It's time, let's see those SPS tanks using LEDs 1 year or longer

[Tony B (UK)]

Mo,

You've understood my post perfectly, yes I guess colouration is the main stumbling block now.

Colour for me is as important as growth. It's part of completeness.

LEDs (some, not all) will grow sps, but as I keep saying, I believe they're an inferior lighting choice. Yes they'll grow sps but the colour just is not as good as other options, even on the triton tank - that's the only negative criticism about that tank; the colour is about 8 out of 10, fairly good, but I could get better colours out of those corals, as could a few other reefers. That's being hyper critical, I almost feel like a horrible elitist looking down his nose at lesser mortals....but.... I'm just being honest.... It's still a world class tank.

What are your thoughts on LEDs, Mo? Can you see yourself changing over anytime soon?

David using T5s... I think you'd be surprised how much of a difference using even a small amount of T5s make when used with LEDs.

 

[MedRed]

No point debating with a closed mind....

Mo

Is it the photo boosted, or just that led's make the sand look bluer?.

Mo

My point was only that you take a shot of a coral and it's the coral that is the focus you should pay attention to, not one in the background. The same coral can look brown if the shot is different. I showed you a coral that looks just as good as a MH tank, from Ehsan's tank. You then look at a different shot of the coral and claim how brown it looks. My example was to illustrate how that can happen, even in MH/ T5 tanks.

Mo

??
This is getting beyond a joke. i think your myopia needs correction.

:wave:
Mo

There's no closed mind or myopia here. I'm the one that ponied up big bucks to try 2 versions of LEDS for a year and a half. I'm just well versed enough to see the shortcomings of LEDs. I also pay enough attention to the details to see that that chalice picture is boosted like no other and that the difference in color on the one coral you posted is not due to angle. I'm sorry that my definitives don't jive with your if, ands, and maybes.

 

[chingchai]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1738995&page=36

 

[Spirofucci]

Med Red just likes spending $$$ on lights. His tank would look good with a 60w light bulb.

FWIW, I have a Radion over my RSM 130D, recently added the stock T5 lights to supplement. I cannot comment yet on coral growth, but the main reason I added them to the Radion was to eliminate a lot of shadowing.

I'm not sure how many folks are "supplementing" LEDs with t5, lol.

 

[sirreal63]

I won't be critical of anyone's tank here, but in all honesty I think the corals looked much better as well as the tank in general under the MH. Not the growth, but the color of the corals are so much more vibrant under the MH. It is still a gorgeous tank under either lighting.

Long time ago that I used MH.
From now. Started to go along with the LED.

 

[myzislow]

I'm not sure how many folks are "supplementing" LEDs with t5, lol.

?? A lot more than you'd think....I've had the pleasure of viewing may different LED setups and I pretty much agree with the masses. They obv work and will grow coral; very well in fact. However, LED lighting, at least from what I have seen, leaves a lot be desired in overall coral coloration. Like may have already stated, purples and greens look phenomenal...and that's about it when it comes to SPS(mainly speaking of acropora here as that is where my main interests are).

I most definitely will be keeping my MH/T5 setup for the foreseeable future, that I do know for sure...

 

[myzislow]

I won't be critical of anyone's tank here, but in all honesty I think the corals looked much better as well as the tank in general under the MH. Not the growth, but the color of the corals are so much more vibrant under the MH. It is still a gorgeous tank under either lighting.

Not even close IMO. Obv it could be the photography, but not a single coral looks to be better colored in the LED pic. Even the green slimers are popping more in the MH pic...

 

[Moser]

How many LED tanks are you using to TRY to prove your point? 2 or 3

Can you even start to count the number of successful tanks using traditional lighting? I'll help you with your answer NO

Thats how i judge that.

To be frank, Leds have been out long enough for many ppl to fill them out, If the batch of led fixtures that are currently available had the ability to compare with traditional lighting we would see the results by now.

But this is just my $.02

This is another circular argument!.
The technology is new, the prominent "SPS gurus" refuse to adopt it.
There are not enough skilled SPS growers using the technology, so there are fewer successful SPS tanks. The ones that are successful, you refuse to admit they are, even when the proof is there!...

:deadhorse1:

Mo

 

[Moser]

Mo,

Here's the pic you just posted..........why is that red table in the upper right corner so flat & bland when the green acro & the blue tip green acro just above it are popping?

[/IMG]


Don't misinterpret me.................I'm exited about LEDs but I'm not satisfied yet. This thread on the local site has a great video & some of my thoughts in that thread. I'm no expert on that stuff but I can read charts & evaluate things. Watch the video it's very good.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2195086

Also here's an article by Dana Riddle that will help you understand corals have different pigments & will only flourece under the correct conditions for that pigment.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/aafeature1

Glad you think the blue and green pop in that photo, because they pop a lot more in shots of those actual corals!......

At least 1 notch for LED there then!.

Mo

 

[Moser]

I said what I had to say which is a nice way of saying that the only thing "working" in these videos is blue LEDs causing the florescence with the biggest pop coming from the pink and green LPS and birdsnests. The colonies themselves are beautiful in size and the tanks look great... but once again... the colors are still less than an equitable T5 or MH tank.

The best colors shown so far were the Zeovit tank, and compared to its peers... it's still lacking in color.

What do you qualify as an equitable tank?. Another one that Ehsan has behind the scenes with MH on. or T5 on.?. Or will you pull out a random SPS tank, with different husbandry/ filtration etc.?.or maybe Steve Weasts tank?. I don't see many others leaving it in the shade!. All I'm saying is that his tank is up there with the best. Did the thread title ask for more?.

Mo

 

[Moser]

Looking at the individual pictures you can see corals not having the colors they would under T5 or MH. .

You keep doing it!!.

That's a silly statement. What is your evidence for this statement about these particular corals???.. What colour are these corals under T5 or MH. Do you have a pic of these actual corals under T5 or MH??... is there a standard set of photos of what they should look like, or what they would look like under T5 or MH.


Mo

 

[marinelife]

My tank looks 100% better now with LEDs than it ever did with MHs, My corals look awesome, they have great color and growth. I have zero supplemental lights as well. I am not sure why there is a fight and why people say LEDs must not work because no one posts.
Why post just so you can pick apart our post. Anyone in my local club has seen how my tank has improved with the change out.

 

[Moser]

Mo,

You've understood my post perfectly, yes I guess colouration is the main stumbling block now.

Colour for me is as important as growth. It's part of completeness.

LEDs (some, not all) will grow sps, but as I keep saying, I believe they're an inferior lighting choice. Yes they'll grow sps but the colour just is not as good as other options, even on the triton tank - that's the only negative criticism about that tank; the colour is about 8 out of 10, fairly good, but I could get better colours out of those corals, as could a few other reefers. That's being hyper critical, I almost feel like a horrible elitist looking down his nose at lesser mortals....but.... I'm just being honest.... It's still a world class tank.

What are your thoughts on LEDs, Mo? Can you see yourself changing over anytime soon?

David using T5s... I think you'd be surprised how much of a difference using even a small amount of T5s make when used with LEDs.

Hi Tony,

I have decent enough colours with frags in my small tank under LED's to make a switch and I likely will do.

Not every coral looks good under my Radiums. The ones that don't, don't stay. Not every coral will look good under my LED's ( when I get them). Those that don't, won't stay!.

As you know there are too many variables besides lighting to get decent colours/ growth in SPS that I will still likely get them better than most. I'm sure you would too.

What I will also have is less heat. Less damp. Less bills. Less bulb changes ( which my corals hate more than I do!). Stable tank temps without worrying about failing chillers or aircon. More stability..... Did I say I hate bulb changes?. My tank hates them!.

I will likely get multiple units and alter LED colour in certain areas to suit the coral they cover, in intensity and colour spectrum for each coral.

I could put deep waters up high and have lower intensity on the LED with a more suitable spectrum. I could put fluorescent corals next to lower fluorescing ones and have each under their best spectrum.

I could start the morning with a suitable colour with 10/12K at peak and over to 20 K later.

I could get a nice shimmer, without a disco effect.

These are all options with several LED manufacturers at the moment. The question is which to use. I no longer worry that LED's won't grow corals. I will certainly be doing it for cheaper!. I will make sure I have the option of intense lighting, so I can adapt corals as needed!.... I hope to get decent colours. From what I have seen, I'm happy enough to switch. I maintain an open mind, unlike many that have posted on this thread.

Mo

 

[Moser]

leds make sps look slightly pale compared to halides. you cant judge based on pics. seen both side by side with the same sps corals. will hold off on leds till i have a major tank crash and i switch to lps corals. the blues are awesome!

Where did you see this?. Any evidence to back up your anecdotal claims?.

Thanks
Mo

 

[Allmost]

Hi Tony,

I have decent enough colours with frags in my small tank under LED's to make a switch and I likely will do.

Not every coral looks good under my Radiums. The ones that don't, don't stay. Not every coral will look good under my LED's ( when I get them). Those that don't, won't stay!.

As you know there are too many variables besides lighting to get decent colours/ growth in SPS that I will still likely get them better than most. I'm sure you would too.

What I will also have is less heat. Less damp. Less bills. Less bulb changes ( which my corals hate more than I do!). Stable tank temps without worrying about failing chillers or aircon. More stability..... Did I say I hate bulb changes?. My tank hates them!.

I will likely get multiple units and alter LED colour in certain areas to suit the coral they cover, in intensity and colour spectrum for each coral.

I could put deep waters up high and have lower intensity on the LED with a more suitable spectrum. I could put fluorescent corals next to lower fluorescing ones and have each under their best spectrum.

I could start the morning with a suitable colour with 10/12K at peak and over to 20 K later.

I could get a nice shimmer, without a disco effect.

These are all options with several LED manufacturers at the moment. The question is which to use. I no longer worry that LED's won't grow corals. I will certainly be doing it for cheaper!. I will make sure I have the option of intense lighting, so I can adapt corals as needed!.... I hope to get decent colours. From what I have seen, I'm happy enough to switch. I maintain an open mind, unlike many that have posted on this thread.

Mo

Hello Mo,
good luck with the switch. my advice is, go with a brand that you can change the diodes on easily. there will be phtosynthasis suitable diodes out soon.

 

[MedRed]

You keep doing it!!.

That's a silly statement. What is your evidence for this statement about these particular corals???.. What colour are these corals under T5 or MH. Do you have a pic of these actual corals under T5 or MH??... is there a standard set of photos of what they should look like, or what they would look like under T5 or MH.


Mo

What do you qualify as an equitable tank?. Another one that Ehsan has behind the scenes with MH on. or T5 on.?. Or will you pull out a random SPS tank, with different husbandry/ filtration etc.?.or maybe Steve Weasts tank?. I don't see many others leaving it in the shade!. All I'm saying is that his tank is up there with the best. Did the thread title ask for more?.

Mo

Zeovit to zeovit. ULNS or not Similar nutrient levels. Overlit or under lit. High tech or low tech. It's not a hard concept to grasp. No tank will be equal, but they can still be grouped. Even the same tank switching one way or the other like mine.

My tank looks 100% better now with LEDs than it ever did with MHs, My corals look awesome, they have great color and growth. I have zero supplemental lights as well. I am not sure why there is a fight and why people say LEDs must not work because no one posts.
Why post just so you can pick apart our post. Anyone in my local club has seen how my tank has improved with the change out.

Before and after pics?

 

[Moser]

There's no closed mind or myopia here. I'm the one that ponied up big bucks to try 2 versions of LEDS for a year and a half. I'm just well versed enough to see the shortcomings of LEDs. I also pay enough attention to the details to see that that chalice picture is boosted like no other and that the difference in color on the one coral you posted is not due to angle. I'm sorry that my definitives don't jive with your if, ands, and maybes.

The difference in colour WAS due to angle. There is a shot of Ehsan's same coral that shows beautiful colours. Explain why you disregard this pic and choose to focus on the brown one of the same coral?. Did he colour it in in the other photo??

I'm still trying to find you're definitives. Have you even posted a definitive picture to back up your complete anecdote.?????.

Mo

 

[Moser]

Med Red just likes spending $$$ on lights. His tank would look good with a 60w light bulb.

FWIW, I have a Radion over my RSM 130D, recently added the stock T5 lights to supplement. I cannot comment yet on coral growth, but the main reason I added them to the Radion was to eliminate a lot of shadowing.

I'm not sure how many folks are "supplementing" LEDs with t5, lol.

Shadowing??.... pic??.

Another note. Has anyone used MH without T5?. Have you noticed the corals only colour up on one side?. the side facing the light?.... You look along these corallites and all you see is top side is coloured and the rest brown?. Not ideal really.

Mo

 

[Moser]

Long time ago that I used MH.
From now. Started to go along with the LED.

Nice growth and beautiful colours imo.
I'm sure he's happy with LED, but let's try and bash it somehow..... You can't!. Awesome tank. Thanks for posting, Chingchai.

Mo

 

[Moser]

?? A lot more than you'd think....I've had the pleasure of viewing may different LED setups and I pretty much agree with the masses. They obv work and will grow coral; very well in fact. However, LED lighting, at least from what I have seen, leaves a lot be desired in overall coral coloration. Like may have already stated, purples and greens look phenomenal...and that's about it when it comes to SPS(mainly speaking of acropora here as that is where my main interests are).

I most definitely will be keeping my MH/T5 setup for the foreseeable future, that I do know for sure...

I'm getting tired of saying this, but I'd love to see photo's/ examples of exactly what you mean.... not just anecdotal remarks. :debi:

Mo