Lets See SPS LED Tanks!

[westreef]

Love the look of your beautiful tank.:inlove:

 

[gig]

i bought 2 of the apollo's 20k. i like them. my tank & room temp dropped considerably since i replaced 2 of my 400 hqi ballasts i actually bought them for a smaller tank i may set up but they do look real good. right side lighting is
400 halide

hey mr p, sweet tank, that look like a deep on, is it 30"?

So the back where the 20K LED's are not as bright, but I believe the apollos are equivalent to a 250W halide, right? so that explains the 400W part being brighter...I do like the 20K color. Are your halides 20K?

 

[mr. pluto]

Love the look of your beautiful tank.:inlove:

thanks

 

[psusocr]

my tank is 31" deep and i have no problems growing anything on the very bottom

 

[mr. pluto]

hey mr p, sweet tank, that look like a deep on, is it 30"?

So the back where the 20K LED's are not as bright, but I believe the apollos are equivalent to a 250W halide, right? so that explains the 400W part being brighter...I do like the 20K color. Are your halides 20K?

240 cube , 24" deep halides are 20k, your right that the leds are equivalent to a 250w. funny thing is i had to raise my hood up 1" because i have a couple tips on certain sps that are burnt. these things are selling for under $340
same price as a halide/reflector/bulb combo.

 

[gig]

yeah, I saw the deals they have now, seems they will have some new products out shortly, which I want to wait for... I also want the ones with moonlights built in.

I have a standard 180g, so same height. I'll need to get 3 for my tank.

can you dim them and do other effects using a controller? (like an Apex)

 

[mr. pluto]

yeah, I saw the deals they have now, seems they will have some new products out shortly, which I want to wait for... I also want the ones with moonlights built in.

I have a standard 180g, so same height. I'll need to get 3 for my tank.

can you dim them and do other effects using a controller? (like an
Apex)

nope, not this model.

 

[gig]

ok, I thought you could dim the apollos via a controller....that's one reason I want to move to LED's as well, to be able to dim them and create effects.

 

[ritter6788]

LEDs have totally changed my tank for the better. I'm slowly changing over to almost all sps now.

 

[ritter6788]

Wow! I should have read more of the thread before posting in it. I didn't realize all the hate for leds was still going on.

Red Planet under halides

Under leds

Green birdsnest, halides

Leds

Ponape birdsnest, fast growth and good color under leds. It's not even near the lights.

 

[cediss]

Been doing some investment and research in LEDs. Like electronics and computers, this technology has and will grow dramatically in the coming years. Expect big cost reductions over the next year for LEDs are cheaper manufacturing techniques and more competition come into play.
My tank is so new, but so far love the benefits of LED over halides. These include lower operating costs, less heat ( no chiller needed), more spectral variability and control, intensity control, great depth penetration, greater variability in patterning of light (mounting options).
In about 3 weeks since adding coral, I have great color and growth so far. I need more time personally to draw final conclusions, but so far so good!

 

[gig]

cediss, it's already starting to come down dramatically...about 5-6 months ago, I was thinking of doing a CREE DIY project for the 3 fixtures over my 180, my cost was estimated at $1,500 ($500 per unit) for 400W halide equivalents, not including my own labor

Now you can get these apollo units (250W equivalents that are prefab for the mid to low $300's and the only labor is hanging them

Of course, the apollos aren't dimmable and are comparable to a 250W versus a 400W, but I suspect their next version will be dimmable and maybe offer more LED's to equate to a 400W. I'm waiting for the ability to dim them as least, 250W is fine with me.

 

[kaserpick]

LEDs work for reef keeping like all current lighting systems. I think before anyone passes judgement, they should have the experience to be able to create a system comparable to TOTM or the likes. Only then can an accurate comparison and judgements be made. I am definitely still searching for my groove, but IME, water chemistry and stability have much more to do with coral colors than lighting. Back in the 90s, people were growing acros with 65k MH, now 20k seems most popular. Then T5s came and people couldn't get over that and had to compare. Now the same with LEDs. I don't think there's any reason to identify what's "best", just whatever works for the individual.
Anyways, here are some pics from today.

-Robert

Love the tank, Robert! The lighting distance is a great idea! It really keeps the tank as the focus without distractions.

My dream tank will be similar to this but with LED spotlights instead. Before I decided on the 16" cube (for money reasons), I was planning on doing 4-6 spots on a 40g rimless (breeder dimensions). I was going to have each spot (or pair) on a separate timer to simulate the rising and setting of the sun. Have you done this or thought about it? Do you have any pics with just the right or left side on? Would love to see some.

 

[Mr_N1ce]

Idk led dont seem to work yet I hope they get more affordable and I hope I see a tank on this thread.

Really? That's your conclusion after all the amazing pics in this thread? I am really amazed by the results posted here and will definitely et myself some LEDs soon.

 

[tynman]

I tried it once, SPS looked good and grew for a few months then started to brown out and loose color. I even noticed that my nice purple rock turned to a more gray color. Needless to say back to MH I went. FIY I was using Cree LED's 1/2 blue and 1/2 white independently controlled with meanwell drivers to get any color temp/brightness. PAR was not an issue either, they were spaced 2" apart on a 18" deep tank. I have yet to find a SPS tank that has made it long term (1+ year) with only LED's. MH are the proven and only way IMO to grow great looking SPS. LED's just have all the hype and energy savings. If anyone can prove me wrong PLEASE let me know

I have been running my tank under LED's for over a year now and everything looks great... And things that didnt have color has colored up.
Pic was taken 5/23/11. I started using LED's around 5/9/10. Im very happy with my LED's.

 

[CJO]

My tank has been up for over a year and I've had some pretty good results.

CJ

 

[Santoki]

Love the tank, Robert! The lighting distance is a great idea! It really keeps the tank as the focus without distractions.

My dream tank will be similar to this but with LED spotlights instead. Before I decided on the 16" cube (for money reasons), I was planning on doing 4-6 spots on a 40g rimless (breeder dimensions). I was going to have each spot (or pair) on a separate timer to simulate the rising and setting of the sun. Have you done this or thought about it? Do you have any pics with just the right or left side on? Would love to see some.

Kasey,
When the lights were first set up, they were configured the way you described. They are now on PWM dimmers which simulate sunrise/sunset. You can see pics with just one side lit in the first page of my original thread here.
-Robert

 

[gig]

My tank has been up for over a year and I've had some pretty good results.

CJ

meh, not so great...

I keed I keed! awesome!

what is that coral in the photo above (center),is that part of the red planet, or another coral (it's got some orange in it).

 

[CJO]

meh, not so great...

I keed I keed! awesome!

what is that coral in the photo above (center),is that part of the red planet, or another coral (it's got some orange in it).

Thanks! It is a red planet. The orange is from a reflection... it would be cool the coral had orange in it too!

CJ

 

[gig]

I have a frag of it, about 1+ inches, it's starting to encrust, but right now it looks eactly the same (solid) red as yours. I chipped of a piece of the base when I removed it from the frag plus, I glued that near it. I noticed yesterday that the 'white" portion ont he base is now developing a nice green hue...can't wait for it to change more to the green and red.