Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides
- Thread starter Goldcoastreefs
- Start date
Mirror Pond
Premium Member
I have that exact same size tank and I use just 1 250w Radium in a 20"x20" LumenArc reflector powered by a M80 ballast. I don't have many SPS at this point but I do have 7 clams and a 7 year old Ritteri anemone that are doing well. I also don't have my rock work right up against the sides. Here is a picture taken with my iPhone and no editing.
I tried a couple of custom D120 led fixtures for several months but I did not like the look as much as the Radium.
chadfarmer
Premium Member
I have a par meter what else do I need to measure par
I am running my leds at 25% any lower and I might as well turn them off
meshwheel
New member
Chad,
I was just messing around! I have the Reefbreeders photon32 and so far I love it! I ramp them up and down with about 4 hours of high noon. At high noon I am at 50% Blue and 40% white, red and violet.
I am almost a foot above the water. My tank is completely covered on top with 1/2 acrylic covers.
I was running them at 60 and 50 but it was a little too bright. So I backed them back down to 50 and 40. They look to be responding well.
I know the PUR window maybe what the problem was. That's the narrow range in the PAR spread that really excites the Zookzanthellae in the corals.
I am using 95 watts a day for 4 hours, over a 65 gallon growing SPS. I am only in it for 11 weeks, but this fixture is growing my corals better then my 250 watt Radium ever did! No small hot spot either like my Lumenbright gave me.
My tank runs at a constant 76 degrees! We will see how it does when the heat waves start!
So far, I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO HALIDES!!! Sorry, but too many better things with leds. Muliple colors throughout the day, intensity adjustment on the fly, color on the fly, sunrise/sunset, much cooler and much cheaper to run.....
I was just messing around! I have the Reefbreeders photon32 and so far I love it! I ramp them up and down with about 4 hours of high noon. At high noon I am at 50% Blue and 40% white, red and violet.
I am almost a foot above the water. My tank is completely covered on top with 1/2 acrylic covers.
I was running them at 60 and 50 but it was a little too bright. So I backed them back down to 50 and 40. They look to be responding well.
I know the PUR window maybe what the problem was. That's the narrow range in the PAR spread that really excites the Zookzanthellae in the corals.
I am using 95 watts a day for 4 hours, over a 65 gallon growing SPS. I am only in it for 11 weeks, but this fixture is growing my corals better then my 250 watt Radium ever did! No small hot spot either like my Lumenbright gave me.
My tank runs at a constant 76 degrees! We will see how it does when the heat waves start!
So far, I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO HALIDES!!! Sorry, but too many better things with leds. Muliple colors throughout the day, intensity adjustment on the fly, color on the fly, sunrise/sunset, much cooler and much cheaper to run.....
James77
Team RC
What state are you in meshwheel?
I have 500 watts of halides(actually about 600 with the magnetic ballasts) and the heat form them in the room is never a problem. The only time it would be is in the dead heat of summer when it is in the 90s and very humid.....but a 7,000 BTU AC cools the double parlor(~450-500 square feet) with no problem. The tanks gets to around 84-85, but that is with a sealed sound proofed stand and glass tops. The way some talk, you might think there was molten lava in a reflector about our tanks.
I have 500 watts of halides(actually about 600 with the magnetic ballasts) and the heat form them in the room is never a problem. The only time it would be is in the dead heat of summer when it is in the 90s and very humid.....but a 7,000 BTU AC cools the double parlor(~450-500 square feet) with no problem. The tanks gets to around 84-85, but that is with a sealed sound proofed stand and glass tops. The way some talk, you might think there was molten lava in a reflector about our tanks.
James77
Team RC
Meh......when I had LEDs, both a DIY setup and a reefbreeders setup, it was fun to play with the color....but I ended up choosing a color and sticking with it.
2x250w radiums on a magnetic ballast 6 hours a day costs me about $14 a month. Mere pennies compared to gas, car repairs, interest on my mortgage, etc.....
meshwheel
New member
Hi Jim,
I am in Southern California. The summer heat waves where always a problem. But with a chiller its no problem at all. You just have to cool the house a bit more.
I replicate the sunrise/sunset with more blue. Just like in the ocean. I would say I am at a 14K-sh at my high sun time. 4 hours at 50% blue 40% white/violet/red.
So I automatically get different colors throughout the day. Just like in the ocean.
I am pretty darn happy with the Reefbreeders. I will not be changing anytime soon. No reason to. Less heat, less elecricity, more flexability, less money....
I am in Southern California. The summer heat waves where always a problem. But with a chiller its no problem at all. You just have to cool the house a bit more.
I replicate the sunrise/sunset with more blue. Just like in the ocean. I would say I am at a 14K-sh at my high sun time. 4 hours at 50% blue 40% white/violet/red.
So I automatically get different colors throughout the day. Just like in the ocean.
I am pretty darn happy with the Reefbreeders. I will not be changing anytime soon. No reason to. Less heat, less elecricity, more flexability, less money....
James77
Team RC
That's right...I think you have mentioned Southern California before.....the heat and electric rates are far worse there than here.
I tried the reefbreeders...definitely a good fixture for the money....but mine lacked automatic control. You could dial the color in, but it was only off or on as far as contolling the times they were on.
I tried the reefbreeders...definitely a good fixture for the money....but mine lacked automatic control. You could dial the color in, but it was only off or on as far as contolling the times they were on.
James77
Team RC
Yeah, but over my tank I have 2 points of light with the halides. Leds spread them out over the whole tank, where halides use a reflector for that. Concentrate that 90 watts on a couple square inches and you would be none too happy
Mesh, brother, don't fire up the mh and touch the bulb, we all know it is too hot to touch, it doesnt prove anything. 
High electrical rates are probably the single best reason to switch to LED's, and if I had to deal with the that I would do the same. Fortunately I do not, my tanks entire electrical consumption ranges between $20 and $25 a month.
High electrical rates are probably the single best reason to switch to LED's, and if I had to deal with the that I would do the same. Fortunately I do not, my tanks entire electrical consumption ranges between $20 and $25 a month.
My tank is also pretty efficient, the total wattage is small and heat is managed exceedingly well. It has taken me a long time to learn how to get the most for the least with equipment and setup. Living 2.5 miles from either of the two hydroelectric dams may be part of the reason the electricity is so cheap here, .08kw this time of year, summer will see it raise to .09, no complaints.
Similar threads
