LPS under LED vs T5

[YoungREEFA]

Do you guys know which lighting colors them up more or is better for growth? Acans are my fav lps

 

[Reef Frog]

Well, acans usually do best under "medium" light to "low medium" light, so high PAR values are not a necessity. I've read plenty about LEDs bleaching corals of all kinds before the owner could react & fine tune things. So be careful & observant if you go with LED as acans can fail easily if the light is too powerful. T5s are easy to manage as there are less variables like dimming - only coral placement distance from the lights. Many of the well known coral sellers use T5s for their web photos.

People have success with acans using both LED & T5. LED just requires more skill & caution as there are so many variables in the units now in the market.

If going LED, use a full spectrum if possible & the correct intensity & you'll be fine. IMO, the right water parameters & feeding are just as important as the proper light to good coloration & growth.

 

[organism]

I think it depends on the coral sometimes, but overall I feel like I get better color with LPS under LEDs than I did with T5's, especially with Acans. My hammer and frogspawn are the only exceptions for some reason, no idea why.

 

[michaelis88]

I vote for t5s easy to manage and better growth

LEDs are awesome at colors tho

 

[rogersb]

I've had better growth for lps under t-5. I have not seen much of a difference in color with the lps. I've only been using them 6 months or so but had t-5 for 4 years.

 

[aleok]

I have lots of LPS under LEDs, duncans, hammers, frogspawn, brains, and acans. i think as long as you SLOWLY acclimate them to the light they'll be great.

 

[victor escobar]

I think a combination is best because leds concentrate on some wavelengths and not always the requiered ones for certain corals.

 

[dixiedog]

Okay, first, obviously not all LED's are created equal, and neither are all T5's. So it's risky to make blanket statements about either one, let alone both at the same time.

That said, after switching from a TEK T5 light to a Reefbreeders LED, I am very pleased with the results on ALL my corals, including LPS, SPS, softies, z/p's, etc. I'm still new to LED lighting, but so far I'm a huge fan, and have no intentions of ever going to back to T5.

 

[victor escobar]

I fully agree that leds are of different characteristics and T%'s too but the problem or advantage (depending on the target species) is that leds do have a peack on a certain wavelength such as for example blue 460 nm that is enoug for some espècies but others prefer another kind of blue 420 nm (what is not as common and more expensive). In the later case the especies not having this wavelength change colors and afetr 5-6-7 months they die or don not grow at all.

In the case of T5 the espèctrum is broader and even if they have also peacks the espectrum can cover more wakelengths in a continuous way (with less idifferent intensities). In that sense if you do not want or cannot afford the cost associated to very especialised led settings I would advise to keeo the two leds and T5 combined fixtures.

(At the beginning when you change to leds LPS look wonderfull and inflated but I speack about the medium and long term)

 

[Wretched]

Ive had LED over my 34g for 5 months now and not impressed. I have StevesLED retrofit for red sea max 130. I am nixing them and getting a 6 bulb t5, I miss t5. My growth was far better and looked better under t5.

 

[sweat90lx]

T5 is easier because there its not as many adjustments. The biggest problems with LEDs is acclimating slowly and not over doing it.

 

[ninja66999]

acclimation is the most important for led, you are completely changing wavelength of light, and penetration depth. it took me bout 3 weeks to be able to put my kessil 350 on 75% and thats where i left it! as for color, my tank has never been brighter, im fragging every 2 weeks because of excess growth! best 400 ive spent... and saved lol

 

[ezcompany]

acclimation is the most important for led, you are completely changing wavelength of light, and penetration depth. it took me bout 3 weeks to be able to put my kessil 350 on 75% and thats where i left it! as for color, my tank has never been brighter, im fragging every 2 weeks because of excess growth! best 400 ive spent... and saved lol

what LED system do you use?

 

[trinidiver]

interesting read

 

[wildman926]

I think it depends on the coral sometimes, but overall I feel like I get better color with LPS under LEDs than I did with T5's, especially with Acans. My hammer and frogspawn are the only exceptions for some reason, no idea why.

X2, but with a full spectrum, and not white/blue only. I switched from Current USA 12k & 453nm strips/T5 HO fixtures with ATI AquaBlue special and True Actinic bulbs to my new BuildMyLED.com LED strips. I am running 1 14000k, 1 Custom Reef Spectrum, and 1 Super Reef. I have been running them since May, and I am seeing new coloration that was not there before.

 

[bobwiseguy]

i just purchased a 24" t5, 4 bulb, Im hoping that it is enough for my 50 gallon corner, I want to grow some sps, down the line, should I get another light?