Do LED's REALLY work or not for SPS...

[gasman059]

Frick there's plenty plenty of expericne and reseacrh out there.
I just traded 3x400 watts 20k radiums for my AI LED's and yes I can honestly say that there will be no more metal halides for me.

Granted to each their own but I've ran them for over 15 years now( the MH'S) with and w/o vho's ///w and w/o T5's and so forth.

The LEDS are here to stay just like the t5's and every other electricity saving technology.

Colors are not only related to Lights!

 

[tmgrash]

Fact, yes a 50watt ecoxotic cannon does toast a 150 coralife lamp with no reflector for PAR. But NO way if your comparing apples to apples. I get in to the 600s for par at the bottom of my 40 gallon. What LED would do that? The panaramas don't I Know this.

Has anyone Compared the actual wavelengths of a LED to a reef halide lamp? I was referring to the lens filtering nanometers out not PAR. Like UV.

Panarama compared to 400 w mh is hardly apples to apples.
2 Aquaillumination modules produces 800_1000 par at 18", using 144watts.

The spectrum is different from MH, led has a lot less red which doesnt appear to be so useful for corals.

 

[tozzi]

Today anything green is in. Like hybrid cars, bamboo. For our hobby Leds, low watt pumps, etc. Im all for it. I just made the switch to led from 4-400w mh , and im very happy. I have a full sps tank and everything seems to adjusted well. Hated the heat and electric needed to run the mh. I think someone should collect a bunch of pics of t5 tanks , led tanks, mh tanks . Post just the pics in a poll, and let people vote what light is being used. I think it will be very hard to tell the difference. Ive had several people over my house, my tank is built in the wall. All of them always have to ask what kind of light i use, never once has someone said , "oh you have led!" But they do usually say it looks nice I think the blue led really makes the colors pop!

 

[Frick]

Frick there's plenty plenty of expericne and reseacrh out there.
I just traded 3x400 watts 20k radiums for my AI LED's and yes I can honestly say that there will be no more metal halides for me.

Granted to each their own but I've ran them for over 15 years now( the MH'S) with and w/o vho's ///w and w/o T5's and so forth.

The LEDS are here to stay just like the t5's and every other electricity saving technology.

Colors are not only related to Lights!

I saw your thread very nice.

I do agree with you LEDs are here to stay.

You are completely right, light is but a factor in getting that great color.

I am just trying to defend the halide, which I know is still one of the best means of reef lighting. I typically keep my nose out of these LED Happy threads. And maybe should have on this one. :hammer:

 

[Frick]

Today anything green is in. Like hybrid cars, bamboo. For our hobby Leds, low watt pumps, etc. Im all for it. I just made the switch to led from 4-400w mh , and im very happy. I have a full sps tank and everything seems to adjusted well. Hated the heat and electric needed to run the mh. I think someone should collect a bunch of pics of t5 tanks , led tanks, mh tanks . Post just the pics in a poll, and let people vote what light is being used. I think it will be very hard to tell the difference. Ive had several people over my house, my tank is built in the wall. All of them always have to ask what kind of light i use, never once has someone said , "oh you have led!" But they do usually say it looks nice I think the blue led really makes the colors pop!

I agree with you. But for the initial $ I love the look of my halide. And still have not seen an AI or any LED fixture compare in person. Maybe I would jump on the band wagon if I had that fixture over my tank? Well I certainly would have to if I spent that much money on it. Never once has someone said "Oh you have halides" Especially after they see what they can do.

 

[Felixc395]

Well these are certainly some great arguments, these points are very informative and helpful.

But when you all say that corals under LED's lack color or don't look very good; could someone post a picture of this so I can see what it looks like? and what makes LED's incapable in some instances to keep coral coral and growth???

 

[Felixc395]

double post

 

[Felixc395]

Well these are certainly some great arguments, these points are very informative and helpful.

But when you all say that corals under LED's lack color or don't look very good; could someone post a picture of this so I can see what it looks like? and what makes LED's incapable in some instances to keep coral coral and growth???

 

[gasman059]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1940932

 

[Felixc395]

triple post, sorry everyone

 

[johnanddawn]

i normally don't get into these type of threads but i just took a nice pic last weekend i can share - but i am not out to convince anyone of anything - choose the light source you want
as always ANY particular coral under ANY particular lighting and also tank position/flow/water quality will look and do well or not so well. the variables are endless and sometimes you just get lucky and get it right

here is an example of that - this coral just seems to be doing well since the change. you should notice basal growth, tip growth, and improved coloration since going LED

this was taken under T5's just before i switched from T5's to pure LED (august)

this was taken last weekend under LED

 

[tozzi]

I agree with you. But for the initial $ I love the look of my halide. And still have not seen an AI or any LED fixture compare in person. Maybe I would jump on the band wagon if I had that fixture over my tank? Well I certainly would have to if I spent that much money on it. Never once has someone said "Oh you have halides" Especially after they see what they can do.

HAHA, I agree wit u too. I looooved my 400 mh, stuff looked great n grew crazy under them and they were bright like a natural reef. So bright that when i put up all the leds i was dissappointed at first. Just cause they looked dim, but then when i came home to the tank a day later the led looked good and bright. Just had to get my eye use to them, they were still use to looking at the 400 mh. If it werent for the electric savings i would ok kept the mh, I still think they're king!

 

[tmgrash]

i normally don't get into these type of threads but i just took a nice pic last weekend i can share - but i am not out to convince anyone of anything - choose the light source you want
as always ANY particular coral under ANY particular lighting and also tank position/flow/water quality will look and do well or not so well. the variables are endless and sometimes you just get lucky and get it right

here is an example of that - this coral just seems to be doing well since the change. you should notice basal growth, tip growth, and improved coloration since going LED

this was taken under T5's just before i switched from T5's to pure LED (august)

this was taken last weekend under LED

Thats a sweet coral. Does it have a name?

 

[Guy340]

strawberry shortcake?

 

[tmgrash]

strawberry shortcake?

Could be I suppose, mine looks a lot different than that one. Probably because mine is under led, oh wait

 

[MK Reefer]

The above pic is a great example of what can be done with LEDs. I think the fact is that LEDs may not be as great as MH in producing colour, or overal affect, but they are damm close and the net savings in electricity, upkeep (bulbs, etc.) and heat are way too important to overlook.

On another note I started replacing all my pot lights with LED GU10 bulbs for added electrical savings. 50W halogen down to 5.5W LED with almost the same output. The potlights I am using are 3x3W CRE LEDs driven at 5.5W total. Another thing to consider as changing out the house lights might save you as much if not more in juice then replacing MH on the tank

Mike

 

[scrapz]

i normally don't get into these type of threads but i just took a nice pic last weekend i can share - but i am not out to convince anyone of anything - choose the light source you want
as always ANY particular coral under ANY particular lighting and also tank position/flow/water quality will look and do well or not so well. the variables are endless and sometimes you just get lucky and get it right

here is an example of that - this coral just seems to be doing well since the change. you should notice basal growth, tip growth, and improved coloration since going LED

this was taken under T5's just before i switched from T5's to pure LED (august)

this was taken last weekend under LED

looks like its holding its color very well. You have to also factor in that the LED picture is very blue vs the t5 picture which is why it looks alot better.

 

[tmgrash]

looks like its holding its color very well. You have to also factor in that the LED picture is very blue vs the t5 picture which is why it looks alot better.

I really dont think more blue makes tanks look better. Does it really appear that that coral has only "held" its color?

No one here is aurguing that MH dont work, why are you arguing LED's dont when you have never tried them?

 

[MrSandman]

i normally don't get into these type of threads but i just took a nice pic last weekend i can share - but i am not out to convince anyone of anything - choose the light source you want
as always ANY particular coral under ANY particular lighting and also tank position/flow/water quality will look and do well or not so well. the variables are endless and sometimes you just get lucky and get it right

here is an example of that - this coral just seems to be doing well since the change. you should notice basal growth, tip growth, and improved coloration since going LED

this was taken under T5's just before i switched from T5's to pure LED (august)

It's been a little over 2 months and i'm curious to get an update on your tank. Did the colors remain? They did improve? Growth doing well?

this was taken last weekend under LED

 

[wickedfish]

Gasman,

I also saw your thread. I went through less months of AI's and I don't think they are covering all white spectrums and I just think they need more leds in the units for spread and coverage.

I am well aware of the PAR and the damage they can inflict on corals. But truth be told, I have two colonies right now that in 4 days of ATI T5 lighting that have colored up like never before. 1 a multi colored Turoki, 2 a Burgundy/pink millepora.

I do miss the blues the leds produced and the shimmer, but I could care less if my corals look like crap.

I also agree that other factors also change colors; pests in my case, parameters, high bio load etc...