It looks like LED lighting is pushing the envelope of affordability. PFO has brought a product to market, and the reviews seem very positive with the biggest advantages being very low heat emmission and low long-term costs (electrical and bulb replacements. Does anyone have any real experience with a LED lighting arrangement on their reef?
LED Lighting. The next big thing?
- Thread starter mikeshook
- Start date
Whisperer
New member
I doubt this will take off unless they replicate MH or even compact fluorescent's intensity in terms of coral keeping. Maybe for Fish only tanks. I use LED nightlight to simulate moonlight though (well, actually for it's effect on the tank when all the lights are off, so mesmerizing to look at 
)
)
ambaratur
Premium Member
I believe that they do replicate MH at this time. I will have to look for the threads but there are a few people who changed out from MH to LED. The problem is the initial cost of the LED is so high.
Also it allows the user to dial in the color of the lights. You can simulate a 10K or 20K look by changing the setting from what I understand.
Also it allows the user to dial in the color of the lights. You can simulate a 10K or 20K look by changing the setting from what I understand.
Randall_James
Premium Member
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
I also think that in time they will be in widespread use. People need to remember that this technology is in its infancy. There will be improvements. Here is a lengthy thread on the topic.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...6845&highlight=LED+available+replacement+cost
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...6845&highlight=LED+available+replacement+cost
starmanres
Premium Member
Let's do the economics...
LED System 48" - $2,500
Expected Lamp Life - 10 years
Per month cost - $20.83 + Electricity
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MH/VHO/T-5 Cost - ~$700 (10 year comparison $5.83 per month)
Expected Lamp Life - 1 Year
Additional Cost of $250 per year in Bulb Replacement (10 year comparison $20.83 per month)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
40% Electricity Savings LED over MH/VHO/T-5
Current Wattage Example:
2- 250w MH+2- 110w VHO's+2- 55w T-5's = 830w Per Hour or ~6,000 watts per day
6,000 watts x 365 days = 2,190,000 watts per year or 2,190 Killowatt Hours
2,190 Killowatts x .10 per KWH = $219.00 per year in Lighting Costs / 40% savings - $87.60 per year savings in electricity.
$87.60 x 10 years (~life of LED bulbs) = $876.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion:
Over a 10 year period, MH/VHO/T-5 lights will cost [Fixture, bulbs, Electricity] $5,389.20 or $44.91 per month.
Over a 10 year period LED lights will cost [Fixture, Bulbs, Electricity] $3,375.60 or $28.13 per month.
Purchasing an LED fixture over a MH/VHO/T-5 one will be a cost savings of $2,013.60 over 10 years or $16.78 per month.
Plus no ordering bulbs from LFS or online, dramatically less heat for your chiller to offset, less radiation to bleach corals, less noise from canopy fans... - lighting timers, moonlights and dimmers are built into the unit...
Unless I am in error somewhere in my math, I'm thinkin' this LED option has some benefits to be considered...
My .02
Robert
LED System 48" - $2,500
Expected Lamp Life - 10 years
Per month cost - $20.83 + Electricity
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MH/VHO/T-5 Cost - ~$700 (10 year comparison $5.83 per month)
Expected Lamp Life - 1 Year
Additional Cost of $250 per year in Bulb Replacement (10 year comparison $20.83 per month)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
40% Electricity Savings LED over MH/VHO/T-5
Current Wattage Example:
2- 250w MH+2- 110w VHO's+2- 55w T-5's = 830w Per Hour or ~6,000 watts per day
6,000 watts x 365 days = 2,190,000 watts per year or 2,190 Killowatt Hours
2,190 Killowatts x .10 per KWH = $219.00 per year in Lighting Costs / 40% savings - $87.60 per year savings in electricity.
$87.60 x 10 years (~life of LED bulbs) = $876.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion:
Over a 10 year period, MH/VHO/T-5 lights will cost [Fixture, bulbs, Electricity] $5,389.20 or $44.91 per month.
Over a 10 year period LED lights will cost [Fixture, Bulbs, Electricity] $3,375.60 or $28.13 per month.
Purchasing an LED fixture over a MH/VHO/T-5 one will be a cost savings of $2,013.60 over 10 years or $16.78 per month.
Plus no ordering bulbs from LFS or online, dramatically less heat for your chiller to offset, less radiation to bleach corals, less noise from canopy fans... - lighting timers, moonlights and dimmers are built into the unit...
Unless I am in error somewhere in my math, I'm thinkin' this LED option has some benefits to be considered...
My .02
Robert
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
I remember reading somewhere that the 50K hour figure referred to the lights losing 30% of their PAR. I think you would want to replace tham quite a bit earlier than 50K hours. (There are also lots of lights to replace).
I still think it will be more cost effective in the future if it isn't already though.
starmanres
Premium Member
I looked at it that most in the hobby will need to do the electrical work either way... The standard 110 outlet next to the Entertainment center really isn't the correct choice.
I do agree with the Chiller costs though. I am not sure that my tank would not need a chiller with the heat produced by my pumps anyway, but I know my MH's do not help the situation.
During the summer months, my tank runs 84-86 degrees without a chiller. My temp inside the hood with all the lights on is 105 degrees with the canopy fans on - 180 degrees without!
I would think that 30-40% of the people that had to purchase a chiller because their temps ran too high, could have gotten by without one if they had LED lighting.
What I couldn't calculate was the extra heat that my home air conditioner has to offset because of the lighting heat piped into the room. I tried to be conservative with the numbers I came up with.
Robert
I do agree with the Chiller costs though. I am not sure that my tank would not need a chiller with the heat produced by my pumps anyway, but I know my MH's do not help the situation.
During the summer months, my tank runs 84-86 degrees without a chiller. My temp inside the hood with all the lights on is 105 degrees with the canopy fans on - 180 degrees without!
I would think that 30-40% of the people that had to purchase a chiller because their temps ran too high, could have gotten by without one if they had LED lighting.
What I couldn't calculate was the extra heat that my home air conditioner has to offset because of the lighting heat piped into the room. I tried to be conservative with the numbers I came up with.
Robert
starmanres
Premium Member
Actually, from the review, each 12" section has the output of one 250w 20k XM bulb... So if you had 48" fixture, that would be the same output a three 250w XM bulbs or 750w of light at 375w of electricity... I would think even clams might need sunglasses for that amount of watts per gallon. The fixture controller allows you to set how much light and which colors you wish to use... So if you wanted a 15k color spectrum, you just adjust the LEDs to provide that.
I would just like to wait to see what the bulb replacement options are as Hello Lights and some of the lower cost resellers get into the game.
Robert
I saw the Solaris light that PFO has put out in action. Beautiful unit. It has kept softies and LPS great, but I want to see longterm growth before I rush out to buy one.. The unit generates almost no heat, which as we all know is a major benefit. Also the bulb life is a big attraction as well. On my 125 I run 2- 250w 15K halides, 4-6' Vho lights. I replace those every 8+ months. It costs roughly $256+ (this cost dosen't reflect replacement of fuge lightling). If you factor in the chiller cost, coupled with the electricity cost for operating both the lights and the chiller....it soon starts to add up! I am gonna watch the results that my friend gets with his, and see what the future holds.
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
That's the way I read it also. Would be interesting to see some plotted comparisons in the future.
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
Nice to hear from someone who has seen it in action. Is your friend keeping any SPS with the fixture?
starmanres
Premium Member
Not to hijack this thread, but maybe I am confused on lighting. What I have always read is that most measure the watts per gallon to determine if you have enough to meet the needs of the animals.
Fish Only tanks need between 2-4 watts per gallon.
Softies and LPS need 3-5 watts per gallon.
SPS/Clams need 6-8 watts per gallon.
If I lined up 3 250w MH over a 100 gallon tank, this would provide approx 7.5 watts per gallon. Understanding that the intensity of the light would hinge on the placement and depth of the tank... Unless you have a waterproof light meter measuring lumens per that spot... I don't know how the standard hobbyist would measure it...
What is your understanding on how this is measured?
Robert
Similar threads
