I'm just wondering how many long term users of leds are still happy with them? I've been using them since Sanjay spoke a few years back at the Feb. frag swap and have built some of what I consister the most awsome led fixtures around. All that being said I'm thinking of going back to MH, I just don't think corals hold there colors even with the full spectum units I've built and as far as coraline growth on rocks well forget it ! Now I know if your new to leds then they are the greatest thing since sliced bread but for the thode of you that have been using as long as me or longer just like to get your thoughts
long term LEDs users
- Thread starter guerry
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I used a DIY led light with 4 eBay 10w 15000k, and 6 Cree xt-e royal blues for over a year on my nano and was very happy with it. Coralline was growing everywhere, glass, rocks, snails you name it. I only had softies but they spread like crazy! Only had it up to 30% power because the 10w were way too bright. I have a reefbreeder unit over my 65g now and I can't seem to get a good balance between brightness and color with it. Colors on the corals just don't "pop" even though its suppose to be full sprectrum. I ordered 6 410nm LEDs to try and get some more color. Have to wait and see what happens when they come in.
LEDs for four years... Getting new LEDs for the new build... Happy with the results thus far.
I agree that the colors you see really pop but SPS corals are missing something and over time lose there true colors. I sell alot of corals and to my surprize went LFS that buys frags from me and asked where did they get that! there reply was from you, there tank is lit with 250 MH 1400k and coral looked totaly diffent with colers I'd never seen in my system. For anyone growing Zoos and LPS I'm sure leds will get the job done and bring out great colors but for dry hard SPS growers something is missing IMO
ive been diy leds for about 2 1/2 years and could not be happier.my tank is 90% acropora and the colors and growth is phenomenal.i would never even entertain the idea of switching back to any other light source.my acros all show their true colors and are lacking nothing.if its supposed to be rainbow...its rainbow.
.my rocks and glass is covered in coralline also.
Joseph,you already have all the research you need,why look any further.
.my rocks and glass is covered in coralline also.Joseph,you already have all the research you need,why look any further.
I've been using the Panorama Pros for a little over a year now, with SPS since December. I can't speak to growth because I don't have anything to compare it to, but color is awesome. In fact, I've had at least two colonies from Reefworks develop deep</em> color after I got them. That may be for other reasons, I don't know; but I definitely haven't had any color loss with LEDs, only color gains. And I get crazy coralline growth, rocks and glass.
Today (hopefully) I'll be switching to some lights like Reeferman to see if a little stronger light encourages faster growth. I'll definitely report back.
Today (hopefully) I'll be switching to some lights like Reeferman to see if a little stronger light encourages faster growth. I'll definitely report back.
2.5 years is a decent time for use. But I want long term proof that LED's last the 11+ years they claim. I have seen many reputable brands with diodes burn out. Sure its as easy as soldering a new diode in or sending the unit back for repair. Most claim after so many years they will retain 80% of their output forever. How can this be an honest claim? The XT-E Crees that my units are made up from are supposed to be the biggest baddest, however they were only developed for a year or so. Who has done the testing for the XT-E to prove they lasted 11+ years @ 12 hours per day? I don't know of any LED that has been out for long enough to prove this.
Longest LED user I can find is about 5-6 years. This was also over a softy tank. I have seen some Metal halide/T5 tanks where in 3 years the corals were growing out of the water. Haven't seen this with LED's yet.
I see people using Coraline as an indicator for LED success. I wish I had none. I scrape Coraline off religiously because I think it takes away from the depth perception of my tank. I grew coraline with VERY rapid spread in my 29 gallon nano with power compacts. It was annoying to keep the glass clean.
Longest LED user I can find is about 5-6 years. This was also over a softy tank. I have seen some Metal halide/T5 tanks where in 3 years the corals were growing out of the water. Haven't seen this with LED's yet.
I see people using Coraline as an indicator for LED success. I wish I had none. I scrape Coraline off religiously because I think it takes away from the depth perception of my tank. I grew coraline with VERY rapid spread in my 29 gallon nano with power compacts. It was annoying to keep the glass clean.
because the majority of led users havent had them long enough for that.i thought you were speaking of viability,not longevity.we will have to wait 11 years and see then.honestly,if i get 5-6 years out of my fixtures,i would be happy.think of all the other headaches your saving..like a sunroom that feels like youre on the sun.
Yes they are hot. If I get 5-6 years out of them, I'm going to upset. Heat and power consumption is the number one reason I bought them. Second is the longevity of the fixtures. If they advertised they only lasted 5-6 years. I probably would not of gotten them. I would of went with a cheaper proven unit, as long as it can fade blues and whites.
i think they claim that after 10 years,you still get 75% of the light output.i dont know,ill let you know in 7 1/2 years.
i think the op was concerned with colors on sps.ill say without a shadow of a doubt that high quality leds and excellent water quality will color up acros as well or better than any mh or t5 and ill put my colors up against anyone in the club[or out]lol
i think the op was concerned with colors on sps.ill say without a shadow of a doubt that high quality leds and excellent water quality will color up acros as well or better than any mh or t5 and ill put my colors up against anyone in the club[or out]lol
Not saying it changes everything, but you are still using T5's with reflectors as supplements. Do we know if it is helping THAT much? With your LED's, probably not. But 1 watters, etc. I would definately run T-5 as supplements.
I have a full T-5 kit, I do not plan on running them with LED's. But I am keeping it, in case I need to.
Edit: I'm not a lighting expert by any means. In this hobby, I am a mere amateur at best. I confidently feel there is no easy button but quality of equipment makes it easier.
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Funny that you guys are discussing this. Today I am going to ikkea to check out something similar to this:http://www.reefcentral.com/forums//showthread.php?t=1715182">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums//showthread.php?t=1715182</a>
I have noticed that many LED users eventually go back to MH. I never considered switching to LEDs but wanted something to supplement my MH. I currently have T5/MH and I just want the pop of color LEDs give. I searched and searched and found the thread above and that's exactly what I want. I was willing to pay a pretty penny for a MH LED combo if I came across it but I want to try this.
I have noticed that many LED users eventually go back to MH. I never considered switching to LEDs but wanted something to supplement my MH. I currently have T5/MH and I just want the pop of color LEDs give. I searched and searched and found the thread above and that's exactly what I want. I was willing to pay a pretty penny for a MH LED combo if I came across it but I want to try this.
Well I'm in the club LOL and it seems your using T5s also that being said you can't say that leds are what is making your corals look best in the club! I don't use cheap emitters in my builds and here's a couple of pictures of one of my fixtures you be the judge if it looks like a cheap system with 228 cree 3 watt emitters
http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/rgfast/media/IMG_0459-1.jpg.html">IMG_0459-1.jpg Photo by rgfast | Photobucket</a>
[IMG]http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/rgfast/media/IMG_0449.jpg.html">IMG_0449.jpg Photo by rgfast | Photobucket</a>
[IMG]http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/rgfast/media/IMG_0463-1.jpg.html">IMG_0463-1.jpg Photo by rgfast | Photobucket</a>
This is not a rhetorical question: How much of the LED vs MH discussion is clouded by the fact that there is a WIDE range of LED quality but basically a MH bulb is a MH bulb? While you have people trying LEDs and complaining that they don't work because they bought crappy and/or underpowered fixtures, it's hard to do MH wrong so everyone who tries them has success.
I have zero experience with MH, so this is an honest question. It may very well be that MH has as much variation as LED, and my entire premise is wrong.
I have zero experience with MH, so this is an honest question. It may very well be that MH has as much variation as LED, and my entire premise is wrong.
YES! There are so many experiments with LED's. Some people get lucky right off the get go. Some people have horrible experiences. This whole hobby is an experiment. But there are tried and true aspects that hardly ever fail. MH and T5's are the staples and will linger around for many more years to come. But LED's are the future until something else becomes the newest.
I am looking forward to my LED experience. I have seen the results in Reggie's tank. THEY do work. He is on top of water changes so his water quality is great. Reggie is a successful SPS keeper because he follows great practices and tried and true technology. The LED's he has, have been proven enough for him to make an educated leap to buy them and they work great. His decision to supplement with T5's is purely his personal reasons, I am not sure. I personally think T5's brought something to the table that older LED's were lacking. Today's newest LED's probably do not require the supplementation because developers closed that gap.
Reggie hopefully you don't mind me talking on your behalf. Fill in and correct as necessary.
If any of our water quality was not good, none of our tanks would exhibit great colors. So taking water quality out of the equation. YES! I do believe there is a difference in quality of LED's. Not only quality in build, but how many and configuration of spectrum.
Cool White and Royal Blue and Blues configured from the proper "Bin" Have proven to grow every single coral in a reef tank and keep amazing color. The "full" spectrum fixture idea helps bring out various...temperatures in light color. Most of it is eye pleasure but Do some corals benefit from different color LED's, maybe/probably. Are they necessary? No because it has been proven that corals only require specific narrow lengths in the spectrum.
The great perk from online forums is sharing ideas maturely to keep each other from recreating each others mistakes. Ultimately to provide the best care for our creatures but saving money from not following a bad path. It is up to us to share accurate information rather than off the wall opinions.
i completely agree with everything you just posted Joe
water quality has a lot more to do with coral colors if you are running a decent light source.
i supplement my 120g[48"]with 2 36" pure actinic t5.one of them is being blocked by my 16" center overflow so im not so sure exactly how much they are helping,ive just always liked the actinic pop.im sure theyre supplying a small amount of uv i would guess.
Guerry,i wasnt implying you werent using or making quality fixtures,i was just saying i have the utmost confidence in my leds and have the coral colors to prove it,thats all.i also wasnt saying i have the "best"corals in the club,i was simply stating that my colors were certainly not lacking.
water quality has a lot more to do with coral colors if you are running a decent light source.
i supplement my 120g[48"]with 2 36" pure actinic t5.one of them is being blocked by my 16" center overflow so im not so sure exactly how much they are helping,ive just always liked the actinic pop.im sure theyre supplying a small amount of uv i would guess.
Guerry,i wasnt implying you werent using or making quality fixtures,i was just saying i have the utmost confidence in my leds and have the coral colors to prove it,thats all.i also wasnt saying i have the "best"corals in the club,i was simply stating that my colors were certainly not lacking.
Thanks, I'm not saying my corals don't look good, I've just seen them even look better. As for water quailty I do 40gal water change weeky using Salinity salt and I dose every two hours to keep Alk and Cal levels dead on, my system uses 187ml of Alk and 157ml of cal a day and I use B-Ionic two part. I pulled cal reactor due to the fact it couldn't keep up and wasn't as stable IMO
You have a beautiful tank none the less. Regarding the T5's. On our level, there is no way to tell if they are needed or not. If they are for color pop, great. Isn't loud corals the reason we keep sticks anyway? If they are for growth, the LED's should grow the corals fine. Whatever the reason, it has created the best tank I have ever seen in person, hands down.
I wish there was definitive information out there saying X is superior to Y and here is why. Forums can often be misleading due to misinformation, or not the entire story. This will never change. Maybe too much pride or someone would be embarrassed for making a mistake.
I am proud to a list of friends and resources to ask for honest feedback before I spend my hard earned money.
Edit:
Me too.
I wish there was definitive information out there saying X is superior to Y and here is why. Forums can often be misleading due to misinformation, or not the entire story. This will never change. Maybe too much pride or someone would be embarrassed for making a mistake.
I am proud to a list of friends and resources to ask for honest feedback before I spend my hard earned money.
Edit:
Me too.
thanks Joseph.im not sure how much they help but at this point,im too scared to pull them out anyway!
