Lets See SPS LED Tanks!

[Genetics]

Santoki, did you measure PAR when you setup the LED lighting? If so how do those measurements compare to currently?

 

[Santoki]

PAR measurements are in my original build thread here.

I have not made any new measurements since they were first built. I don't expect to see any luminous decay with these Crees in the less than one year they have been running.
Assuming proper cooling, these emitters are rated to keep at least 70% of their original output after 11 years when run at 12 hours per day.
-R

 

[Genetics]

PAR measurements are in my original build thread here.

I have not made any new measurements since they were first built. I don't expect to see any luminous decay with these Crees in the less than one year they have been running.
Assuming proper cooling, these emitters are rated to keep at least 70% of their original output after 11 years when run at 12 hours per day.
-R

Thanks for the link. I have read your thread a while back and did enjoy the testing you had done.

You're right. It shouldn't be an issue since the emitters have a low end of 50k hrs. In optimal conditions this is much higher according to Cree's website. On another thread a person was monitoring while switching out different optics and noted an increase in PAR after cycling through the optics a second time. He attributed this increase to a possible "burn in" period.

 

[TreyK]

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

Maybe someone touched on this, I didnt feel like reading this whole thread, but MH is certainly not the only proven way to grow agreat looking SPS tank. There are countless beautiful SPS tanks using T5 lighting systems that rival and dominate over many MH tanks. Ive also seen plenty of great looking LED tanks. Its just T5 has been around longer than LED. And MH has been around longer than T5 ( at least popularity wise).

 

[aquaph8]

maybe someone touched on this, i didnt feel like reading this whole thread, but mh is certainly not the only proven way to grow agreat looking sps tank. There are countless beautiful sps tanks using t5 lighting systems that rival and dominate over many mh tanks. Ive also seen plenty of great looking led tanks. Its just t5 has been around longer than led. And mh has been around longer than t5 ( at least popularity wise).

+1

 

[ryanjiang]

I am going to beg to differ. I recently went with 2 4' Reefbrite LED strips for actinic supplement and would have to say that they are equal to VHO's in color (if not better IMHO) and significantly more compact. Several old schoolers who have been married to VHO's for a long time out here in the Bay Area are making the switch.

Personally, I would only use them for supplements at this point. Though I am hopeful that things will improve as the technology improves, I still don't think the arrays have been completely worked out for SPS yet. I salute the people that are pioneering the path with them in SPS tanks. Gonna be game changing once they do for sure.

I just came accross this thread, I agree with sminolecpa.

I am convinced that LED can grow SPS, some of your tank are really nice and sick looking, but I yet to see the same level of breath-taking color and subtle contrast effect from SPS grown by MH, it is kind of feeling that the moment when you see that piece you tell youself I want a frag no matter what.

It may all changed in another 2 years, thanks guys for pioneering!

 

[beeker]

i'm working on sps color as well, the cool white with royal blue combo isn't off by much, my feeling is there needs to be 1 more color temp of white and blue in the mix, i'm in the process of getting 4 PAR38's with 60 optics that have 4 cool blue(470nm) and 1 neutral white led in them, this will allow me to see if a different white/blue blend will allieviate whatever sps color issue's people are having

i've noticed Acan's, Chalice, Zoa's, lps all keep there color fine and do great under the leds, it's just hit or miss for certain sps color's, some of my colors looks great under leds while others have browned a little

my tank has only been up a little over 3 months so it's still new and i'm still working out the bugs, water qaulity and lighting both play huge roles in color and i feel in the next 8-9 months i'll be able to achieve the color and growth people are looking for, i'm more than willing to try as many differen leds that i have to until i get the combo right

to all the T5 and MH guru's just remember that MH and T5 weren't the norm years ago when this hobby started, remember they used to use NO flourescents, lol


pioneering is fun for everyone

 

[ros_sco]

impressive growth! And what is the colour combination?

He is using 1 x 12K, 2 x 16K, 2 x 22K, 1 x 440nm actinic and 1 x 470nm actinic for a total of 7 tubes.

 

[Santoki]

I think the focus really needs to be more on husbandry/water quality rather than lighting. IME for the most part, I've always produced similar color intensities no matter what type of lighting I used. It wasn't until fairly recently that I've noticed improvements after getting my water parameters where they should be and stable.
We seem to forget the "65k" sodium vapor bulbs that were used way back in the day. SPS grew and displayed nice colors under those lights. No one would even think about using those nowadays.
-R

 

[wfournier]

i think the focus really needs to be more on husbandry/water quality rather than lighting. Ime for the most part, i've always produced similar color intensities no matter what type of lighting i used. It wasn't until fairly recently that i've noticed improvements after getting my water parameters where they should be and stable.
We seem to forget the "65k" sodium vapor bulbs that were used way back in the day. Sps grew and displayed nice colors under those lights. No one would even think about using those nowadays.
-r

+1

 

[huskysglare1]

anymore tanks?

 

[heaton]

I can't wait to make the switch.

 

[Tank2379]

These LED's look nice an all but I'm still looking for the facts that these are going to last long term... They may be good for a year or two but what happens after that? They may be good for a year or 6 months? But I guess we will not know until it is tried out and people actually have success so far they look good on some tanks. I just wish we can get some manufacturer specs or something that they've tested on long term that has worked well over a year or more.

We have all these LED's out now and I have yet to see any real proof that they are going to last as long as they say they will? I even hear 8year??? Well if anyone out there has the facts from a manufacturer let me know and point me to the right direction....

 

[Santoki]

We have all these LED's out now and I have yet to see any real proof that they are going to last as long as they say they will? I even hear 8year??? Well if anyone out there has the facts from a manufacturer let me know and point me to the right direction....

start from the beginning of this thread.

All your concerns are addressed here and then some...
-R

 

[reeftrinh]

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu27/i8fishsticks/nano/DSC_0939.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
fts

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu27/i8fishsticks/nano/DSC_0942.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

rts

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu27/i8fishsticks/nano/DSC_0953.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

lts

its a 29 biocube w/ a retrofit leds, vortech 10es, tunze 9002, mj1200 upgrade. i have 16 cree xpg royblues and 10 q5's cool whites dimmed at 60%. dose vitamin c and use tropic marin bio calcium. weekly 4g wc w/ reef crystal salt.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu27/i8fishsticks/nano/DSC_9720.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
this photo was taken around early march. you can see the comparison with the fts that were taken today.

 

[RichConley]

These LED's look nice an all but I'm still looking for the facts that these are going to last long term... They may be good for a year or two but what happens after that? They may be good for a year or 6 months? But I guess we will not know until it is tried out and people actually have success so far they look good on some tanks. I just wish we can get some manufacturer specs or something that they've tested on long term that has worked well over a year or more.

We have all these LED's out now and I have yet to see any real proof that they are going to last as long as they say they will? I even hear 8year??? Well if anyone out there has the facts from a manufacturer let me know and point me to the right direction....

We have all those specs. They're published in the manuals for the LEDs. This is pretty easy to find info.

 

[Santoki]

These LED's look nice an all but I'm still looking for the facts that these are going to last long term... They may be good for a year or two but what happens after that? They may be good for a year or 6 months? But I guess we will not know until it is tried out and people actually have success so far they look good on some tanks. I just wish we can get some manufacturer specs or something that they've tested on long term that has worked well over a year or more.

We have all these LED's out now and I have yet to see any real proof that they are going to last as long as they say they will? I even hear 8year??? Well if anyone out there has the facts from a manufacturer let me know and point me to the right direction....

How many of you can actually keep your water parameters stable for even a year? I know that has been one of my biggest challanges.
All it takes is one Alk spike or drop to make for a really bad day.
And that has nothing to do with LEDs.
-R

 

[jestersix]

My biggest problem with LEDs is (granted it is well down the road) when the time comes to change them out. It is most certainly not a task for the average hobbysit. Maybe things will change, but I see that being a big drawback - even so, I am using LEDs on my frag tank (PAR 38) to see how the frags grow - half is under MH/T5 combo, the otehr half LED. Curious to see how it plays out.

 

[Santoki]

My biggest problem with LEDs is (granted it is well down the road) when the time comes to change them out. It is most certainly not a task for the average hobbysit. Maybe things will change, but I see that being a big drawback - even so, I am using LEDs on my frag tank (PAR 38) to see how the frags grow - half is under MH/T5 combo, the otehr half LED. Curious to see how it plays out.

I'm not sure that is a valid concern for people like you (using PAR 38).
However, your point highlights the importance of choosing a fixture which is built with good quality emitters, which tend to have much better lumen maintenance. This ensures the end user is getting their money's worth. Most commercial manufactures do not publish what types of LEDs they use let alone specifications like lumen maintenance.
If you are building the unit yourself, then replacement ease is a moot point.
-R

 

[neoyhng]

These LED's look nice an all but I'm still looking for the facts that these are going to last long term... They may be good for a year or two but what happens after that? They may be good for a year or 6 months? But I guess we will not know until it is tried out and people actually have success so far they look good on some tanks. I just wish we can get some manufacturer specs or something that they've tested on long term that has worked well over a year or more.

I knew what you meant....but if this is really what you meant then you shouldn't asked the question now. LED are only available to the public for 2 to 3 years and I suppose NO one could answer your question.