cnunez3024
New member
i want to run a sps main tank was wondering if i should go LED , MH , or T5
just getting back into the hobby?
just getting back into the hobby?
How successful are LEDS with SPS ?
- Thread starter cnunez3024
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Radioheadx14
Active member
I have read that many have had more trouble with LEDs and Acros and that it is more difficult in getting them to grow quickly and with rich color... not saying its impossible, but the there seems to be more success with MH and T5. (me included). There is also the issue with shadowing and the amount of LEDs needed to get good coverage.
That being said. for softies, LPS and non-acro SPS, the LEDs do well.
That being said. for softies, LPS and non-acro SPS, the LEDs do well.
gdmiller123
New member
I have black boxes over my 360 and they grow acros like weeds. Like said above, do you research. Not all LED's are the same....
Scorpius
Stick Head
The problem with most LED fixtures is the ability to mess around with spectrum. If you can resist changing things constantly and leave well enough alone I think LED's would get a better rap.
Wazzel
New member
The only actual problem with the fixtures is the coverage issues. The other issues are operating based, mostly due to lack of good information and experience. With all the variables it is hard to dial them in when many different combinations work. My experience has been positive so far. SPS grow well for me under LED.
Dig around and see what can be done. If a person clames success make them show you a picture. I know. Where is mine, check my thread in my sig. I got 2 years of quarterly photos and all kind of information there.
In the end all the light systems get the job done. You need to get to know the pros and cons to work them. Mh and T-5 are a little easier since they have been around much longer, have fewer variable, uniformity across manufacturers and a bigger user base.
Dig around and see what can be done. If a person clames success make them show you a picture. I know. Where is mine, check my thread in my sig. I got 2 years of quarterly photos and all kind of information there.
In the end all the light systems get the job done. You need to get to know the pros and cons to work them. Mh and T-5 are a little easier since they have been around much longer, have fewer variable, uniformity across manufacturers and a bigger user base.
Wazzel
New member
Very true. Any major change and the corals need to adapt. That can take weeks or months. If you change all the time you never get past the corals adapting.
I run radion with t5 supplement, sps zeovit reef, they work well together. I have never tried led only, just cant live with the shading. I have however used mh only and am sure there was shading , but never really noticed lol, in all cases whatever you choose will work, ime t5 supplement is a huge factor for success with any led good luck. zsu
dkeller_nc
New member
This has been my experience. Many maricultured acros that are then acclimated under MH do not do well under LED-only (Radions) for me. They tend to suffer large color shifts and/or RTN. Many of these same colonies, when fragged, do well under T5HO.
That said, there are a fair number of folks that run LED only and do quite well with aquacultured acro frags.
The one aspect about this that you should consider is that a PAR meter is pretty much required for LED-only (whether you borrow it to set up the lights or buy one). You simply cannot judge intensity by eye.
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
All the coral in my tank have been grown exclusively with LEDs.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EeZ8CcREx2c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EeZ8CcREx2c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
geldof
New member
In my experience MH/T5/LED, in order of ability to grow Acropora, MH being the best. That said, I had a really nice LED powered 7.5 cube set up for many years
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2230774
Didn't mind that the coral grew slower in the smaller system. Color was on par with MH and T5.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2230774
Didn't mind that the coral grew slower in the smaller system. Color was on par with MH and T5.
blasterman789
New member
As per my other comments on this topic, the main causes of LEDs not beating T5 and MH hands down in terms of growth are (a) the absurd trend for modern LED fixtures to have more colors than an American DJ disco light the majority of which don't contribute to growth and (b) the majority of LED lights having optics to artificially boost PAR numbers, and optics cause shadowing and other problems. Do you put a 3' fresnel lens over your 250watt MH? No? Then lets please compare apples to apples.
PAR = PAR regardless of light source, and PUR = PUR regardless of light source if you are photosynthetic organism. Eliminate collimating optics and all the stupid, superfluous colors from 'high end' LEDs lights, and pointless UVA being one of them, then LED is the best light source.
The best SPS tanks I've seen first hand the past 3-4 years have all been LED, and most are running black boxes, which I think is kind of funny.
PAR = PAR regardless of light source, and PUR = PUR regardless of light source if you are photosynthetic organism. Eliminate collimating optics and all the stupid, superfluous colors from 'high end' LEDs lights, and pointless UVA being one of them, then LED is the best light source.
The best SPS tanks I've seen first hand the past 3-4 years have all been LED, and most are running black boxes, which I think is kind of funny.
bif24701
New member
Most of the new builds today are LED, it's easy to see that LEDs do work.
Aaron
180 Gallon Dream (Now Reality)
http://www.panhandlereefers.com/forums/index.php?/topic/14405-180-Gallon-Dream-(Now-Reality)
Aaron
180 Gallon Dream (Now Reality)
http://www.panhandlereefers.com/forums/index.php?/topic/14405-180-Gallon-Dream-(Now-Reality)
dkeller_nc
New member
If one is referring to the overall number of new tanks, that's likely true. If one is discussing tanks intended for primarily SPS, I have my doubts. Simply looking through this forum suggests that an awful lot of new tanks are going T5HO/LED combos.
I second that. I started LED only and have added T5 supplements to fill in the shadows. The face of the coral pointed at the LED has great colour, the backside looks deathly. I never had that problem with T5. So i choose to use the best power saving option and colour pop of LEDS with a few hours of T5 to fill the tank full of light and keep the undersides etc from being shaded.
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