Maxspect Razor 15K vs Kissel AP700

[SkullV]

There are pleny of very successful SPS tanks running solely LED's so it can be done. I've seen it first hand.

I suppose our definition of successful SPS tank must be different. Every one of the truly nice SPS tanks I have seen have switched back to Halide/T5 because of shading issues. I have had most all of the "high end" LED fixtures and several DIY fixtures which have been stellar until the colonies actually grew out. As soon as they grow out, no amount of LED (unless you place them at several angles) will do what T5/Halide can do. To each their own though.

Edit: I suppose I should add, many SPS tanks that are LED lit look OK, but as soon as the owners switch back to their tried and true Halides or T5 or switch to them for the first time, they are always amazed by how quickly the coloration and growth of their SPS colonies improve.

 

[slief]

I suppose our definition of successful SPS tank must be different. Every one of the truly nice SPS tanks I have seen have switched back to Halide/T5 because of shading issues. To each their own though.

Again, it's all about the number of lights and each fixture presents it's own share of issues. With the Kessils being a true point source light, density and aim is important. Hanging a bunch of them stright down won't help but staggering them and or aiming them helps to overcome shading. Even with fixtures like the Radion's, having them closer to the front and or rear and aiming/tilting them towards the center can do wonders for eliminating shading.

This is how my lights are laid out. Notice how they are aimed. I did this intentionally to overcome the shading effect and spent a fair amount of time with my layout which is 100% adjustable. Not only can I am the lights but they can be slid side to side on my light rack. Each light is aimed individually to address any dark spots and insure even coverage and it works remarkably well. This obviously can difficult over some tanks and with some fixtures but it is doable with some creativity.

 

[slief]

I suppose our definition of successful SPS tank must be different. Every one of the truly nice SPS tanks I have seen have switched back to Halide/T5 because of shading issues. I have had most all of the "high end" LED fixtures and several DIY fixtures which have been stellar until the colonies actually grew out. As soon as they grow out, no amount of LED (unless you place them at several angles) will do what T5/Halide can do. To each their own though.

Edit: I suppose I should add, many SPS tanks that are LED lit look OK, but as soon as the owners switch back to their tried and true Halides or T5 or switch to them for the first time, they are always amazed by how quickly the coloration and growth of their SPS colonies improve.

It's ironic that this subject came up today regarding the shadowing. I was just emailed this article discussing the very subject and something I learned several years back.. I was surprised to see my light rack in there but I guess I inadvertently contributed to this article. Anyhow, it's a good read and certainly holds some weight. Shadowing and LED's don't have to be synonymous contrary to popular beliefs.
http://blog.aquanerd.com/2015/10/tip-of-the-day-10272015-lighting-angles.html

 

[mkindsfather]

I'm really digging the new kessil ap700

 

[SkullV]

It's ironic that this subject came up today regarding the shadowing. I was just emailed this article discussing the very subject and something I learned several years back.. I was surprised to see my light rack in there but I guess I inadvertently contributed to this article. Anyhow, it's a good read and certainly holds some weight. Shadowing and LED's don't have to be synonymous contrary to popular beliefs.
http://blog.aquanerd.com/2015/10/tip-of-the-day-10272015-lighting-angles.html

I guess we're going to just have to agree to disagree here. As someone who has personally kept a tank with large SPS colonies under LEDs (temporarily because of how much I disliked them), I will never do it again with current LED technology. I believe most of the hobbyists who own the "nicest" tanks in the SPS forum share that opinion, but I could be wrong.

Frankly, you can see all sorts of shading in the photo that that author (what is his background in the hobby to lend weight to his blog post?) posted within the blog.

In any case, OP, drop the razor in my opinion. I have one, I don't like it.

 

[slief]

I guess we're going to just have to agree to disagree here. As someone who has personally kept a tank with large SPS colonies under LEDs (temporarily because of how much I disliked them), I will never do it again with current LED technology. I believe most of the hobbyists who own the "nicest" tanks in the SPS forum share that opinion, but I could be wrong.

Frankly, you can see all sorts of shading in the photo that that author (what is his background in the hobby to lend weight to his blog post?) posted within the blog.

In any case, OP, drop the razor in my opinion. I have one, I don't like it.

That tank in the photo also had metal halides as well as other lights along with those Orphek LED's so if there is shading, it certainly isn't because of LED's. The LED's are only on the perimeter. The other lights are right down the center of the tank.

The author has been in the industry for many many years.

As far as successful tanks being run under LED's.. Here are some very successful tanks that were voted Tanks Of The Month running under just LED. It is note worthy that most of the TOTM's are not just under LED but there are still some very successful tanks out there running solely LED so it can be done and I know a few very successful refers personally who are successful with them. That's not to say that halides wouldn't be better but LED's can work quite well if setup properly.
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/153-tank-of-the-month

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/155-tank-of-the-month

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/150-tank-of-the-month

 

[slief]

I guess we're going to just have to agree to disagree here. As someone who has personally kept a tank with large SPS colonies under LEDs (temporarily because of how much I disliked them), I will never do it again with current LED technology. I believe most of the hobbyists who own the "nicest" tanks in the SPS forum share that opinion, but I could be wrong.

Frankly, you can see all sorts of shading in the photo that that author (what is his background in the hobby to lend weight to his blog post?) posted within the blog.

In any case, OP, drop the razor in my opinion. I have one, I don't like it.

I figured I would share this one as well since this is a brand new video of a local friend and fellow forum members hugely successful 400 gallon SPS dominant reef tank. This tank has been running on Radion Pro's for well over a year since switching from halides. The lights are mounted on various angles to address shadowing issues and to insure adequet coverage. His growth is spectacular and the health of his system and corals should serve as a benchmark for any reefer regardless of lighting. His corals are literally growing out of the tank. Rest assured I don't think you could convince him that you can't have a very healthy and thriving SPS tank running solely on LED's let alone that shawdowing and LED's go hand in hand. It just isn't true (if setup right) and again, as you duly noted, we can agree to disagree if this doesn't justify my contention. Note that he had a recent kalk enduced crash that wiped out nearly his entire tank which has since bounced back 10 fold. His colonies were grown from frags and I think the tank speaks for itself.

This video doesn't even do this tank any justice.
<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bRthDCUVCpc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>