LED for LPS

[chrisfont23]

So you did a ton of research on spectrum, etc and you ended up with a fixture with only 12K whites and RB?

Ha. Sounds like it. I looked at a lot of things. The first thing I liked about ecoxotic was the fact that the company itself supported its product. They answered my questions about PAR values on a 90g and even provided a kind of tank analysis tailored to me that would show my sustenance at each of three depth levels. Pretty cool. The next thing I liked was that they were modular. I could purchase one strip, attach it to my canopy and the build from there. Some biger modules like Radion, were all at once. And since I didn't want to go the CREE route with a DIY, had to look somewhere that kind of met my "budget". A few of the other modules I saw didn't have dimmers. That was a big deal for me since I knew the light would be piercing and would require acclimation. Power consumption was another selling point. Each strip uses 19w of electricity putting my total cost to run these units at about the price of running two 120 watt bulbs. Finally, the fact that there were complimentary units - called stunner strips - that could also be added to the modular units was a nice aesthetic option. Adding a little magenta for dusk dawn looks nice in the morning and pm hours. I suppose any unit could be complimented with these, but the ease at which they attached to a canopy and not a bulky, overhead hanging unit, made it easy.

Sorry I wasn't more specific. I am sure there are more reasons I went with Ecoxotic and if I think of them I will bolt on.

Too many people - in any part of life today, let alone reef keeping - depend on other people for their due diligence and then incredibly, don't accept the responsibility that comes with poor judgement when palms are to the sky after their decision fails, rather point a finger. Having a plan "A" and a plan "B" in anything is an intricate part of success. I suppose this carried over to reefing for me.

Take care

 

[chrisfont23]

I would disagree about the 453mn fluorescence. Take superman montipora for example, it emits strongest florescence at 489nm and 611nm peak for polyp florescence. M. undata excitation occurs at 490nm.


Remove the space and see table 4
http://www.advanced aquarist.com/2006/11/aafeature2

Thanks for the clarification. You do realize that is for all green corals though. I mean grass fluoresces at 500/510 too. I suppose it all depends on the coral. I was told that the royal blue/blue spectrum was most important for the LPS pieces I wanted to keep and would be most beneficial in bringing out color and promoting growth.

 

[DarthSimon]

In have installed a Radion in the center of my tank. If all goes well, 2 more will follow.

 

[DarthSimon]

 

[Tautog]

It's the fixture. Buy crap, get crap results. I have a high end acan fixture and it was worth it. All my lps is big, fat, and happy. The saying is true you get what you pay for. Is some stuff overpriced? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, the reason why certain things are so cheap isn't because they make an awesome product, it's because it's junk and doesn't work as good. Why is an ATI Sunpower so expensive? Because its quality and it works. You wouldn't say that coralife lighting is quality, because its cheap and doesn't work as well. Same things go for the led fixtures

 

[Ptyochromis]

Thanks for the clarification. You do realize that is for all green corals though. I mean grass fluoresces at 500/510 too. I suppose it all depends on the coral. I was told that the royal blue/blue spectrum was most important for the LPS pieces I wanted to keep and would be most beneficial in bringing out color and promoting growth.

I think most people emphasize 420-470nm because that's the peak range for chlorophyll a and b absorption. Another reason I suppose is to emulate deep water where only the deeper end of the spectrum penetrate or to (erroneously) get as close to UV wavelengths to stimulate the 'black light' effect. There is also the notion that warm lights stimulate cyano/algae growth.

It's the fixture. Buy crap, get crap results. I have a high end acan fixture and it was worth it. All my lps is big, fat, and happy. The saying is true you get what you pay for. Is some stuff overpriced? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, the reason why certain things are so cheap isn't because they make an awesome product, it's because it's junk and doesn't work as good. Why is an ATI Sunpower so expensive? Because its quality and it works. You wouldn't say that coralife lighting is quality, because its cheap and doesn't work as well. Same things go for the led fixtures

Price ≠ quality. Take marineland 'reef bright' led lights, they are expensive AND crap. HID lights are a lot cheeper (up front) vs LEDs and arguably work better (broader spectrum emitted). There are some par38 LED bulbs sold on e-bay ~35 USD for 12w (12x1W led) that absolutely rock (i grow SPS under these, they emit enough light....). The fact is that LED fixtures are CHEEP to make; if you will pay $400 for a fixture that costs me $<50 to make, why would I lower my price?

 

[biecacka]

I too believ it is due to spectrum. I have these lights too with the standard 24 blue 24 white and some of my lps look bad and my friend bought the same lit and changed out his spectrum and his tank looks great.
I recently checked my water params and only thing off was mag and I've since raised it to appropriate levels
Corey