Long term LED success post here

[ReefCowboy]

This is not a debate of Led vs.. But a place for us to see long established reef tanks successfully lit by leds only. Its been a good while Leds are kicking with great fixtures, and we have been learning new improved approaches such as increased fixture height above the water line for less shadowing problems, etc...so lets see your tanks!

 

[ca1ore]

What do you mean by 'long term'?

 

[TheCoralNabber]

Think that he means picture of tanks that have been running LED for 3-5 years. LED became more common place in 2011 so there should be tanks that have been running them for a while. Starting to plan my next tank too so very interested in this!

 

[ReefCowboy]

What do you mean by 'long term'?

Meaning at least a year running a full led system? In the past users reported switching back from Leds to their old systems at the 1 year mark or so...

 

[reefkeeper2]

I have been running my tank on LEDS only for many years. This video is of my tank after a reboot at two years old.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EeZ8CcREx2c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Wazzel]

Here is two years of progress led only.

Two year progress
May-14

May-15

May-16

 

[ReefCowboy]

Beautiful tanks, forgot to mention, please post along the lighting fixtures used!
Thanks

 

[ReefCowboy]

I have been running my tank on LEDS only for many years. This video is of my tank after a reboot at two years old.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EeZ8CcREx2c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Insane set up! Ive seen older pics of the tank when you ran halides.
How was the transition to Leds? What leds are those? Congratulations on the tank and room

 

[ReefCowboy]

Here is two years of progress led only.

Mark, any way you could post pics from close up of the tank/corals?
I find led users having success with their set ups and want to make a decision on a fixture to transition for a future set up.
Thanks

 

[ca1ore]

Meaning at least a year running a full led system? In the past users reported switching back from Leds to their old systems at the 1 year mark or so...

:lol: OK, I ran my reef tanks for 20 years on MH, so that's long-term to me, and why I inquired. Been running my reef on LED now since about March 2013. Supplemented a bit with MH, but have been only LED for about 2 years now.

 

[Ron Reefman]

My 180g reef was 1000w of MH and 160w of t5 for about 3 years and it went from 75% lps and 25% sps to 25% lps and 75% sps.

For the last 3 1/2 years it's been all led with 2 EverGrow IT2080 fixtures (same as ReefBreeder Photon 32 with but with a custom led layout). After a 4-6 week acclimation my corals seemed to do just as well under the leds as they did with the MH & t5. I have about 75 corals in the tank and I'm continually fragging to keep some of them from killing each other!

Pros:
I love the push a button and change from one mode to another, especially when showing off the tank or selling corals.
I enjoy the 5 hour sunrise and 6 hour sunset. I know the corals could care less, but I like seeing the tank evolve during the day.
I save about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the leds fixtures in electricity used by the lights, my chiller and my home A/C as well as MH and t5 bulb replacements.

Cons:
The shadows under coral and rock ledges is an issue. I keep threatening to add a couple of t5's but it's a very low priority.

Conclusions:
Unless somebody invents cool running MH bulbs, I'd never consider going back to MH. I can buy new led fixtures every 2 or 3 years with the money I save compared to running MH.

 

[Wazzel]

Mark, any way you could post pics from close up of the tank/corals?
I find led users having success with their set ups and want to make a decision on a fixture to transition for a future set up.
Thanks

My close ups are always washed out of over blue (look like crap) I am waiting on filters for my camera.

 

[ReefCowboy]

My 180g reef was 1000w of MH and 160w of t5 for about 3 years and it went from 75% lps and 25% sps to 25% lps and 75% sps.

For the last 3 1/2 years it's been all led with 2 EverGrow IT2080 fixtures (same as ReefBreeder Photon 32 with but with a custom led layout). After a 4-6 week acclimation my corals seemed to do just as well under the leds as they did with the MH & t5. I have about 75 corals in the tank and I'm continually fragging to keep some of them from killing each other!

Pros:
I love the push a button and change from one mode to another, especially when showing off the tank or selling corals.
I enjoy the 5 hour sunrise and 6 hour sunset. I know the corals could care less, but I like seeing the tank evolve during the day.
I save about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the leds fixtures in electricity used by the lights, my chiller and my home A/C as well as MH and t5 bulb replacements.

Cons:
The shadows under coral and rock ledges is an issue. I keep threatening to add a couple of t5's but it's a very low priority.

Conclusions:
Unless somebody invents cool running MH bulbs, I'd never consider going back to MH. I can buy new led fixtures every 2 or 3 years with the money I save compared to running MH.

Do you care to share what afe gour led schedule? Whites vs Blues? Intensities?
How high do you have the fixtures above the water?

 

[ReefCowboy]

:lol: OK, I ran my reef tanks for 20 years on MH, so that's long-term to me, and why I inquired. Been running my reef on LED now since about March 2013. Supplemented a bit with MH, but have been only LED for about 2 years now.

What fixtures do you run over it now? How many for the tank length?

 

[ca1ore]

What fixtures do you run over it now? How many for the tank length?

Two reefbreeders photon 32 panels and then a whole bunch of kessil spots over a 7' 265.

I see very little difference in color versus MH, and growth is comparable. I've given up trying to work out why folks fail with LED. I chalk it up to 'user error' mostly.

 

[ReefCowboy]

Two reefbreeders photon 32 panels and then a whole bunch of kessil spots over a 7' 265.

I see very little difference in color versus MH, and growth is comparable. I've given up trying to work out why folks fail with LED. I chalk it up to 'user error' mostly.

Beautiful tank! I think Leds have come a long way, and knowledge on how to run them also evolved. Companies like Ecotech have come forward trying to help users with pre set programs, which is nice. I wish other companies followed suit to help users be successful resulting also in more Led sales

 

[ca1ore]

Agree that they've come a long ways. Most folks haven't been in the hobby long enought to remember the wild and wooly early day of MH. There weren't any aquarium specific bulbs available so it was up to the hobbyists to figure it out. It's all part of the maturity process though.

 

[billdogg]

My 120 has been running for 3 years. 2 x AI Sol Blues, set to 45W/65B/65RB, 12" above water. 15 minute ramp up to full on at 10AM and 30min ramp down at 10PM

The first picture shows the tank at 1 month on the left, 1 year on the right.



This picture is at the nearly 3 year mark.



I wouldn't even consider MH because of the heat and energy consumption, or T5 because of the need to replace them so often.

jm.02

 

[oldpaddy]

Cons:
The shadows under coral and rock ledges is an issue. I keep threatening to add a couple of t5's but it's a very low priority.

Conclusions:
Unless somebody invents cool running MH bulbs, I'd never consider going back to MH. I can buy new led fixtures every 2 or 3 years with the money I save compared to running MH.

I've been using 2x 300w cheap LEDs I bought off facebook for my 220g system and I like them. My three biggest complaints are the shadowing, "table growth" of the corals and I find led are GHA magnets. You can handle the algae by lowering the intensity, but I like my corals getting as much light as possible. Overall I like LEDs. Low heat, good growth, long life and light shimmer are my pros.

 

[McPuff]

My close ups are always washed out of over blue (look like crap) I am waiting on filters for my camera.

Just get some cheap gel filters. Quick, easy, and works very well.