LED Kelvin vs. SPS Growth

[Hentz]

So I just switched back over to LED from my T5 which was dominantly ATI Blue + bulbs. Had great growth, now wondering, I've got LED's... What'll be the best kelvin for SPS growth via Reefbreeder Photons?

As I'm still increasing my intensity of the lights, I'm beginning to make a light schedule in which I can now get the best growth kelvin.

I understand 6500k is the absolute best kelvin to produce the best growth rates. Though based on that kelvin and being how ugly it is, I'll obviously peak it during the day when I'm at work/school while when I get home it's back to its pretty 15,000-20,000k range.

Question is.... What will be the best setting to peak at to get the best rate of growth on my SPS corals? Does the 6,500-10,000k still act as the best kelvin via LED's when it comes to growth?

 

[alexx2208]

Most white LEDs are 6500k diodes, so usually you receive "sunlight" spectrum out of them, with other spectrums just diffusing the ugly yellowish light. I haven't seen more or less growth in my tanks when I screw with the lights.... To me, I think there could be a minute difference, but I don't see the difference when going bluer.

 

[Mark426]

IMO and being far from an expert with LEDs, I think you run all your diodes for a full spectrum and adjust the overall intensity to what your corals like. For most fixtures out there with all the colors running its about 10-12K. Set the color you like for viewing when your are at home.

 

[Kolognekoral]

When dealing with LEDs you can pretty much throw kelvin out the window. It is nothing but a colour and has little (in most cases nothing) to do with spectrum.

Knowing the aprox kelvin of a white LED does give you some aid, but, as the whites in an LED array are minor players compared to the blues and violets, they bear little weight.

With any LED array it is best to start the LEDs all at 50% or less, as the corals do need time to adapt. Bring the various components up to suite your asthetic, while watching the corals for any adverse effects. As white LEDs have a much wider spectrum than one finds in other light sources, they will offer the corals wavelengths that they may not have adapted to, thus we see bleaching, etc.

Spectrum and its relative intensity are the keys. Just forget kelvin and take notes of what is happening in your tank. Corals need about 10 days to 2 weeks to really show light influences, except when the changes cause damage, so take some time and enjoy the show.

Jamie

 

[Wazzel]

With my LEDs I do not worry about trying to match a kelvin rating. I have set my mix to a color I like to see and observed my corals to see how they are impacted. I am taking my sweet time ramping up the intensity. When I added my first coral in May I did a 60% reduction and a 2 month ramp. Considering I am stocking I never got close to 100% power on my LEDs yet since I was resetting the acclimation every 2 to 3 weeks. When I added my last coral a few weeks ago I did a 40% reduction and a 2 month ramp. I think I am in the 70% or so of full power now.

 

[Hentz]

Thank you guys for your input. Much appreciated.

I switched from T5 to LED a little while ago now as I fully stocked my tank, I'm too in the middle of acclimation mode until I find that "sweet" spot for them. So far I'm at 60%B and 50%W. Everything so far is loving it. I started my ramp at 20%W and 30%B.

Ever since upping the intensity, I've had a few frags explode, which is good! Well I guess in that case, I'll stick with my color I'm building up too!