Can't decide whether to abandon LEDs

[happyhourhero]

I have never understood the issue with LED and getting them dialed in. I dont know if I just dont know any better or maybe I have an ugly tank and dont realize it but I have always loved my SB Reef lights and have never thought about needing to add anything or switch anything up?

 

[Joshky]

Sanjay's tank is beautiful, but could you imagine it lit by 400w radiums? :D

The upfront cost for LEDs can be a little absurd, that's why I went with T5s personally. I would've needed at a bare minium 3 radion fixtures for my tank versus a used SunPower for $450 with new(ish) bulbs included. I spend $240 on bulbs annually and the electric bill would've been very similar either way, so did I make a bad choice? Personally I think I made the only logical choice. ;)

 

[vanpire]

Actually I am getting more growth with one 400 dollar fixture using 1.6 amps and no heat. 60 buck for a bulb I get that back with 5x for every Walt disney frag I sell.:)

Hi Ed,

What fixture and bulb are you using? I'd like to learn from you.

Van

 

[reeferfoxx]

Sanjay's tank is beautiful, but could you imagine it lit by 400w radiums? :D

The upfront cost for LEDs can be a little absurd, that's why I went with T5s personally. I would've needed at a bare minium 3 radion fixtures for my tank versus a used SunPower for $450 with new(ish) bulbs included. I spend $240 on bulbs annually and the electric bill would've been very similar either way, so did I make a bad choice? Personally I think I made the only logical choice. ;)

I don't quite understand where you think you need radions but ok? There are more LED options available.

 

[revhtree]

I just went thru a long trial of various LED system's and then decided on the direction I wanted to take. Spend a bunch of money on the various types of LED system. Run same parameters on the tank with just lighting being the only difference. Thought I would do this since I am going to be setup up a new system as I get close to retirement and want to concentrate on coral spawning in the future. It's ok to hate me. :) I am use to it. There where tons of people who didn't think we could keep SPS when I started keeping them in 1990. Lots of real haters then.:)

Bro no hating here at all! I appreciate you doing research and value your opinion! Just talking out loud. I do disagree with those who say you can't have a successful SPS dominant tank with LED lighting. But I do appreciate those who can grow corals under all different types of lighting and environments. Best of luck to you but I know you will be successful! ;)

 

[revhtree]

I don't hate LED, MH, T5, CF, Sunlight or any type of lighting.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I don't hate LED, MH, T5, CF, Sunlight or any type of lighting.

I don't know. I'm not convinced sunlight has the right spectrum? Might need more researching. :p

 

[revhtree]

I don't know. I'm not convinced sunlight has the right spectrum? Might need more researching. :p

Hahaha!

 

[Joshky]

I don't quite understand where you think you need radions but ok? There are more LED options available.

Just used as an example, I've used cheaper LED options in the past and didn't really like them.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Just used as an example, I've used cheaper LED options in the past and didn't really like them.

Which ones didn't you like?

I think I would go back to T5 or MH if I tried radions. Considering they are better suited for LPS.

 

[Joshky]

Which ones didn't you like?

I think I would go back to T5 or MH if I tried radions. Considering they are better suited for LPS.

I've used GU10s and chinese black boxes (2 different kinds), the color spectrum and growth on them were okay but they all had their cons. I think the GU10s are really only good for supplemental lighting, I would never build a DIY fixture with them again because they require some form of a canopy-like cover to be built into. I disliked the disco ball effect from the chinese black boxes and the growth was never amazing, but I will admit the color spectrum was okay to the eye.

It's a pretty bold claim to say radions are only suitable for LPS, there are quite a few SPS tanks running the pros over their tanks and do quite well. I'm not sure why you said that?

 

[reeferfoxx]

I've used GU10s and chinese black boxes (2 different kinds), the color spectrum and growth on them were okay but they all had their cons. I think the GU10s are really only good for supplemental lighting, I would never build a DIY fixture with them again because they require some form of a canopy-like cover to be built into. I disliked the disco ball effect from the chinese black boxes and the growth was never amazing, but I will admit the color spectrum was okay to the eye.

It's a pretty bold claim to say radions are only suitable for LPS, there are quite a few SPS tanks running the pros over their tanks and do quite well. I'm not sure why you said that?

Well they are cluster pucks and the light spread is bleak. You would need multiple to cover the dark areas they don't fill. Most end up "supplementing" with T5s in the long run.

As far as disco effects on black boxes, you need to research different types of lenses. Since you can get them in the 60, 90 and 120 degree lenses. From my experience the 120s reduce if not eliminate disco effects.

 

[hart24601]

I have used cheap LEDs and fancy ones. Had great results with all I have tired over a variety of tanks. I have found them to be easy and plug and play - but many people fuss with them forever. I just get the PAR where I want and done. You couldn't believe how many people were shocked to find I ran hydras (tank in my signature link) with just these settings - r,w,g 40%, all else 80% for 8hr a day. That was it.

All leds I have had were easy, no coral adjustment time, no issues at all. And for growth? Well that's about feeding and maintaining water quality.

Shadowing is a real issue, so I am not a fan of pucks in general for SPS, but those old enough remember how MH had its own shadowing problems and added florescents to the mix when colonies got big.

 

[nolaron]

I don't hate LED, MH, T5, CF, Sunlight or any type of lighting.

#AllLightsMatter

 

[happyhourhero]

My LEDs turn Kenya Trees into Acros

 

[reefwiser]

Actually the Radions are selling low now. An with them now not going to sell upgrades for lights in the future. They will never have much resell value as they use to have. I don't hate LED's they do fine for corals that don't require a lot of light or suffer from shading. LPS and Zoa's do fine as they are found in turbid waters where they do not require as much light. LPS and Zoa's can get by with 120 par and do well. They do not suffer from shading in the was way as SPS.

 

[hart24601]

LEDs don't have enough light? Now I have heard it all! Haha, that's awesome.

 

[reeferfoxx]

LEDs don't have enough light? Now I have heard it all! Haha, that's awesome.

We just went back 10 or so years lol

 

[Ocelaris]

I've been giving these lights a lot of thought with everyone's opinions, and adjusted the white/blue balance and came to a much happier color balance. I'm going to stick with the Razor for now. Corals are growing fine as far as I can tell, the fixture it's self is beautiful, and the color is probably close to as good as I'd get with the money I want to spend (still wish it had more red pop). I may just get the 120 reflectors and call it a day. The tank is only 7 months old at this point, so still kind of barren.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I've been giving these lights a lot of thought with everyone's opinions, and adjusted the white/blue balance and came to a much happier color balance. I'm going to stick with the Razor for now. Corals are growing fine as far as I can tell, the fixture it's self is beautiful, and the color is probably close to as good as I'd get with the money I want to spend (still wish it had more red pop). I may just get the 120 reflectors and call it a day. The tank is only 7 months old at this point, so still kind of barren.

Yeah. Kinda hard to write them off as being inadequate considering you have maybe a coral or two?