BuckeyeTodd
New member
I have 10 bulbs of t5 so I'm wondering if it'd make any noticeable difference? If I were to shut it off with all 10 bulbs on would I notice?
Anyone use LED to make acros "pop"
- Thread starter BuckeyeTodd
- Start date
reefnut81564
New member
I switched to LEDs about 6 months ago from MHs. I will say now the corals are all really starting to grow. The noticeable difference is in the blue LEDs early in the AM and then later in the evening where they are at a higher intensity than the white LEDs. The blue is incredible and really changes the look of most of my corals.
Grim Reefer
New member
That's all I run and the growth/color is amazing probably won't go back to useing anything else....LED's are the future!!!!
BuckeyeTodd
New member
anyone have experience supplementing t5 with led?
I have no doubt that they can grow sps, and are the future. But for the next year or two I've already got t5, I'd just like some of the led blue flouresence.
I have no doubt that they can grow sps, and are the future. But for the next year or two I've already got t5, I'd just like some of the led blue flouresence.
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
Have a look at my thread; I fitted Blue + Royal Blue Cree LED's into my ATI Sunpower:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1948575
I love the look and the coral colours. But I had t reset the tank due to Dinos and 1000's of vermated snails/worms.
Am in the process of resetting and using the same lights and equipment etc.
westreef
Lost as usual
I have been using T5/LED hybrid for 10 months. You can see the video from
www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2098313.
The color is just right to my taste and with slight shimmering effect.
Early morning and late evening I only have the royal blue leds on and the color pop -- just love it.
Bernie
BuckeyeTodd
New member
Never even considered doing that! Very cool
BuckeyeTodd
New member
You are a brave man Bernie. Softies plus tons of acros plus flame angel. Tank looks great, and the color does look good. It looks like you've got a ton of flow in there too, you have some nice wave action going. Love the Himalayan in your avatar too, we've got the same one.
westreef
Lost as usual
I had my first Blue Point Himalayan when I was in Orlando in 1993. I lived 5 minutes from Disney. This is my second one, got him in Bay Area. :beer:
Fieroguy19
New member
With all 10 bulbs running on your fixture you will not see difference in color unless you use at least 24 RB 3W LEDs. Even then you might not see a difference since the brightness of the T5 bulbs mask the RB color.
I run a 6 bulb T5 fixture and tried 6 RB LEDs on half my tank (90g) and I can only notice them when the 2 blue plus bulbs are on. They do seem to make corals glow more when I do this. If I turn on more than two t5 bulbs then I can no longer see any effect from the LEDs. Overall, I really like the look with 2 blue plus and RB LEDs and will probably add 12 to my tank in the future for when the main lights go off.
I run a 6 bulb T5 fixture and tried 6 RB LEDs on half my tank (90g) and I can only notice them when the 2 blue plus bulbs are on. They do seem to make corals glow more when I do this. If I turn on more than two t5 bulbs then I can no longer see any effect from the LEDs. Overall, I really like the look with 2 blue plus and RB LEDs and will probably add 12 to my tank in the future for when the main lights go off.
BuckeyeTodd
New member
Sorry, I'm a noob to LED's...Is there a fixture or strip that I could buy or would I need to build something to fit my needs.
Fieroguy19
New member
If you don't want to DIY one then you can get a ReefBrite LED that would fit your tank. They make two different ones, Tech and XHO series. The XHO one has more LEDs than the Tech version. I have seen the Tech one in person and it is very bright.
There are numerous other strips and other things out there but you generally get what you pay for when buying premade LED fixtures. Obviously going DIY is alot cheaper but you will have to do all the work to make it look good.
There are numerous other strips and other things out there but you generally get what you pay for when buying premade LED fixtures. Obviously going DIY is alot cheaper but you will have to do all the work to make it look good.
dvanacker
DID I SOUNDS SMRT??
They are not miracle lights...you can't add 6 3w LED and expect a lot of change.
I added 26 cree RB with 80degree optics to my 2x400w radium and 2x110w VHO over my 200g tank and they do add some blue and some pop when all the lights are on but my favorite is when just the RB are running or the RB and VHO.
tang daddy
New member
I recently built my own led fixture, on a 75g tank I am running 28 blue, RB combo and 28CW. I also run 2 overdriven t5 with reflectors, I love the colour blend of t5 and the blue LEDs. The reason why I still run t5 with led is with led only, especially the blues, they seem to cast alot of shade on the rock and kinda reminds me of cyber bowling or a black light where only the corals glow leaving the rock very black or dark. This electric type of colour is not appealing for me, however once the t5 fills in the dark spots it looks closer to natural and BOOM, the colours of the coral blind your eyes!
DO IT!!!
You will not regret putting some led supplements on your tank, rapid led sells a package for supplement lighting, it includes 18 rb with lenses, 36" heatsink and driver for around $130 IMO just use 2 of these without lenses and your tank should be covered well.
Here's the link if you're interested, with Xmas around the corner treat yourself!
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-152/18-LED-Actinic-Supplement/Detail
DO IT!!!
You will not regret putting some led supplements on your tank, rapid led sells a package for supplement lighting, it includes 18 rb with lenses, 36" heatsink and driver for around $130 IMO just use 2 of these without lenses and your tank should be covered well.
Here's the link if you're interested, with Xmas around the corner treat yourself!
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-152/18-LED-Actinic-Supplement/Detail
steevareno2002
New member
I added 2 Reefbrite strips to my Aquatinics T5. I just removed the reflectors and screwed in the Reefbrites so now I have:
Blue plus
Royal blue LED's
Purple Plus
White LED's
Blue plus
I feel I have the best of both worlds; with LED's some corals pop with color while other don't looks as good. T5's look good but no shimmer. I can def see a difference with the blue LED's on. With only 3 T5's there is a noticable shimmer. Nothing like halides or all LED's but better than no shimmer of T5's.
I have the blue LED's on for 12 hours, then the T5's for 10 and the white LED's for 8...I don't have a good camera to show the color but it looks 15K ish and I like it!!!
I might upgrade to the XHO Reefbrites for more intensity. They use reflectors not optics but not sure what's better. They look really bright to me.
Blue plus
Royal blue LED's
Purple Plus
White LED's
Blue plus
I feel I have the best of both worlds; with LED's some corals pop with color while other don't looks as good. T5's look good but no shimmer. I can def see a difference with the blue LED's on. With only 3 T5's there is a noticable shimmer. Nothing like halides or all LED's but better than no shimmer of T5's.
I have the blue LED's on for 12 hours, then the T5's for 10 and the white LED's for 8...I don't have a good camera to show the color but it looks 15K ish and I like it!!!
I might upgrade to the XHO Reefbrites for more intensity. They use reflectors not optics but not sure what's better. They look really bright to me.
Attachments
westreef
Lost as usual
Hi Steve,
I have the same setup just like yours, except the white led strip is now mixed with natural white, cool white and royal blue. The resulting PAR is acceptable for SPS and like you said it has the best of both worlds.
steevareno2002
New member
Yes I saw yours and it looks great! Do you notice a difference between the natural whites and the cool whites? I think mine are slightly yellow and I might swap them out for a 50/50 of white and blue. I wish I had a PAR meter but I think the #'s would be close to yours. I have all my SPS on the upper half of the tank and they seem to be coloring well.
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
Darryl, do the RB LED's produce better fluorescence than the VHO actinics?
