Reef Brite LED's - Now Taking Orders!

[jc-reef]

I have added 1 48" Reefbrite LED BLUE strip to my existing 6x54w T5 set up a couple days ago. The color 'pop' I get from this strip when lit by itself is like nothing I have ever seen....simply amazing!! :spin2::spin2: I am trying to see if this supplimentation will 'add' deeper/richer colors to the corals. I have it running only 5 hrs a day, of which, 3 hrs is during peak time (all bulbs running at once) to acclimate the corals (they are VERY BRIGHT) and then increase a little time each week.

It will be interesting to see how the corals react to the LED strip....and I might even add/replace some T5's with a white and/or 50/50 strip if I see good results.

 

[yeldarbj]

jc-reef, what's the impact the Reefbrite makes when all your T5's are running? Do you think it's powerful enough to replace an ATI Blue Plus bulb? Any pictures with and without the Reefbrite?

 

[Kraylen]

My 36" blue bar on my Tech 70

 

[Jeremy B.]

jc-reef, what's the impact the Reefbrite makes when all your T5's are running? Do you think it's powerful enough to replace an ATI Blue Plus bulb? Any pictures with and without the Reefbrite?

A single Reef Brite blue module would be comparable to 2 x ATI Blue Plus lamps in a good reflectors of equivelant length.

 

[ryanjiang]

I have added 1 48" Reefbrite LED BLUE strip to my existing 6x54w T5 set up a couple days ago. The color 'pop' I get from this strip when lit by itself is like nothing I have ever seen....simply amazing!! :spin2::spin2: I am trying to see if this supplimentation will 'add' deeper/richer colors to the corals. I have it running only 5 hrs a day, of which, 3 hrs is during peak time (all bulbs running at once) to acclimate the corals (they are VERY BRIGHT) and then increase a little time each week.

It will be interesting to see how the corals react to the LED strip....and I might even add/replace some T5's with a white and/or 50/50 strip if I see good results.

Indeed that was also what I observed, my 48" 50/50 reefbrite pop up some nice colors, esp. green, I have never seen that deep green under MH and T5.

The hours my tank lit by singe reefbrite is the moment I like to look the most: the tank has a very 'mystic' and dynamic atmosphere, once T5s are on the very evenly and strong spread from T5 break the atmosphere and shimmer is much less noticeable.

But I am not totally convinced to get rid of T5 and go all LED yet, it seems T5 still provide some spectrum which are missing from blue and white LED. I guess I will just throw in one more reefbite and see how the mix of 1 RB 2 T5 does.

 

[ryanjiang]

Kraylen looking good! How many bars? All blue?

 

[jc-reef]

Indeed that was also what I observed, my 48" 50/50 reefbrite pop up some nice colors, esp. green, I have never seen that deep green under MH and T5.

The hours my tank lit by singe reefbrite is the moment I like to look the most: the tank has a very 'mystic' and dynamic atmosphere, once T5s are on the very evenly and strong spread from T5 break the atmosphere and shimmer is much less noticeable.

But I am not totally convinced to get rid of T5 and go all LED yet, it seems T5 still provide some spectrum which are missing from blue and white LED. I guess I will just throw in one more reefbite and see how the mix of 1 RB 2 T5 does.

The greens as well for me, along with yellows, oranges, and reds look like a black light is on them. I too am not convinced to switch over to exclusive LED set up like you said due to the limited spectum of lighting available on the market. I also agree that an LED and T5 combo is the way to go. The T5's give you quite a wide selection of Kelvin temps between the LED whites and blues....which, IMO, would be more benificial to the corals. I'm sure its only a matter of time before a wider selection of LED's color temps will be available commercially/economically.

 

[jc-reef]

jc-reef, what's the impact the Reefbrite makes when all your T5's are running? Do you think it's powerful enough to replace an ATI Blue Plus bulb? Any pictures with and without the Reefbrite?

Well, it is not too noticable since I have 6 T5's running, of which 3 are B+/SuperBlue's....but it does add a nice blue layer to the tank. Now, it is my understanding that the LED Whites will give you nice shimmer. My blue strip only gives shimmer when it is running with my dusk/dawn blue T5's or when it is solo.

As Jeremy stated above, the claim is the Reefbrite strip can be similar to 2 ATI B+'s. I have not seen any PAR readings on the Reefbrites yet (I'm sure we will soon), but I can tell you that it hurts my eyes to look at them...

I don't have a good camera, but I will update in a few weeks/month to see how the corals react.

 

[jc-reef]

A single Reef Brite blue module would be comparable to 2 x ATI Blue Plus lamps in a good reflectors of equivelant length.

I don't necessarily doubt this, but do you have any actual first hand readings?? Is there any light spectometer data on these? I am curious the color temp peaks and valleys of the different strips.

 

[Jeremy B.]

@jc-reef

Here is a post from back on the 3rd page when I did the comparison......

The all blue will provide some shimmer with a full T5 setup, but not a bunch. An all white, or white / blue combo would provide you with the shimmer that you're looking for.




I was getting 250 - 275 with an ATI Blue Plus and a reflector on it. The same distance with the Reef Brite was getting me 485 - 510. I thought it was only fair to use the Blue Plus comparison with a reflector, since that is how most run them anyways, and the RB module has somewhat of a reflector to keep the light going down into the tank.

 

[ryanjiang]

Well, it is not too noticable since I have 6 T5's running, of which 3 are B+/SuperBlue's....but it does add a nice blue layer to the tank. Now, it is my understanding that the LED Whites will give you nice shimmer. My blue strip only gives shimmer when it is running with my dusk/dawn blue T5's or when it is solo.

As Jeremy stated above, the claim is the Reefbrite strip can be similar to 2 ATI B+'s. I have not seen any PAR readings on the Reefbrites yet (I'm sure we will soon), but I can tell you that it hurts my eyes to look at them...

I don't have a good camera, but I will update in a few weeks/month to see how the corals react.

6X T5 certainly overpower 1 reefbrite, I guesstimate the perfect blend is 1 RB: 2 T5.

My 50/50 shimming a lot when run on it own, mix with 2 T5 still pretty decent. With all 5 T5 on shimming is barely noticeable.

Spectrum wise, I would agree with Jememy, the blue peak at around 430 - 440, the white looks like 8000K. So I will combine each 50/50 RB with 1 ATI blue + for 460, 1 blue special for its wide spectrum.

Since I added the RB , color on majority Zoas/Chalice/Acans/Monitpora improves day by day, still yet to see much color improvement from sticks yet, guess this is nature of sticks they take long time to color up, but I am positive on the long term, it will happen with time and patience.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Looks great, keep us updated on how it goes!

 

[Kraylen]

Kraylen looking good! How many bars? All blue?

Just one 36" blue bar with a 120w LED pendent, adding 2x39w T5 to finish her off for my SPS

 

[ryanjiang]

Just one 36" blue bar with a 120w LED pendent, adding 2x39w T5 to finish her off for my SPS

Shoot, nice! What LED pendent, DIY?

So you also think it is better to supplement LED with some T5s ? What spectrum of T5 you will supplement?

 

[jc-reef]

@jc-reef

Here is a post from back on the 3rd page when I did the comparison......

I must have missed that one...thanks! Thats some really decent specs! It doesn't suprise me after installing it and looking at my tank...I am willing to bet the blues penetrate deep into tank with high intensity at bottom of tank.

 

[jc-reef]

6X T5 certainly overpower 1 reefbrite, I guesstimate the perfect blend is 1 RB: 2 T5.

My 50/50 shimming a lot when run on it own, mix with 2 T5 still pretty decent. With all 5 T5 on shimming is barely noticeable.

Spectrum wise, I would agree with Jememy, the blue peak at around 430 - 440, the white looks like 8000K. So I will combine each 50/50 RB with 1 ATI blue + for 460, 1 blue special for its wide spectrum.

Since I added the RB , color on majority Zoas/Chalice/Acans/Monitpora improves day by day, still yet to see much color improvement from sticks yet, guess this is nature of sticks they take long time to color up, but I am positive on the long term, it will happen with time and patience.

Nice macro shots ryan!!! Man, I really need to invest in one. In addition to the ATI B+, I really like the KZ's Fiji & New Gen bulbs and how my coral have responded to them....I can't see me not using them. My thinking is to eventually reduce to 4 T5's and have 3 RB strips....1 blue RB, 2 50/50, 1 Fiji, 1 New Gen, 2 KZ Super Blue/ATI B+ (or 1 SB/B+ & AB Spec). I think that will really hit from 8/10k-22k nicely.

 

[ryanjiang]

If you do 4:3 and have 2X 50/50, you may not want to use the Fiji purple since the white LED on RB are pretty warm, with Fiji it likely be too warm for the taste of most. Anyway I think your approach to use RB as main and use some T5 to supplement are nice, color can be changed by easily switching T5, I may as well consider to do 1:1.

I borrowed the Macro lens from friend just to try, I think will buy one eventually when budget allows.

 

[RMR RaC3R]

are the RB's currently in stock?


will the dimmable power soruce work on these units if you buy a model now that does not have the ability to dim?
i would like to add 2x of them to a 8x54 TEK T5 fixture

 

[ryanjiang]

Jeremy, any idea on how long will these LED last, I mean without too much decay?

And is it possible to change new LED bulb after few years, if so will reefbrite do it or it is easy enough for us to do it? I don't know if this question make sense but I thought it is important to get a good ROI.

 

[Kraylen]

Shoot, nice! What LED pendent, DIY?

So you also think it is better to supplement LED with some T5s ? What spectrum of T5 you will supplement?

Illuminarium 120

As far as T5 specs.. no clue yet... LEDs are great for softies and LPS...but they are missing a few things for great SPS IME