LEDs only tank

[Mike de Leon]

So I know this is an old age question, but I know there's some people out there who's been successful using LEDs only.

I am upgrading to a 180 and thinking of using 4- Radion XR30s. What I have currently on the 4' tank is a hybrid t5-led. Corals are doing great. But I want to simplify my set up and go to leds only.

 

[Mike de Leon]

So I know this is an old age question, but I know there's some people out there who's been successful using LEDs only.

I am upgrading to a 180 and thinking of using 4- Radion XR30s. What I have currently on the 4' tank is a hybrid t5-led. Corals are doing great. But I want to simplify my set up and go to leds only.

So the question is... how do I do it successfully?

 

[Desertoasis]

There's nothing wrong with just using LED's. T-5's have their benefits but you can grow perfectly healthy coral with just LED's. From what I've read and heard there's also going to be less algae growth on the glass with just LED light.

 

[Mike de Leon]

There's nothing wrong with just using LED's. T-5's have their benefits but you can grow perfectly healthy coral with just LED's. From what I've read and heard there's also going to be less algae growth on the glass with just LED light.

Thanks. That's what I'm thinking. However sps are very finicky. It's hit and miss with led. There's more tweaking that need to be done.
Really want to hear from ppl that's had success with them.

 

[Antics]

It seems to be the current trend to use an (almost) excessive number of LED fixtures to help combat shadowing by introducing considerable sources of light for LED only SPS dominant tanks.


Based on the videos and build threads I've seen with multiyear success it seems to me that LED only really becomes a problem or bottleneck when colonies reach the size where shadowing is the problem. Most people seem to be combating this with the hybrid lighting approaches. I don't think I've seen any well documented very mature SPS reef tanks with a strict LED only approach.



But again -- the success and growth of the corals requiring these hybrid lighting methods are definitely the epitome of reef husbandry.

 

[Njdevils1220]

Hybrid

Hybrid

I personally am only running Atlantik V4s but the growth is slow right now. I have friends with 300G plus systems that grow from frags to massive colonies in a few months with T5 LED hybrid. The new Orphek OR2 bars are cheap and perform just as well as Reefbrites and offer some other spectrum choices.

 

[biecacka]

I recently switched from halides to orpheks and they will be my only source of light. ::crosses fingers:: :lol:

Corey

 

[ycnibrc]

It's all about water chemistry when getting down to Sps. From t5 to halide to led any of these light can successfully keep Sps as long as your water chemistry and flow are adequate. I have a 360g full blown Sps and I have no problem growing them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mike de Leon]

It's all about water chemistry when getting down to Sps. From t5 to halide to led any of these light can successfully keep Sps as long as your water chemistry and flow are adequate. I have a 360g full blown Sps and I have no problem growing them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. Upon further investigation, and due to the number of lights that I already have, I will go with hybrid again.
I have three Radion XR30 G4. This won't be enough for proper coverage on my 6' tank, and I'm not doing to spend another 2k.

What are you running for your system?

 

[ycnibrc]

I have 4 radions and 3 ocean revive on a 8' tank. I used to run halide and switch to led like a year ago. Grow is slower but color is better. However i don't have to worry about lighting in 8 to 10 years


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mike de Leon]

Coverage is always the issue. Got myself the 60” aquatic life hybrid.

 

[JPMagyar]

I recently switched from halides to orpheks and they will be my only source of light. ::crosses fingers:: :lol:

Corey

No, you've gone to the "Dark Side"

Keep taking pictures . . . especially macros.

Cheers,

Joe

 

[JPMagyar]

I have 4 radions and 3 ocean revive on a 8' tank. I used to run halide and switch to led like a year ago. Grow is slower but color is better. However i don't have to worry about lighting in 8 to 10 years


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I believe that LEDs change our perception and that can be good, but in the end we want ALL our corals to be happy and grow, and I'm still not convinced that ALL corals grow well under LEDs.

 

[ycnibrc]

I believe that LEDs change our perception and that can be good, but in the end we want ALL our corals to be happy and grow, and I'm still not convinced that ALL corals grow well under LEDs.

Light is not the main component for growing Coral. I believe water chemistry and flow are much more important in the role of growing corals. Any light can grow Coral well such as t5 and halide. Led is just less maintenance

 

[ycnibrc]

My staghorn grow as fast as in the ocean in my tank
https://youtu.be/feDCanwVfXo

 

[JPMagyar]

So I know this is an old age question, but I know there’s some people out there who’s been successful using LEDs only.

I am upgrading to a 180 and thinking of using 4- Radion XR30s. What I have currently on the 4’ tank is a hybrid t5-led. Corals are doing great. But I want to simplify my set up and go to leds only.

To the OP. Here's my famous picture of my reef under halides:

I do not believe ALL corals grow as well under LEDs as they do under T5 or MH so I am a huge advocate of hybrid lighting.

OK so I'm an old guy. Help me out here. I used to right click and a tab appeared offering me an option to share a link for a picture. I no longer see that option and can't figure out how to share a picture that already exists on the web. Here is the direct link: https://postimg.cc/6Tkf6CXn

EDIT: I figured out that is a function of the browser: Here's the pic:

 

[JPMagyar]

Light is not the main component for growing Coral. I believe water chemistry and flow are much more important in the role of growing corals. Any light can grow Coral well such as t5 and halide. Led is just less maintenance

I completely disagree on the issue of flow. In fact, I am having this same discussion on R 2 R right now. My famous picture above was in a tank that had 2 Tunzes in the back corner that were on timers. Each Tunze ran one at a time for 6 hours. My corals grew like crazy and so that totally negates the hypothesis of flow as a leading factor. Flow helps keep detritus in suspension. It does not enhance coral growth.

Wow, I really hate how RC restricts links to other websites. That is truly outdated and stupid.

Suffice to say I have supporting pictures and data, but can't link to it because of RC's restrictions.

 

[greekspec]

don't flame me but I'm a halide guy and majority of the tanks I ever seen lit by LED's the corals and tank look unnatural because, to blue, dark and everything glowing florescent just my opinion

 

[Mike de Leon]

To the OP. Here's my famous picture of my reef under halides:

I do not believe ALL corals grow as well under LEDs as they do under T5 or MH so I am a huge advocate of hybrid lighting.

OK so I'm an old guy. Help me out here. I used to right click and a tab appeared offering me an option to share a link for a picture. I no longer see that option and can't figure out how to share a picture that already exists on the web. Here is the direct link: https://postimg.cc/6Tkf6CXn

EDIT: I figured out that is a function of the browser: Here's the pic:

I know this tank. It was one of my favourites. Most if not all of the tanks I've seen with higher end corals have T5s and Reefbrites these days. I have yet to see purely LED lighting.

I hate to see arguments happen on these threads. We all have varying experiences. I find every tank is different.

 

[Jsarrow]

To the OP. Here's my famous picture of my reef under halides:

I do not believe ALL corals grow as well under LEDs as they do under T5 or MH so I am a huge advocate of hybrid lighting.

OK so I'm an old guy. Help me out here. I used to right click and a tab appeared offering me an option to share a link for a picture. I no longer see that option and can't figure out how to share a picture that already exists on the web. Here is the direct link: https://postimg.cc/6Tkf6CXn

EDIT: I figured out that is a function of the browser: Here's the pic:

Such a nice tank! Do you have a build thread on this one or your current tank?