Are LEDS really the future?

[jedimasterben]

These so called "high end" companies are not even putting half the effort they could be into the science behind the growth and color of corals. Spend a few minutes to learn about the PAR/PUR of your reef tank lighting and you will quickly see what your problem may be. It's not so much how much light you have as what kind of light you have. You need to measure PAR/PUR, compare it to the photosynthesis curves, see where the chlorophyll A and B values are at and try to match them.

Chlorophyll b is not present in corals - only chlorophylls a and c1/c2. I have a thread stickied in the lighting subforum that covers spectrum and photosynthetic pigments of corals and clams.

 

[Wankell]

Your right, but clearly you know what im getting at. You would be surprised how little research some of these companies do to try and make a quality product. PAR values are low, wattage is far from what is stated when actually measured, padded wattage numbers when the usable wattage is half the amount, its pretty bad and its part of the reason a lot of people fail at LED's.

 

[jedimasterben]

Heck - most manufacturers are only worried about PAR numbers, and unfortunately a majority of hobbyists think that and the color of the light are the only metrics on whether a light is 'good' or not.

 

[creefer]

Heck - most manufacturers are only worried about PAR numbers, and unfortunately a majority of hobbyists think that and the color of the light are the only metrics on whether a light is 'good' or not.

This is one of the primary reasons I've not jumped into the full on LED world. I'll soon be doing a DIY supplement to my ATI 6 lamp T5 and I'm excited by that. I think it's going to be one of those things that really lights the fire and pushes me toward full LED.

 

[jedimasterben]

The actinic light that royal blue LEDs provide is phenomenal - it causes fluorescence like no T5 or halide can provide. It's just the non-fluorescent colors that most LED arrays have issues with, but that is very easily solved with neutral or warm whites. :)

 

[Wankell]

You touched on it earlier, but I dont think a whole lot of people understand how broad of a spectrum a warm white LED really covers, it allows you to do away with a lot of the unnecessary extra LEDS in the 500-700nm range.

 

[TANKSALOT]

U just answered your own question...ai are def not the best...out of the factory radions by far until recently when the Vegas came out. I have seen ai sols over tanks and the colors are horrible due to lack of spectrum. Purchasing the right full spectrum led fixture or DIY makes all the difference in the world. I can confidently say that my DIY fixture with royal blue, blue, cool white, red, and green has been unmatched by ANY commercial fixture.

I agree..... Thanks for your post

 

[jedimasterben]

You touched on it earlier, but I dont think a whole lot of people understand how broad of a spectrum a warm white LED really covers, it allows you to do away with a lot of the unnecessary extra LEDS in the 500-700nm range.

I would say that Ecotech probably wished they knew that before releasing the Radion Pro, but a lot of people are tricked into thinking that their fixture is better because it has more colors of LEDs. :/

 

[Wankell]

I would say that Ecotech probably wished they knew that before releasing the Radion Pro, but a lot of people are tricked into thinking that their fixture is better because it has more colors of LEDs. :/

Im assuming they have a large marketing budget.

 

[jedimasterben]

That they do, but their R&D budget was apparently not enough lol.

 

[creefer]

The actinic light that royal blue LEDs provide is phenomenal - it causes fluorescence like no T5 or halide can provide. It's just the non-fluorescent colors that most LED arrays have issues with, but that is very easily solved with neutral or warm whites. :)

I agree. I currently supplement with stunners and I think the DIY supplement will be much better than the ecoexotic stunners that I'm currently running.

 

[jedimasterben]

In a few weeks, a new RB LED will be available mounted on stars - a single one of them run at full power will emit more light than four stunner strips, at least.

 

[creefer]

Ahhh.....so my supplement build needs to be held off for a while.....I'm thinking that I can use the supplemental LED build to give me some sunrise/sunset effect.

 

[jedimasterben]

It's not to say that what is available now isn't as good - the big LEDs are as efficient as the smaller LEDs.

 

[RavePartyReef]

These so called "high end" companies are not even putting half the effort they could be into the science behind the growth and color of corals. Spend a few minutes to learn about the PAR/PUR of your reef tank lighting and you will quickly see what your problem may be. It's not so much how much light you have as what kind of light you have. You need to measure PAR/PUR, compare it to the photosynthesis curves, see where the chlorophyll A and B values are at and try to match them.

Now we are talking. Very good point...I think companies are betting on making it all look great, versus keeping things at times simpler but better for the hobby. LEDs are to stay and are HUGE money for the industry. They even make thunderstorms these days for Gods sake.
LEDs are such an advancement and when we associate those colors to corals, we find an immense array of things that could be brought to the hobby. Now if you look back 2 years, LEDs were so far behind. Companies such as Marineland had " reef capable LEDs" that we're such a joke. Out of nowhere we have Radions, Sols and new we know everything about LEDs...I just don't think they are yet there when we talk HEALTH long term, coloration potential. There are way too many questions and to be proven on LEDs. Could it develop itself into the perfect light? I truly do.

 

[RavePartyReef]

U just answered your own question...ai are def not the best...out of the factory radions by far until recently when the Vegas came out. I have seen ai sols over tanks and the colors are horrible due to lack of spectrum. Purchasing the right full spectrum led fixture or DIY makes all the difference in the world. I can confidently say that my DIY fixture with royal blue, blue, cool white, red, and green has been unmatched by ANY commercial fixture.

I bet in a few months many would look back and think how the Radions lack this and that, and how much better xyz is...AI might not be the best, but we can agree it is on top of the market along with Radions. Again, DIY accent(royal blue,blue,green cool white, etc) lighting looks good, but we(including anybody here) do not have data to prove it has reached the benefits the companies claim(not even close) for corals.

 

[Lowsingle]

I see these threads all the time comparing different types of light....LED, MH and T5s....I recommend people read this to learn a little more about the science of light and how it matters to corals:

Feature Article: Light in the Reef Aquaria — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

I believe the main reasons people struggle with LEDs are:
1) Acclimation to a new type of light (some corals look good in some spectrum of light and look bad in others--same goes for intensity)
2) Most LEDs lack the actinic spectrum and thus many corals lose this critical spectrum of light (see article above)
3) Remember, light is light whether it comes from a MH, LED, or T5.....what matters is the spectrum and intensity.....

cheers,
Darren

 

[andip3]

I have two kessels over my 75 gallon with 2 supplemental t5s and I love it the growth is awesome and the colors are great

 

[GR808]

Now this gets me thinking again like I have been for a while. I've had my DIY LEDs for a year and half and love them but I've been thinking about color spectrum. I've had T5s previously and the benefits of LEDs is what made me turn. I formerly ran 8 T5s over my 125 and could have probably ran a couple more but I converted to 48 LEDs on 2 heatsinks. I must admit the coloration or flouresence are unmatched but it took me a while to dial in the intensity because it is strong. I have 24 cool whites and 24 royal blues and am wondering if I have enough color spectrum from the LEDs. I've been thinking of adding some green and red to the mix but not sure.

 

[RavePartyReef]

I see these threads all the time comparing different types of light....LED, MH and T5s....I recommend people read this to learn a little more about the science of light and how it matters to corals:

Feature Article: Light in the Reef Aquaria — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

I believe the main reasons people struggle with LEDs are:
1) Acclimation to a new type of light (some corals look good in some spectrum of light and look bad in others--same goes for intensity)
2) Most LEDs lack the actinic spectrum and thus many corals lose this critical spectrum of light (see article above)
3) Remember, light is light whether it comes from a MH, LED, or T5.....what matters is the spectrum and intensity.....

cheers,
Darren

Thank you for the article. That reinforces 2 two points I was trying to make.

We are yet to see led fixtures that will provide all light required by corals to raise their coloration to its potential(I mean natural potential that the coral would achieve by receiving what is needed vs what makes them look good or "pop".

Efficiency of LEDs are not taken to consideration, and if one digs on the net, will find that if an led system, if heated over the proper temp will cause the LEDs to lose a great part of their efficiency. Granted DIY LEDs with multi colors looks great. I wonder though if when making them people take into consideration the temp they should remain for full efficiency over time. With the idea of LEDs last forever companies plug out there, people could be running inefficient lighting over their corals and even though they "pop", they are not getting to their natural coloration potential.