Novices need LED lighting questions answered.

[Rani]

Thanks for your advice! Unfortunately the settings on the new LED unit are fixed and don't allow to dial down settings. They have 2 switches - actinic only or actinic and white (or both off). Should I acclimatise by leaving the actinic only on for longer then gradually increase the actinic / white setting? Or should I bite the bullet and replace the unit which allows me more control? Sorry for all the questions - would hate to lose my corals!!


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[Ron Reefman]

Don't sweat the questions, I'm going to ask you a bunch soon.

Since your led fixture doesn't have dimmers, I'd assume they are lower watt leds. I know, don't assume. So, do you know if they are 3 watt or something more like 0.5 or 0.3 watt leds? What brand and model is the fixture? How many blue leds? How many white leds? What is the length and width of the fixture?

Your corals don't 'see' the blue or white light. Doing a blue 'sunrise/sunset' is way more for us (and maybe a little bit for fish and other critters with eyes) than for the coral. Your coral uses the blue more than the white. The zooxanthellae (algae) that is inside the coral uses the blue to do photosynthesis that helps feed the coral.

I wouldn't advise jumping to spend more money on a new fixture until we know that this one is inadequate. Do you have many corals in the tank? In big rough terms, what kind of mix between zoas, softies, lps or sps? Example: my tank is about 60% sps, 20% zoas, 10% lps and 10% softies.

I doubt you led fixture is going to be too powerful given it doesn't have dimmers. But you can dim the intensity some by raising the fixture higher, or make it more intense by lowering it closer to the water. It's VERY uncommon that any led fixtures these days wouldn't have dimmers. They became the norm about 6 years ago. The very early led fixtures didn't have them and raising or lowering the fixture was the only solution. Very old school.

Hang in there we'll get this sorted out. If you do need/want to buy a new led fixture, do you have a budget in mind? And have you seen this post?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25052764&postcount=233

Consider what features, if any, you want in a new fixture. But remember, the more features, the more it costs and most features have very little to do with coral health. Most features are for us, not the coral!

 

[Rani]

Hey thanks for your response! I'm struggling to find out the exact details of the light settings/ dimensions....I'm getting my tank next week. The lights are installed inside the tank hood so not sure how I'll be able to raise / lower the unit. The brochure says it is 80 watts. Have seen a review on you tube for the 40 watt - that one has 30 whites and 10 blues. I'm going into my lfs this weekend to check out their display model. As for my corals I have predominantly LPS, 2 SPS, 2 Zoas and a green nepthia. All doing well under my basic aquaone T5 system. At least I have plenty of time to figure out how the new lights look etc when the tank arrives next week as I'll be cycling for several weeks (next to my current tank - yep I'm moving out one of my couches for a while - can hear family complaining already lol). Also give me chance to save for a better system if needed! Have been told the rig is a "beginner light" - but I guess I am a beginner!!! Still, would like to start off on the right foot....Would appreciate your thoughts [emoji4]


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[Rani]

By the way my tank dimensions are 39 x 20 x 28 (depth - I know pretty deep for a reef tank but will have a higher scape).


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[Ron Reefman]

Well the system you saw on you tube has 40 leds and is 40 watts... that's not a good omen for a 28" deep tank. It's better than Current Orbit and Marineland that use 0.5 watt leds. But It's not 3 watt leds driven at 2.2 watts either. It will be interesting to hear how many leds your system will have with it being 80 watts. A typical Chinese black box led for a 39" tank would be a 32" fixture with 100 leds and run 220 watts.

So this tank is 39" x 20" and it has a cover with the leds built in? Is the cover thin, like a lid of 2" or 4"? Or is it more like a canopy that is 10" or 14"? Does this look at all like the system you are getting?
http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail59_372669.php

If your system has 80 leds and runs 80 watts... It's OK for starters. But I'd either be shopping (not buying in any hurry) or looking at used fixtures for the right light and deal to replace what comes with the system. 80 watts will keep most corals alive. I'd tend to try and keep the sps up high on the rockscape.

Ron

 

[Rani]

Yes that's pretty much the set up but I see they have changed the lights...thanks Ron, I'll be looking around for alternative lighting. As I say I have time on my side to save. Will keep you posted!


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[Ron Reefman]

Yes that's pretty much the set up but I see they have changed the lights...thanks Ron, I'll be looking around for alternative lighting. As I say I have time on my side to save. Will keep you posted!

Anytime. If you want to PM me when you get to 10 posts, we can discuss it before you buy.:beer:

 

[Rani]

Thanks Ron!


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[strikeratt]

Ron, I just want to thank you. I've read quite a bit of the responses and I think I'm going to go with a Reef Breeders light in the near future to replace my bulbs.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Ron, I just want to thank you. I've read quite a bit of the responses and I think I'm going to go with a Reef Breeders light in the near future to replace my bulbs.

Just because I like the Reef Breeders Photon fixture in no way implies that I think it's the best! I like it and I'm willing to pay for the features that it offers.

If you don't see a need for sunrise/sunset capability (and there is NO need for it), or you don't need 6 channel color control (2 channels work quite well), or you don't have any issues with the look of the standard black box fixture, then save some money and get something less expensive.

My perspective on it is that I want these features (not that my fish or corals give a rats a$$ about them). And that for these features, as well as 3w and 5w Cree and OSRAM leds and a good remote control, this is by far the best value. And I have owned fixtures made by EverGrow (the Photon is made for Reef Breeders by EverGrow) before and they are quite well made. You can spend a lot more on led fixtures, but IMHO, you don't get much for that extra money. But the opposite is also true. You can spend a lot less for an led fixture without the extra features and get light that your coral will be just as happy with. :beer:

 

[strikeratt]

Just because I like the Reef Breeders Photon fixture in no way implies that I think it's the best! I like it and I'm willing to pay for the features that it offers.

If you don't see a need for sunrise/sunset capability (and there is NO need for it), or you don't need 6 channel color control (2 channels work quite well), or you don't have any issues with the look of the standard black box fixture, then save some money and get something less expensive.

My perspective on it is that I want these features (not that my fish or corals give a rats a$$ about them). And that for these features, as well as 3w and 5w Cree and OSRAM leds and a good remote control, this is by far the best value. And I have owned fixtures made by EverGrow (the Photon is made for Reef Breeders by EverGrow) before and they are quite well made. You can spend a lot more on led fixtures, but IMHO, you don't get much for that extra money. But the opposite is also true. You can spend a lot less for an led fixture without the extra features and get light that your coral will be just as happy with. :beer:

I do like the sunrise and sunset features. I'd also would enjoy some night time features as well. The programming abilities is what I really like. My current bulb light is on a timer that's just simply able to be turned off and on is all.

I would like to get rid of the giant black box as well. The aquarium sits in a corner and the light makes it quite difficult to clean it well without having to take it off. But then I can't really see what I'm cleaning either.

However, I'm sure it has been answered already, but what exactly would be the difference between the 6 or 2 channel color controls? I have an idea. That it allows you to fine tune the light even further. Which I think I'd enjoy tinkering with as I gain experience in the hobby.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I do like the sunrise and sunset features. I'd also would enjoy some night time features as well. The programming abilities is what I really like. My current bulb light is on a timer that's just simply able to be turned off and on is all.

I would like to get rid of the giant black box as well. The aquarium sits in a corner and the light makes it quite difficult to clean it well without having to take it off. But then I can't really see what I'm cleaning either.

However, I'm sure it has been answered already, but what exactly would be the difference between the 6 or 2 channel color controls? I have an idea. That it allows you to fine tune the light even further. Which I think I'd enjoy tinkering with as I gain experience in the hobby.

The Photon V2 is about as good looking a fixture as I have ever seen, slimline and classy.

The 6 channel system gives you the ability to tune 6 different colors of leds, violet, 2 blues, red, green and white. You get to set the power level for each channel for each hour of the day.

My tank has lots of corals and anemones that fluoresce under blue leds. So I do the first 2 hours of my 4 hour sunrise as all blue and violet. And the last 2 hours of my 5 hour sunset as well. Under blue leds my tank looks like Pandora at night (from the movie Avatar). I also run a 4 hour midday.

Logan, the owner of RB has told us that an updated program is coming (and will be backward compatible) that will take the hourly setting and break them down into 10 segments (6 minutes each) and smoothly transition the light rather than the hourly jump of intensity we have now. Not that I mind. If I happen to see the light change I just know it's the top of the hour, kind of like the chime of a grandfather clock!

 

[strikeratt]

The Photon V2 is about as good looking a fixture as I have ever seen, slimline and classy.

The 6 channel system gives you the ability to tune 6 different colors of leds, violet, 2 blues, red, green and white. You get to set the power level for each channel for each hour of the day.

My tank has lots of corals and anemones that fluoresce under blue leds. So I do the first 2 hours of my 4 hour sunrise as all blue and violet. And the last 2 hours of my 5 hour sunset as well. Under blue leds my tank looks like Pandora at night (from the movie Avatar). I also run a 4 hour midday.

Logan, the owner of RB has told us that an updated program is coming (and will be backward compatible) that will take the hourly setting and break them down into 10 segments (6 minutes each) and smoothly transition the light rather than the hourly jump of intensity we have now. Not that I mind. If I happen to see the light change I just know it's the top of the hour, kind of like the chime of a grandfather clock!

Ah, that sounds great to be honest! I think that's what I'll end up going with.

Thanks again!

 

[greenesgreen]

LED for 30" Deep 50 gal

LED for 30" Deep 50 gal

Looking for advice on a suitable led setup for a 30" Deep 50 gal tall. Can be up to 20"long. I'm thinking of some lps and palys and possible an anemone once the tank matures. What would provide enough light throughout the entire column? Thanks in advance!

 

[Ron Reefman]

A 20"x20" tank might look good with a pendant. ReeF-Lab makes a pendant with 50 Cree leds and uses a glass lens so you can focus it down to 24"x24". ReeF-Labs has a webiste and full disclosure, I own one I use over my 24"x24" frag tank and it grows corals very well. If you want to discuss it, you can PM me.

Another option would be one (or two if you want to get crazy) Reef Breeders Photon V2 16" fixture. I have one of these over my 50g cube which is shallower than yours and just a bit bigger (24"x24"x20"). One should do the job even at 30" deep. But two would have you running them at about half power or less but incredible coverage.

 

[Lpc]

Good afternoon everyone. After many years i have decided to jump back into the hobby. Its an understatement to say the the equipment has really come a long way. Which leads me to my very novice question (forgive me if its been asked before). I am looking for LED lighting options for my soon to be reef tank which is 48x18x20. I'd like to do fish and soft corals. Amazon has tons of items, and its a bit overwhelming sifting through it all. Does the the old 4 watt per gallon rule still apply?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Good afternoon everyone. After many years i have decided to jump back into the hobby. Its an understatement to say the the equipment has really come a long way. Which leads me to my very novice question (forgive me if its been asked before). I am looking for LED lighting options for my soon to be reef tank which is 48x18x20. I'd like to do fish and soft corals. Amazon has tons of items, and its a bit overwhelming sifting through it all. Does the the old 4 watt per gallon rule still apply?

Not at all, leds are a totally different animal.

Any led fixture will work. Over a 20" deep tank the Current Orbit and Marineland fixtures are a bit weak (0.5 watt leds). But any of the others will grow almost any coral.

The issue you need to consider is what features you want to pay for. MarAqua will work fine and they are very inexpensive but have very few features. EcoTech Radions have lots of features and are very expensive (maybe even over priced. Here is a link to a post about the less expensive led fixtures:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25052764&postcount=233

 

[rookie55]

Brs has some good info videos about LED lighting, I've got 3 kessil tuna blue over 220 gallon and don't have them go above 60%

 

[Ron Reefman]

Brs has some good info videos about LED lighting, I've got 3 kessil tuna blue over 220 gallon and don't have them go above 60%

You have to be a bit careful about the results that BRS draws. Some of there comparisons are fine, like t5 to Radion. But then they extrapolate the results to all leds which is completely absurd. Big led panels like a 32" Reef Breeders Photon V2 is a VERY different animal than a Radion with 2 small pucks as a source for light. So a Radion doesn't bounce much light off the glass back into the tank. I'll wager a Photon V2, or any other 3w led panel fixture, would do much better than the Radion in the same comparison. Their test results are probably spot on, but their conclusions are much to sweeping and over stated.

 

[wertoiuy]

Looking at a LED light for a 75 gallon. Probably not going to have a massive amount of SPS, much more LPS and softies. I don't like the effect of the pendant/puck lights where there is this shimmering in the water; its really distracting. What are some good LED lights that are arranged like a strip, such as this:

Hoping for a price range around $200.