Im wanting to grow SPS and LPS due to my fascination in both, probably mainly SPS though, i Have a 90 gallon tank and a marineland 10,000K White 460nm actinic blue LED light strip, something tells me this wont be enough to get good growth but i just need some input from seasoned veterans! BTW my tank dimensions are 40"L x 18"W x 27"T ( Odd shape and pretty deep and i think it actually calculates to 85 gallons. )
SPS and LPS with LED light? Will it work? Need advice!
- Thread starter Graham670
- Start date
mroccoralman
New member
LEDs are the hot new thing I haven't seen anybody with great Sps growth. It has by far the best colors but not so much growth. I have the ati powermodule and it is great for my tank with great colors and has extremely high par rating. I think Is the best light. I hope the prices come down on led but is basically pay alot of money get good LEDs. I hope somebody proves me wrong, I would like to see an Sps dominated tank under LEDs. Hope this helps. Also the t5 s don't get very hot. NO CHILLER!!
acrohead500ppm
New member
with the light you have most if any SPS you put in there are going to slowly die.
I dont have any experience with LED's so I cant help you there, alot have had good sucess with them but the intial cost is pretty extreme. If you want to go the cheaper route for a 90, i would look into looking out for a used 2x 250watt halides fixture.
with 250s on a 90, overheating more than likely wont be an issue with the use of a fan or two. However, If your new to reefing and want to jump in head first and attempt to keep SPS GREAT! But lighting isn't the only upgrade your going to have to consider, flow is one of the biggest requirements for SPS corals, also having correct nutirent control (flitration/skimming) as well as meeting mineral/element requirements. This is forum contains a wealth of information. Before you jump the gun , research, research, research!
best of luck!
I dont have any experience with LED's so I cant help you there, alot have had good sucess with them but the intial cost is pretty extreme. If you want to go the cheaper route for a 90, i would look into looking out for a used 2x 250watt halides fixture.
with 250s on a 90, overheating more than likely wont be an issue with the use of a fan or two. However, If your new to reefing and want to jump in head first and attempt to keep SPS GREAT! But lighting isn't the only upgrade your going to have to consider, flow is one of the biggest requirements for SPS corals, also having correct nutirent control (flitration/skimming) as well as meeting mineral/element requirements. This is forum contains a wealth of information. Before you jump the gun , research, research, research!
best of luck!
jpfishfan09
Member
Get a quality fixture. Marineland doesn't cut it, especially with their LED fixtures.
MammothReefer
Active member
Really? Everything I've seen people say/complain about LEDS is the exact opposite amazing growth, colours not where they wanted them to be. Although some people are happy w/both.
chadfarmer
Premium Member
njreefermadness
Member
I don't know where some people come off slamming LEDs. I have 6 AI Super Sol Blues over my 180 and growth and color are outstanding. Been running these since Feb of this year. I was running 250 Watt SE Radiums before the change. Color temp is similar based on my controller settings.
All colors are outstanding. I have a green slimer that grows out of the water every couple of weeks. I have a plum crazy that is such a deep blue-purple it is not even funny. Orange caps and setosa really pop when the controller ups the blues towards night time. The blue on my blue tip slimer is insane. Pearlberry is awesome, miami orchid, red planet, and others have great color.
The only colony that is not growing well or showing good color is a pink lemonade, but this is about the same as w/ the Radiums.
I think a lot of people try to cheap out and run fewer LED modules than they should. For AIs, one per foot seems about right.
Growth is by no means worse than MH. All colonies are growing as well or better than under my Radiums.
Hope this helps.
Herb
All colors are outstanding. I have a green slimer that grows out of the water every couple of weeks. I have a plum crazy that is such a deep blue-purple it is not even funny. Orange caps and setosa really pop when the controller ups the blues towards night time. The blue on my blue tip slimer is insane. Pearlberry is awesome, miami orchid, red planet, and others have great color.
The only colony that is not growing well or showing good color is a pink lemonade, but this is about the same as w/ the Radiums.
I think a lot of people try to cheap out and run fewer LED modules than they should. For AIs, one per foot seems about right.
Growth is by no means worse than MH. All colonies are growing as well or better than under my Radiums.
Hope this helps.
Herb
hkgar
Active member
What intensity levels are you running your Sols? How far above the water line are they?
njreefermadness
Member
I am running 6 AI Super Sol Blues over my 180, which I think is the right amount, 1 AI unit per foot. They are about a foot off the water. Here is my lighting schedule:
Percentages are:
WH RY BL
T1:
8:00 am
60 63 65
180 Min ramp.
T2:
11:00 am.
86 88 89
60 min ramp
T3:
1:00 pm.
90 95 95
60 min ramp
T4:
4:00 pm.
80 83 83 60 min ramp
T5:
7:00 pm
0 10 10
120 min ramp
T6:
9:00 pm.
0 0 0 30 min ramp.
That is my current schedule. I have been running these lights since February. Personally I think AI is the best. Great service. Needed a new fan in one module, and I got it in a day and a half. Another good thing is that they are made in the good ol' USA.
Herb
Percentages are:
WH RY BL
T1:
8:00 am
60 63 65
180 Min ramp.
T2:
11:00 am.
86 88 89
60 min ramp
T3:
1:00 pm.
90 95 95
60 min ramp
T4:
4:00 pm.
80 83 83 60 min ramp
T5:
7:00 pm
0 10 10
120 min ramp
T6:
9:00 pm.
0 0 0 30 min ramp.
That is my current schedule. I have been running these lights since February. Personally I think AI is the best. Great service. Needed a new fan in one module, and I got it in a day and a half. Another good thing is that they are made in the good ol' USA.
Herb
Led
Led
Hi
On my Elos 120 xl I used a ATI 8* 54 w T5. I was very happy about color and growth on my corals.I have only sps.
5 months ago I bought a Vertex 260 Illumina. And now my corals are even happier
But there is a lot of crap LEDs out there,so my advice is: you get what you pay for..if you want good LEDs,they are expensive.
Best regards Stavanger, Norway
Led
Hi
On my Elos 120 xl I used a ATI 8* 54 w T5. I was very happy about color and growth on my corals.I have only sps.
5 months ago I bought a Vertex 260 Illumina. And now my corals are even happier
But there is a lot of crap LEDs out there,so my advice is: you get what you pay for..if you want good LEDs,they are expensive.
Best regards Stavanger, Norway
