 47G tank, I would not be happy unless I had 3 Radion Pro's over my tank...and that is just too damn expensive.
I will stick with my T5/LED hybrid for another couple of years. My 0.2
jackson6745
Yeah Yeah
I'm with you Sahin, I would never run only a point source of light over my reef, whether it be halide or LED, without running T5's for complete coverage. Many LED tanks that I have seen having SPS issues had a lot of shadowing going on. From what I have seen locally, the only truly successful SPS tanks have either a ridiculous amount of LED fixtures for total coverage, or employ the use of t5's to eliminate shadowing.
Aww7979
Member
Talk about subjects that shouldn't be talked about at the dinner table...
This was my tank before a crash. Not the deepest colors, but good coloration and a ton of growth under Radions. I think I couldn't afford to be in the hobby running MH. This is an expensive enough hobby with out worrying about electricity consumption. I love my LEDs even with their draw backs.
I also have some better photos in my photo album under my profile.
Please forgive my photo taking skills.
This was my tank before a crash. Not the deepest colors, but good coloration and a ton of growth under Radions. I think I couldn't afford to be in the hobby running MH. This is an expensive enough hobby with out worrying about electricity consumption. I love my LEDs even with their draw backs.
I also have some better photos in my photo album under my profile.
Please forgive my photo taking skills.
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Reeftub
New member
They were always hydra 52, look at his build thread. The name of his thread is at the top of the pics I posted.
Amphiprion
Premium Member
ok. M80 will give you too much light IMO, I was using XM10K on electronic and standard ballasts, it was a crazy amount of light. I couldn't imagine putting more light on those corals. VHO Super Actinic combo was killer though.
No joke there. I have 2 of these in serious reflectors for a shallow seagrass system and cooked a few things initially.
That being said, I like LEDs and the fact that they are efficient and controllable, but I don't get the same look that halides give.
Growth has never really been an issue, loss of color over time, morphing of color, and the long term effects of shading has been the issues that many have found, and was their reason that so many have gone back to traditional lighting.
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