EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
Tom
I thought that may be the problem. I have a 7/16"hole right now so I will open it up to 39/64"or a 15/32" depending what I have. No comments on the LEDs huh.
Englishrebel's 260 Gallon System Build
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Tom
I thought that may be the problem. I have a 7/16"hole right now so I will open it up to 39/64"or a 15/32" depending what I have. No comments on the LEDs huh.
You are my test case for LED's so your success, or failure, will sway my opinion. 
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14934338#post14934338 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
You are my test case for LED's so your success, or failure, will sway my opinion.
WOW You mean I might get to sway Waterkeepers opinion. I'm humbled.
T,
Like any emerging technology the high price now will drop when demand develops. Right now, I do not have enough long term reports on how they do with corals, and especially high light demanding species such as clams or anemones, to make a recommendation for their use. Pioneers, like Alan, will ultimately decide their fate.
Like any emerging technology the high price now will drop when demand develops. Right now, I do not have enough long term reports on how they do with corals, and especially high light demanding species such as clams or anemones, to make a recommendation for their use. Pioneers, like Alan, will ultimately decide their fate.
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
Tom
I ordered two of these to fill in the area between the AI modules (I couldn't afford two more modules to cover the whole tank
). AquariumLED They fit into a standard MH mogul base but run off 115VAC and don't need a ballast. Their web site shows coral growth but that may just be a sales pitch.
Problem is the pictures are mainly of frags and there is no evidence they were growing for any length of time under the LED's. The type of thing that gets my attention is a two or three year old tank with great coral growth using a single lighting system. That is why I have so much interest in your setup. If we can see clear proof that the lights work on a tank as it matures then I can start saying that LED's are a good choice.
But will they stop a speeding fish???
Tom, I am curious and hopeful, yet dubious and tight on spending the money until I too see the proof. I like them from the technology and energy savings/ no bulb change aspects....They only 2 issues - as you outlined above - are price point, and results......
T
Tom, I am curious and hopeful, yet dubious and tight on spending the money until I too see the proof. I like them from the technology and energy savings/ no bulb change aspects....They only 2 issues - as you outlined above - are price point, and results......
T
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
Tony
I guess Frank will be the first to let us know as he has had his for about six months (after spending countless hours on the phone and opening up his Solaris fixtures until he finally got fed up and sent them back). Looking at his tank he has good growth but there again he does have a MH in the center to fill in. One difference between Franks tank and mine is that his is 12" shorter and he has a lot more rock than I do.
I will keep a record of how my corals do -- but there again I'm new to this so poor growth may be partly my fault.
I guess Frank will be the first to let us know as he has had his for about six months (after spending countless hours on the phone and opening up his Solaris fixtures until he finally got fed up and sent them back). Looking at his tank he has good growth but there again he does have a MH in the center to fill in. One difference between Franks tank and mine is that his is 12" shorter and he has a lot more rock than I do.
I will keep a record of how my corals do -- but there again I'm new to this so poor growth may be partly my fault.
reefconcepts
New member
Alan, You are correct with my experience with Solaris, they were, the last act of what's the use! The lights did not work correctly from the beginning with no support from PFO. That is except to tell me to take them apart and do this, take them apart and do that. That wonderful information was only obtained after I call and called them, no return calls from PFO, great customer support! The law lawsuit may have put PFO under but I think they would have gone anyway as I was not the only one with Solaris problems. The Aqua Illumination leds are in a different world from Solaris, sorry I had to but those two names in the same sentence. Back on track! I have had MH on all my tanks and have had a few tanks along the way, started reefs in 1986. They were mostly mixed reefs with a many SPS. The current reef is young but to date I am happy with the A.I. leds. I have good color and growth with the leds. Because my reef is 30" wide and the only drawback to leds is they do not spread like MH. To compensate for this I staggered the leds and did install a 250 watt 20K in the middle a few months ago. This installation eliminated the low light I had in the center. Just for information, I keep the blues at 100% and the whites at 40%, 6" off the water. Before the MH I still had the same growth and color. If it were not for money I would get another (2) leds modular for the center. Guess there is another drawback, the initial cost, but long term they are not any more expensive than MH. I know Alan, "It's only time and money". Pictures would be nice but I do not have the ability to make decent ones. Alan, your reef is coming along very well, looks like you have a little time and money there. Now it is time to spend more money and animals, road trip? I am sure you will be happy with your decision with the leds. Stay tuned to Alan's progress. My 2¢.
I suppose if you do the "real math" when comparing the toal cost of ownership - the LEDs look favorable.
Metal Halides: Lower initial cost, better light spread ( dependant on reflector) high heat output potential (exception: Aquatinics hoods) High electrical consumption. Probable need for chiller to maintan temperature. Need to replace bulbs fairly often (8-12 months avg.)
LED: Higher initial cost, but -No chiller needed,(under normal conditions) never have to replace bulbs (- fixture lifespan 8-10 years) Can change color of light via controller. Much lower electrical consumption. Bt - little light spread... so how do we fix that part? I will bet someone will figure it out.
So, it seems it is a "pay me now - or pay me later" scenario
But not having to purchase, and run a chiller ( think - wattage comparable to a window unit air conditioner) And not having to repalce bulbs at least yearly - I will bet the LEDs come out well ahead of MH....
So, oe day, when I am all grown up and rich and famous like Alan and Frank, I will have LEDs too!
I still want to see the growth results on some corals. Surely somebody has done the tests....?
T
Metal Halides: Lower initial cost, better light spread ( dependant on reflector) high heat output potential (exception: Aquatinics hoods) High electrical consumption. Probable need for chiller to maintan temperature. Need to replace bulbs fairly often (8-12 months avg.)
LED: Higher initial cost, but -No chiller needed,(under normal conditions) never have to replace bulbs (- fixture lifespan 8-10 years) Can change color of light via controller. Much lower electrical consumption. Bt - little light spread... so how do we fix that part? I will bet someone will figure it out.
So, it seems it is a "pay me now - or pay me later" scenario
But not having to purchase, and run a chiller ( think - wattage comparable to a window unit air conditioner) And not having to repalce bulbs at least yearly - I will bet the LEDs come out well ahead of MH....
So, oe day, when I am all grown up and rich and famous like Alan and Frank, I will have LEDs too!
I still want to see the growth results on some corals. Surely somebody has done the tests....?
T
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
You're right Tony, it's like a Fram oil filter.
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
Well Sylvester and Tweetie (NO, I did not name them my 5 year old granddaughter did) are now in their new home. The are swimming at one end looking at their reflections in the end glass (does that mean they're vain)? :rollface:
Their spots from the zoos in the LFS tank (dumb place to keep them) are starting to clear up. I was in the LFS on Monday and they have moved the zoos out.
I moved all the corals from the downstairs tanks into the display tank this morning. I also dosed some PH buffer as mine was 7.45 despite almost 160 gallons of new SW added when I filled the tank. I dosed in three batches an it's now up to 7.88. I'm going to do it gradually and also keep an eye on the dKH as I don't want it to go above 6.0.
Their spots from the zoos in the LFS tank (dumb place to keep them) are starting to clear up. I was in the LFS on Monday and they have moved the zoos out.
I moved all the corals from the downstairs tanks into the display tank this morning. I also dosed some PH buffer as mine was 7.45 despite almost 160 gallons of new SW added when I filled the tank. I dosed in three batches an it's now up to 7.88. I'm going to do it gradually and also keep an eye on the dKH as I don't want it to go above 6.0.
When are you taking those pH readings Alan? Remember they are always lower in the morning than in the late afternoon. It sounds like you may need to start dosing some KW if you already are adding coral to the tank.
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
Tom
That was yesterday afternoon. This morning it's reading 7.64. I'll wait till noon to dose again. I'm going to start dosing ALK soon but wanted to try the buffer first. I just need to keep and eye on the dKH readings. One good thing about dosing ALK is that it only raises PH.
T2
The corals have been downstairs in my 20G and 55G fuge for about two months now (well most of them). It's the same water column as my display so they have been at 7.5 for a while.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14946532#post14946532 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Carty
I did the math on LED's vs. T5's for my tank when I first was setting up the lighting system..
it would take me 21 years to notice a savings when you take into comparison replacement bulbs, elec. bill.. etc etc
I dont know about MH's, but to me that says T5 is the way to go
Carty
I'm not sure of your math but an equivalent T5 fixture from a reputable manufacturer (Sfiglio or ATI) would have saved me around $2,000 over the cost of the AI modules and AquariumLED bulbs. I would have to replace 10 80W T5s every 9-12 months (my tank is 60x30) at $25 each plus shipping. Over five years that's around $3,100. Figure in electrical savings from lighting and chilling and I think I'm ahead.
BTW
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central Carty</b></i></big></big>
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
Ph has gone from 7.45 to 7.76 with four doses. Each dose is supposed to raise PH by 0.1 so that's about right. I'll dose on more time and then check the Alkalinity reading. Before I started dosing it was 4.1 Meql and the buffer says to make sure it doesn't go over 6.0.
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