LED lighting question/concern

[gurbanski]

I have a 90 Gallon reef and I was running 4 VHO lights on my system at first and then I recently bought two 48 in. Reef Brite Texh XHO LED light strips...one blue and one white ......I love the way it makes the corals and tank look, but I just felt/thought maybe my corals weren't getting enough with just the 2 strips of LED lights....I recently added 2 VHO t-12 bulbs on my canopy also.....So now I have the 2 LED strips and then 2 VHO bulbs....Is this enough, good enough, or too much for my tank??? I have a clam...mostly LPS and some SPS.....Just not sure how much I trust LED's quite yet....Any thoughts or comments??

 

[redfishbluefish]

I say you're on the low side of enough light. The Reef Brites only put out 54 watts each. I also have a 90 and have 220 watts of LEDs over it. And yes, I know it's not a "watts" thing.

 

[gurbanski]

Really??!! Okay, so if you were me what would you do?? Take off the white strip and add 2 more of the vho lights?? Then I would be running 4 vho lights again and then 1 strip of blue led lights
...that would have to be enough right?? My corals look pretty good, but I am assuming if I add more they will just get better!
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[ReefLEDLights]

Its on the low side

The 48" version has 36 3 Watt LEDs (Which ones???) and drives them at only 54 Watts. Without knowing exactly which 3 watt LED your PAR could be less than 1/2 of a 5 Watt XT-E LED driven with the same current.

Like redfishbluefish says you cannot use wattage to guess LED output...Too many Apples and Oranges not to mention the EBay Lemons out there.

The best thing to do is borrow a PAR Meter.

I like to see 90 XT-E LEDs over a 90 Gal driven at 700mA or 240 watts total. This would give you 200 PAR on the sand bed with everything on full. I have my LEDs on full for only 4 hours a day 10-2 or High noon. They ramp up and down from there. Growth has been outstanding.

The reef brites are not bad I would just double what you have as VHO bulb replacement is expensive. This should give you the minimum 100 PAR at the sand bed.

Bill

 

[gurbanski]

Wow!! That is some great information....thanks a lot! Not sure if I will be able to get a par reader but I will add my other 2 vho's on my canopy!! So I should keep the white and blue led strips on still or just keep the blue strip only?? Thanks so much for the great feedback!


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[gurbanski]

I redid my lights today and I now have 4 VHO T-12 lights, 1 blue actinic LED strip and 1 white LED strip.....that should be good now!! haha....Now I just have to figure how long I am going to keep everything on for??!!

 

[ReefLEDLights]

I redid my lights today and I now have 4 VHO T-12 lights, 1 blue actinic LED strip and 1 white LED strip.....that should be good now!! haha....Now I just have to figure how long I am going to keep everything on for??!!

I would try the LEDs for 14 Hours and the VHO for 10 Hours. The VHO will be your Primary given the intensity of the LEDs.

Bill

 

[gurbanski]

Okay will do!! Thanks for the help and great advice!

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