Last MH pics maybe? Going to LEDS

[SchnitzelReef]

Do u think the LEDs had anything to do with the loss of corals? I'm anxious to see how ur tank has done long term with LEDs. Seemed like a lot of your success was within a couple months.

I too switched from metal halides to LEDs. After a few months, growth slowed tremendously and color faded fast. I've since added 4-t5s to my canopy, and my SPS has responded very well.

 

[NeilFox]

Sorry to hear about your troubles Dave. Mostly the health issues! I hope you are OK.

You mentioned a problem with corals not responding well to the LED. Do you think this was the issue? I am still on the fence with LED but had considered it when I move in to my other house in a few months. Mostly for the reasons you had stated in your post. Less wastefull and in my case here in Vietnam alot less heat. I have to run a chiller so I compound the electric bill in a country where shortages are common.

I would love to here what transpired. I really liked the natural appearance of your tank, I know you did quite a bit of experimenting. Please share your findings!

Regards

Neil

 

[Dog boy Dave]

Honestly I think the problems were a combination of stress and the lights. The LED lights seem to affect the stressed corals more intensely than my halides ever did. I don't think it was just the lights but some of the corals really didn't like the lights during the event. They faded and became very skinny and drawn our looking.
I would still change to LEDS if I had it to do all over again. While the colors under the Halides were great and I like them better, in a tank this large, the heat and power usage issues were too much. The LEDS are much cheaper and the colors are there , just a lil more difficult to find.
I started the LED s with Cree kool white and cree warm white lamps, In addition I had two types of blue lamps. Under these four colors the corals looked good but reds were reduced. In April I lost a couple strings of blues on two fixtures. It took me a couple of months to address the issue. I decided that rather than replace the strings to add a couple of more cheap ebay led fixtures. I had seen a couple at one of my local pet shops and they have have a mix of leds beyond the standard blue and white. The additional lamps really add to the percieved colors in the tank.

 

[Dog boy Dave]

Do u think the LEDs had anything to do with the loss of corals? I'm anxious to see how ur tank has done long term with LEDs. Seemed like a lot of your success was within a couple months.

I too switched from metal halides to LEDs. After a few months, growth slowed tremendously and color faded fast. I've since added 4-t5s to my canopy, and my SPS has responded very well.

YES i think the LEDS did contribute to the perceived response. I don't think they caused it. I believe that the corals were stressed beyond the LEDS. I think the corals are "happier" under halides. They like the wide spectrum light. Under the LEDs the specific focused wavelengths seem to affect the stressed corals more intensely, However, based on the response i am seeing now that water quality is better, I am convinced that you can grow great corals under the LED. However, they are less forgiving.

 

[Dog boy Dave]

Fish Eating Brocolli

Fish Eating Brocolli

Need i say more....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRl0j3_-puE

 

[launchnukes]

Tank is looking as good as ever! I've been admiring you tank for years. One of the best

 

[Dog boy Dave]

From the other side. The tank is still recovering, Hmm heard that song before. Hope to ship some replacement corals out soon. If you're waiting, Thank you for your patience. After I get those taken care of we may have some frags available again in Sept or so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUpFNQrebbM

 

[tdb320reef]

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Interesting and sorry to hear about the issues during transition. Did you appear to lose corals where the light was more concentrated? Also how did you acclimate the corals to the new light. This is very valuable info for those switching.

Thanks.

 

[Dog boy Dave]

Interesting and sorry to hear about the issues during transition. Did you appear to lose corals where the light was more concentrated? Also how did you acclimate the corals to the new light. This is very valuable info for those switching.

Thanks.

I think this thread talks about the acclimation procedure. There wasnt much of one. No it wasnt just intensity. However some of the more affected corals were getting hit with lot of light, intensity did contribut e to the issues.