A. Grandis
Active member
Hello all,
I've been very busy and unable to come here often, like before.
I decided to do a search lately about LEDs for reef tanks, focusing on zoas, once we have more and more people in favor of them.
Once there is no scientific evidences to prove that either MH, T5s or LEDs actually have substantial differences for the growth, reproduction and health of zoas and corals, I decided to find out more talking to people...
I've been trying to find/spend time to talk to some of my friends and digging deeper to hear their observations about the differences between T5s, MHs and LEDs.
Basically I wasn't trying to prove any point towards MHs and/or T5s, but went towards the LEDs instead, defending the fact that they should provide decent, or even optimal, light for zoas and SPS corals too!!
What did I find out while talking to people lately?
- Their taste for the type of light chosen is what plays the most when deciding what to buy for their tanks. Many went back to their MHs or T5s just because they liked their visual appearance better than LEDs' !!!!
- Many agree that a lost all today's LEDs for reef tanks can provide decent light for the health of their animals (zoas and corals), generally speaking, for a relative long period of time. They say that growth and forms weren't compromised in any way with their LEDs.
- Some said that they do notice some color differences on their zoas when changing the type of light. IMO it is hard to determinate what would be exactly the difference noticed, once the spectrum of different bulbs/light sources could be the only fact for such differences in some cases (reflection alone). Other fact is that different light sources/ spectrum will have tremendous influences on coloration (morphs), independent of the type of light offered (MH, T5s or LEDs), due to reflection and absorption, changing pigments and zooxanthellae numbers. Other light properties also play with such changes.
- LEDs do emit some heat, but it's minor. Many believe that UV and Infra Red radiation are completely unnecessary to keep the corals for long period of time. They think UV light from LEDs are mostly to remove that "bad impression" on LEDs.
I did a deeper search on IR radiation to find out that it doesn't penetrate more than a few centimeters in the water, therefore proving it's total irrelevance towards those the idea. I thought that part of the spectrum could have a significant play on the influences of other colors of the spectrum somehow, but after noticing and studying more I came to the conclusion that isn't the case.
- Non of them wanted to determinate what length of time would be "long" though. Some of the tanks were more than 2 years old with LEDs as the only source of light. Good enough for me!
- The fact that many others went back to their MHs and T5s is ONLY because they didn't have a good approach when changing the light source used, OR because they didn't like the effects of extra/artificial ("disco effects") shimmering from the LEDs used.
- Zoas and corals, when properly adapted to their new light source, would thrive and reproduce under LEDs without any problems. To reduce intensity is almost mandatory when changing from Mhs and/or T5s to LEDs!
- Many say that the basic spectrum of LEDs for great health is simply the combination of white and blue LEDs. The so called "Full Spectrum LEDs" is unnecessary, but would add to the possibilities of color choices. The point here is that the white LED would have enough colors to supply the needs of the metabolism for all the organisms in general (zooxanthellae, and needs of proteins and other pigments). The use of whites and blues aren't something new and I have no problems understanding that!
- The type of LEDs had to do with success, but basically the intensity, spectrum, lenses and area covered were things to look for.
- Some said that the covered area by their LED fixtures is best when fixture is higher with more intensity and that should be the goal for many types of systems.
- After some search, I believe that lenses are one of the most important aspects for such coverage and therefore one of the major factors when deciding what fixture to get.
- Brand and price didn't matter much. Some people are using inexpensive chinese LEDs for years with great results.
- Chinese LEDs are a sort of gamble in the sense of failing or being defected. That is also true for all other products from China. Perhaps less, but true for products from USA and so on… i would say that a good warranty police is important when choosing a Chinese LED fixture.
- There is a rumor about some Chinese fixtures could get on fire and so on. I actually didn't find anyone who would say that happened with theirs!! Let me now if you had problems like that, please.
- Most of the problems using LEDs and having zoas/coral bleached in the past were indeed because of the excess of intensity, or lack of proper adaptation to their new LEDs, when organisms were negatively affected by the new fixture.
- All of them say that the electricity savings are a great plus, and they wouldn't change to MHs or T5s because of that. Like I've said before, the changes were mostly because of other reasons.
I do believe that if tests were done and it's working for many, there is no way to say the opposite. I actually went to one of my friend's home and saw a tremendous growth/health/reproduction on many great healthy local zoanthids. The zoas were on the bottom of the tank. I actually was surprised with the whole appearance of the tank and didn't find anything negative with the LED lights at all. Fishes were also happy and all in good shape!
I've been learning more about LEDs for aquariums for the past 3 weeks or so and I come humbly here to say that I'll search more and try them on one of my zoa tanks soon!
I have to believe now that the influence of an artificial light source with greater infra red radiation (as heat), like the MHs or T5s, wouldn't play a significative influence on reef keeping at all. The main differences that MHs and T5s would have are probably related to spectrum, intensity and shimmering.
I keep hearing that LEDs aren't for everyone though, but I can't agree with that!
I'm sorry, but if one has success, all should have!
If success can be achieved with inexpensive chinese LEDs by some, all should have same degree of success!!!!
That's the type of fixture I'll be probably trying!!
It is important to remember that light alone isn't responsible for zoa / coral health, as we know. One should keep the system stable, maintaining appropriate parameters in order to provide the best for the organisms.
I'll get some LEDs soon and will love to have my electricity bill lower than it is, of course!!! :thumbsup:
If I decide to change back to my wonderful ATI fixture I'll be publishing why, but I sure hope that I'll stick with those LEDs for long time, or perhaps change all my systems to LEDs.
Please post your experiences with CHINESE LEDs keeping zoanthids.
I've heard only wonderful things about those inexpensive fixtures!!
I would like to hear from people who has Chinese LEDs running for a while. Let us know for how long.
Feel free to post images, if you want.
Please tell us what type that is and where did you get it.
Also, if you would, please tell us the intensity you're using, photoperiod and organisms kept.
Any extra observations in regards to growth rate, reproduction and health would be great!
If you heard, or know anything negative about those fixtures let us know as well.
I just would think there is no need to purchase those expensive fixtures to keep zoanthids healthy for long time.
I'll try my best to come back soon and read the info.
Sorry for the long post!
Thanks,
Grandis.
I've been very busy and unable to come here often, like before.
I decided to do a search lately about LEDs for reef tanks, focusing on zoas, once we have more and more people in favor of them.
Once there is no scientific evidences to prove that either MH, T5s or LEDs actually have substantial differences for the growth, reproduction and health of zoas and corals, I decided to find out more talking to people...
I've been trying to find/spend time to talk to some of my friends and digging deeper to hear their observations about the differences between T5s, MHs and LEDs.
Basically I wasn't trying to prove any point towards MHs and/or T5s, but went towards the LEDs instead, defending the fact that they should provide decent, or even optimal, light for zoas and SPS corals too!!
What did I find out while talking to people lately?
- Their taste for the type of light chosen is what plays the most when deciding what to buy for their tanks. Many went back to their MHs or T5s just because they liked their visual appearance better than LEDs' !!!!
- Many agree that a lost all today's LEDs for reef tanks can provide decent light for the health of their animals (zoas and corals), generally speaking, for a relative long period of time. They say that growth and forms weren't compromised in any way with their LEDs.
- Some said that they do notice some color differences on their zoas when changing the type of light. IMO it is hard to determinate what would be exactly the difference noticed, once the spectrum of different bulbs/light sources could be the only fact for such differences in some cases (reflection alone). Other fact is that different light sources/ spectrum will have tremendous influences on coloration (morphs), independent of the type of light offered (MH, T5s or LEDs), due to reflection and absorption, changing pigments and zooxanthellae numbers. Other light properties also play with such changes.
- LEDs do emit some heat, but it's minor. Many believe that UV and Infra Red radiation are completely unnecessary to keep the corals for long period of time. They think UV light from LEDs are mostly to remove that "bad impression" on LEDs.
I did a deeper search on IR radiation to find out that it doesn't penetrate more than a few centimeters in the water, therefore proving it's total irrelevance towards those the idea. I thought that part of the spectrum could have a significant play on the influences of other colors of the spectrum somehow, but after noticing and studying more I came to the conclusion that isn't the case.
- Non of them wanted to determinate what length of time would be "long" though. Some of the tanks were more than 2 years old with LEDs as the only source of light. Good enough for me!
- The fact that many others went back to their MHs and T5s is ONLY because they didn't have a good approach when changing the light source used, OR because they didn't like the effects of extra/artificial ("disco effects") shimmering from the LEDs used.
- Zoas and corals, when properly adapted to their new light source, would thrive and reproduce under LEDs without any problems. To reduce intensity is almost mandatory when changing from Mhs and/or T5s to LEDs!
- Many say that the basic spectrum of LEDs for great health is simply the combination of white and blue LEDs. The so called "Full Spectrum LEDs" is unnecessary, but would add to the possibilities of color choices. The point here is that the white LED would have enough colors to supply the needs of the metabolism for all the organisms in general (zooxanthellae, and needs of proteins and other pigments). The use of whites and blues aren't something new and I have no problems understanding that!
- The type of LEDs had to do with success, but basically the intensity, spectrum, lenses and area covered were things to look for.
- Some said that the covered area by their LED fixtures is best when fixture is higher with more intensity and that should be the goal for many types of systems.
- After some search, I believe that lenses are one of the most important aspects for such coverage and therefore one of the major factors when deciding what fixture to get.
- Brand and price didn't matter much. Some people are using inexpensive chinese LEDs for years with great results.
- Chinese LEDs are a sort of gamble in the sense of failing or being defected. That is also true for all other products from China. Perhaps less, but true for products from USA and so on… i would say that a good warranty police is important when choosing a Chinese LED fixture.
- There is a rumor about some Chinese fixtures could get on fire and so on. I actually didn't find anyone who would say that happened with theirs!! Let me now if you had problems like that, please.
- Most of the problems using LEDs and having zoas/coral bleached in the past were indeed because of the excess of intensity, or lack of proper adaptation to their new LEDs, when organisms were negatively affected by the new fixture.
- All of them say that the electricity savings are a great plus, and they wouldn't change to MHs or T5s because of that. Like I've said before, the changes were mostly because of other reasons.
I do believe that if tests were done and it's working for many, there is no way to say the opposite. I actually went to one of my friend's home and saw a tremendous growth/health/reproduction on many great healthy local zoanthids. The zoas were on the bottom of the tank. I actually was surprised with the whole appearance of the tank and didn't find anything negative with the LED lights at all. Fishes were also happy and all in good shape!
I've been learning more about LEDs for aquariums for the past 3 weeks or so and I come humbly here to say that I'll search more and try them on one of my zoa tanks soon!
I have to believe now that the influence of an artificial light source with greater infra red radiation (as heat), like the MHs or T5s, wouldn't play a significative influence on reef keeping at all. The main differences that MHs and T5s would have are probably related to spectrum, intensity and shimmering.
I keep hearing that LEDs aren't for everyone though, but I can't agree with that!
I'm sorry, but if one has success, all should have!
If success can be achieved with inexpensive chinese LEDs by some, all should have same degree of success!!!!
That's the type of fixture I'll be probably trying!!
It is important to remember that light alone isn't responsible for zoa / coral health, as we know. One should keep the system stable, maintaining appropriate parameters in order to provide the best for the organisms.
I'll get some LEDs soon and will love to have my electricity bill lower than it is, of course!!! :thumbsup:
If I decide to change back to my wonderful ATI fixture I'll be publishing why, but I sure hope that I'll stick with those LEDs for long time, or perhaps change all my systems to LEDs.
Please post your experiences with CHINESE LEDs keeping zoanthids.
I've heard only wonderful things about those inexpensive fixtures!!
I would like to hear from people who has Chinese LEDs running for a while. Let us know for how long.
Feel free to post images, if you want.
Please tell us what type that is and where did you get it.
Also, if you would, please tell us the intensity you're using, photoperiod and organisms kept.
Any extra observations in regards to growth rate, reproduction and health would be great!
If you heard, or know anything negative about those fixtures let us know as well.
I just would think there is no need to purchase those expensive fixtures to keep zoanthids healthy for long time.
I'll try my best to come back soon and read the info.
Sorry for the long post!
Thanks,
Grandis.
