Led Lighting

[kent ashbrener]

Just installed my new led lights they consist of single 100 watt LED bulb with a 20,000K temperature rating. This mimics sunlight at 30-50 foot depth. These high power bulbs give off 8000 lumen's! They have a 125 degree spread to illuminate all areas of your tank. The LED bulb has a 30-50,000 hour lifespan, which means that you don't have bulb replacement for over 12 years!
I put 2 of them in my 75g and the light looks more like my old light which had (2) 150w mh 14k xm's and (2) 95 w pc actinic's

and I picked them up at Tulsa Aquatics only 350.00 each

 

[mutateddogbone]

ive seen these before in person, and im not impressed what so ever with them. first off, they dont have very good spread. the glass dome on it just shoots the light out in all different directions and dont have very good penetration. we tested a similar product at a meeting and it got pretty poor PAR results. you can make one with cheap chinese imported LED for under $100. you also cannot adjust the spectrum, nor is it full spectrum. with LED, they only provide one wavelength of light, and as im sure you know not all corals enjoy the same wavelengths of light.

a much better unit, and has full spectrum LEDs and spectrum control are ecotech's new radion units. on top of that, they wirelessly sync together.

 

[ghellin]

I am interested in the amour of electricity it uses do you have a killawatt?

 

[kent ashbrener]

the ecotech's new radion units are too high in price, i did look at it and would need 2 of them also at 800.00 each thats just crazy. the penetration on the 1 i bought and if you only run halides you only get 1 wavelength also.
I choose the older style lens because my hood is only 10 inchs tall have not tested the par yet but hoping to use the club's meter to test or have a club member come by and test it for me.
as far as the kw the ballast say 100 watts so with these lights I went from 500 watts down to 200 watts and ended up with more light, plus I don't have to spend 200.00 every 8 to 9 months for new bulbs

 

[kent ashbrener]

sorry i hit save twice

 

[mutateddogbone]

if you only run halides you only get 1 wavelength also.
plus I don't have to spend 200.00 every 8 to 9 months for new bulbs

i dont know where you got this information, but that is false. Why would you be replacing bulbs every 8 months?? Metal halides work by burning a mixture of gasses, and halides. by its nature, all materials burn at different wavelengths due to its composition. i can provide countless graphs showing the different spikes in Kelvin temperatures with metal halides. LEDs on the other hand are chemical semiconductors and only emit light in a single wavelength depending on whatever the chemical composition of the semiconductor is, which is why in basically every Pre-Fab and DIY LED unit you will ever find there is an assortment of different colored LEDs.

Im sure you will find after doing plenty of research, that you will get mixed reviews about performance of LEDs compared to metal halides and T5's, and will even find a pretty good amount of people that convert back from LED to metal halide because of color/growth issues. Even most big names in the coral business still use T5 or metal halides in their growout systems, and only use LEDs at shows for the amazing look of royal blue LEDs on corals.

not knocking on your cost efficient fixture you purchased, but if im going to throw down cash for something that should last me for 10+ years, i'll take radion's new unit, and pay the extra cash for an array of different spectral LEDs, and the ability to fine tune the spectrum as needed. as you pointed out, the amount of cash you spend on bulbs over 10+ years on MH or T5 and the 800 would still be more cost efficient.

But, if the unit works for you then keep us informed! I would love to see PAR results at 20" of depth underwater, and pictures of your corals 6 months from now as far as color and growth go

 

[AquaSump]

I was one of those guys that got the new Cree light systems as soon as they came out. Needless to say, I spent a year with very poor coral growth. Then, I switched out the unit for 2 250w MHs and 4 HO t5 actinics. I have gotten a TON of coral growth in the past 3 months. If your looking for explosive coral growth, I'm a MH believer.

 

[happysak]

Kent, welcome to LED side. I had AI led unit on my tank for about 6 months. Coral growth and colors are pretty good, no problem here. Do you have any pictures of your tank under your new LED?

Thank You

 

[kent ashbrener]

not yet but I'll get some posted, I mostly have leathers and lps in my tank and so far they seem to like the new light better than my old one

 

[kent ashbrener]

Kent, welcome to LED side. I had AI led unit on my tank for about 6 months. Coral growth and colors are pretty good, no problem here. Do you have any pictures of your tank under your new LED?

Thank You

here is a link to a few pic's

 

[skidder84]

so you got the par meter at the last meeting

wheres the number???

 

[kent ashbrener]

so you got the par meter at the last meeting

wheres the number???

no par meter yet, I think 918Noah has it.

 

[kent ashbrener]

WTB 25 g cube

WTB 25 g cube

looking for a 25 gal cube. I planning a new stand and wanting to add a larger fuge that will be setting beside my main tank so a 18" square box would work the best.
it can be drilled or not

 

[skidder84]

no par meter yet, I think 918Noah has it.

Oh... I thought ya had it... Sorry

"Hey NOAH pass it off"

Lol I just want to know how they are workin out...

 

[918noah]

My bad. Hey kent pm me with some contact info so I can get the par meter to you.

 

[kent ashbrener]

My bad. Hey kent pm me with some contact info so I can get the par meter to you.

Noah, I'm in no hurry if you arn't done with it. otherwise I'm in Broken Arrow and free most of today thursday if your close I can stop by.
just shoot me a e-mail kashbrener@aol.com

 

[mutateddogbone]

not trying to butt in here, but the PAR meter needs to be brought to this months meeting. we are accounting for equipment and you are supposed to be signing a sign-out sheet with your information to check it out.

So noah, please if you are not attending this meeting, drop it off with somebody who is so we can do an inventory and fill out some paperwork for it.

Kent, if you would like to borrow the meter, we would be happy for you to show up at the meeting and sign it out.

 

[kent ashbrener]

so because I want to borrow it you just now deside to follow somekind of rule's.you are the Secretaty not the equipment manager.
not sure what your problem is with me and I refuse to play your little head game
we'll see how you handle it in the future.

 

[mutateddogbone]

Kent, this is not open for discussion or arguement. I AM the current OMAS secretary, and because nobody stepped up at the November elections meeting, that makes me equipment manager as well.

We had a board meeting last night, and discussed many things that we are going to fill everybody in on at tomorrow nights meeting. We are currently doing inventory on all equipment, books, and other items the club has so we know exactly what we do and dont have. There are a set of rules that must be followed for checking out equipment that havnt been followed as of late, but that is going to change.

On a further note Kent, i have no problem with you what so ever. I have been in this club coming up on 3 years now, and i dont think i've ever met you face to face. There are procedures put in place to be followed so we can keep track of who has what and hold people accountable if things are lost/broken/stolen. If you would like to attend the meeting, i would be more than happy to check the PAR meter out to you.

 

[jjmcat]

Travis is correct on this topic.The club has paid for and lost a good chunk of money on books and equipment that haven't been returned.This has to come to an end.If you want any equipment or book then it must be checked out at the meeting.