Perth_reefer
Member
If you have an Apex then yes plug them in, connect to your AWM and select the 20k preset, done.
Led Lighting, really reef adequate?
- Thread starter reefrefresh
- Start date
Perth_reefer
Member
My old lighting schedule with 10k, 14k and 20k presets
Screen Shot 2015-05-16 at 10.19.49 pm by kenpau01, on Flickr
Screen Shot 2015-05-16 at 10.19.49 pm by kenpau01, on Flickr
Wazzel
New member
It can be that easy. IMO people try to get fancy and make it hard on themselves.
TylerHaworth
New member
If it's that easy, why do so many people have problems with them?
Heck, if they are so great... Why do you run a hybrid fixture?
Heck, if they are so great... Why do you run a hybrid fixture?
lpsouth1978
New member
WOW, this thread turned VERY fast! I fully understand that LED's are not for everyone. They take a lot more patience to get dialed in and the settings can make them more complicated.
That being said, I think one of the main reasons so many people fail with LED's is because most just set the light to what they think looks good. Many people do not have access to a quantum meter and have NO idea what their PAR is and where it is what.
When I set up my lights, I used a Quantum meter and measured EVERYWHERE that I could, and have done the same several times since (as I continued to tweak the light output). This process will be repeated every time the lights are adjusted, a new coral is added, and as the corals grow.
Is it a lot more work? Initially, yes. However, I think that this should be done with MH and T5 as well. Our tanks are ever evolving and that means areas that were once well lit with high PAR, may one day be poorly lit with low PAR.
I fully believe that a Quantum meter is one of the best pieces of equipment we can buy for our reefs. Let's face it... we have all spent more than $400 on things that are far less useful.
That being said, I think one of the main reasons so many people fail with LED's is because most just set the light to what they think looks good. Many people do not have access to a quantum meter and have NO idea what their PAR is and where it is what.
When I set up my lights, I used a Quantum meter and measured EVERYWHERE that I could, and have done the same several times since (as I continued to tweak the light output). This process will be repeated every time the lights are adjusted, a new coral is added, and as the corals grow.
Is it a lot more work? Initially, yes. However, I think that this should be done with MH and T5 as well. Our tanks are ever evolving and that means areas that were once well lit with high PAR, may one day be poorly lit with low PAR.
I fully believe that a Quantum meter is one of the best pieces of equipment we can buy for our reefs. Let's face it... we have all spent more than $400 on things that are far less useful.
What problems are you talking about?
Wazzel
New member
Who knows, I have only had one problem and that is coverage.
I don't. I ran a single hydra 52 for the first year and added a second one a few months ago.
:thumbs up:
Johnseye
Reef Addict
My old lighting schedule with 10k, 14k and 20k presets
I'm running nearly an identical cycle although my percentages and length was different. What was your experience with the mixed spectrums and why/what did you change? I believe you switched to the Geisemann T5/LED right.
Perth_reefer
Member
I really liked the ability to change spectrums throughout the day. It's pretty common knowledge that 10k has very high growth rates, but I hate the colour so I ran it earlier in the morning before changing to the 14k setting for growth and colouration. 20k is the most aesthetically pleasing IMO so ran it late afternoon early evening when I'm at home the most. Growth was good in areas, not so good in others (reasons below).
The reason I switched to a hybrid was because after measuring PAR I realised I didn't have enough fixtures on the tank. This is one of the reasons people have problems, they think 1 x MH fixture = 1 x LED fixture, this is definitely not the case. I ran 3 on my 150 and needed at least one more. In the end I had the opportunity to buy Giesemann lighting which I've always wanted and bought a hybrid to get the light spread I needed over a wide tank 2.5ft. I could have bought a MH/T5 hybrid but I think the fact I stayed with LEDs (and paid a lot of money for the Giesemann LED unit) shows my faith in them.
The reason people have so many problems pretty much comes down to not having an adequate amount of fixtures, not using the correct settings (basically just making it up as they go) or using cheap LED units. There are so many examples of amazing LED tanks on here, so we know they definitely work, however research is needed for the correct amount of fixtures and correct settings. If people don't feel they have the ability to use LEDs correctly or don't have the patience to set them up correctly then they should stick with MH IMO, otherwise they'll be the next person ditching them to go back to MH and then come on here bagging out LEDs, saying they don't work.
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I would select hydra 26 for this application. More power (if running 2) and the ability to easily position them in the best spot.
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