LED and MH Combo Lighting

[fraggin corals]

I am rebuilding my 125 due to major tank wipeout from power outage two months ago. Previously I had used 250w Reeflux halides. I was testing growth under some Reef Breeders Value LEDs just before the crash. I was wondering if it might be possible to use both to light this sps tank. I was thinking of putting halides on each end of the tank with a photon 24 in between. I believe the photon has a 14k look at or near full power while the reeflux have a very similar look. Any opinions or actual experiences would be appreciated.

 

[rovster]

I'm running a 250 Radium supplemented with 2 kessil 20k. I love the combo. Amazing shimmer. Nice blue cast (the way I like it) and I really enjoy the led onlynportion of my lighting period. I think it's a killer combo, as I'm getting the tried and true spectrum of the halide, and that unmistakable pop of the LEDs.

 

[reeflover62]

I have been running halide and led for six years and also love the morning and evening times when halide turn off.

 

[Quintis]

I have been running halide and led for six years and also love the morning and evening times when halide turn off.

Very cool set-up. Do you have a build thread or anything, I'd love to do something like this to my MH pendants.

 

[reeflover62]

Very cool set-up. Do you have a build thread or anything, I'd love to do something like this to my MH pendants.

Thank you and I do but no info on lighting. The heat sink I took to my welder
I made brackets and friend did led work . I have 48 3watt leds 24 royal blues and 24 blues a 400watt reeflux 12k but will replace next week with a xm 20k. The reeflux I have been running for 2yrs and have used xm 20k radiums and aquaconnect lamps and all have been good . The leds are not dimmable and think that is something I would want.

 

[psykobowler]

View attachment 269990
The lumenmax elite with 400watt radium and hydra 52s.

 

[fraggin corals]

Some sweet looking set ups there. I was thinking more of combining the value leds with the reeflux but I am concern that the differences in light would be too apparent when viewing the tank.

 

[reeflover62]

I have leds go off when halide comes on. I don't like too much blue.

 

[fraggin corals]

Here is what I am thinking of doing for my tank. From right to left of the tank would be led-MH-led-MH-led. The leds would be the reef breeders values I already have and the halides would be 250 watt reeflux 12K in lumenbright mini reflectors. I would have the blue leds come on first then the white/color leds. The halides would only be on for four to five hours. My one concern would be if this would be too much light.

 

[psykobowler]

I run the LEDs for 10 hours then 3 hours of 400watt radiums daily. I used to run 5x400watt radiums 10 hours per day. I saved so much on utility and the growth and color never suffered because I use the best of both worlds. The hydra 52s on full blast looks like 14k halides. There was no adjustment period. As long as the corals get some blessing on the 400watt radiums daily they are ok.

 

[psykobowler]

The key is the smaller mh reflector. As long as the LEDs are spaced apart correctly while using the smaller mh reflector there will be no shadowing. I also think the corals enjoy the changes in spectrum between the LEDs and the radiums. The sps gets blasted with both 14k and 20k daily so optimal color and growth.

 

[fraggin corals]

I was also concerned about was shadow lines between the halides and leds. If I measured correct, it looks like the halides and leds would be almost but not quite touching when hung. The lumenbright minis are 16" diameter while the leds are 16" long but are 8" wide, so they would be turned length perpendicular to front and back of tank. Almost forgot but the leds have 90 optics on them.

Do you turn the leds off when the halides come on or do they all stay on?

 

[psykobowler]

The LEDs turn off as soon as the 4th halide turns on. I have the halide turn on one at a time with a minute interval. As soon as the 4th halide come on the LEDs shut down for the day. No shadowing at all will the hydra 52s and lumenmax elites 15" wide.

 

[fraggin corals]

Thanks for the info. Having the leds go off when the halides fire up may not work for me as I will only have two halides trying to light over 72" of tank length.

 

[psykobowler]

You need one more reflector to make that work.

 

[fraggin corals]

That's what I thought and if using three halides might as well just use them since I don't have room to fit the leds I already have. Love this hobby!