LED opinions

[DawgFace]

Ok so I have been scrounging the internet on recommendations and opinions on LED for the past 6 hours. Thread after thread I've read there is a massive divide on personal opinions on whether they're worth the money. Many claimed they have experience limited growth opposed to T5 and MH.
So ARC I come to whom I trust looking for personal opinions on the matter. Please give me your personal opinion and experiences with them. Also include what unit you have (led), how long you've had them, tank dimensions and corals in tank.

Thanks in advance for the replies!

[Sharkbait]

I'm tagging along with this. I just got home with my LED's that I got from Rob and will be doing my build here this weekend. Curious to see what some people who actually have LED's say.

[DawgFace]

Not sure if this is allowed here or not... If it's not, I apologize in advance.

Thread I just got done reading over at r2r.

http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef...-hello-mh.html

[db366]

I agree I have done a lot of reading on LED's and what to use and it seems to be more confusing now than it did before I started reading..

1 Watt leds, 3 Watts, 3 Watt Cree's, use red/yellow/greens to get more color and such.. Where is the facts that aren't biased because they are coming from someone who makes fixtures or something.

[coolsurf]

I think all of us who went the route of the LED probably went through the same thing. When it finally came time to "pull the trigger", it was like well, here goes and let's hope for the best.

Here is a link I believe will help you a great deal. I had basically the same setup as his prior to him going LED and then I built my LED lighting almost the same way as him except for using different drivers. I am using the same LED's. http://www.thescmas.com/forums/showt...t-LED-Lighting

Good luck!

Let me add...reds are good for growing algae...not something you want unless your putting in a sump.

[bruce 1]

I put LEDs in my 14gal biocube and the corals are growing like nuts. All that is in it are softies and 2 LPS frags. My new tank I am planning will have LEDs in it.

[DawgFace]

Originally Posted by coolsurf

I think all of us who went the route of the LED probably went through the same thing. When it finally came time to "pull the trigger", it was like well, here goes and let's hope for the best.

Here is a link I believe will help you a great deal. I had basically the same setup as his prior to him going LED and then I built my LED lighting almost the same way as him except for using different drivers. I am using the same LED's. http://www.thescmas.com/forums/showt...t-LED-Lighting

Good luck!

Let me add...reds are good for growing algae...not something you want unless your putting in a sump.

Great thread!!

Thanks!

[jbadd99]

I'll add more to this next week when I'm back in town, but I went the route of 120w (1w LEDs) Pacific Sun units. No complaints so far.

Zoas, RBTA, leather, birds nest all seem to be doing good

[MvM]

I think it would be pretty easy to put a halide unit over a current LED tank to see the immediate changes. If anyone has a full 250W halide set up, I'd like to borrow it to see. I have an open system so it would be easy to test. So far, I am more than happy with me AI SOL Blues....

Originally Posted by DawgFace

Not sure if this is allowed here or not... If it's not, I apologize in advance.

Thread I just got done reading over at r2r.

http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef...-hello-mh.html

[DawgFace]

Originally Posted by MvM

I think it would be pretty easy to put a halide unit over a current LED tank to see the immediate changes. If anyone has a full 250W halide set up, I'd like to borrow it to see. I have an open system so it would be easy to test. So far, I am more than happy with me AI SOL Blues....

How long have you had them?

[MvM]

I switched in early May. So far, I have zero complaints. Coral growth is better (although I did add a cal reactor). Color is better too. That's why I'd like to try the halide test. It seems a lot of people in that thread had DIY fixtures. Maybe that's the problem?

[DawgFace]

Originally Posted by MvM

I switched in early May. So far, I have zero complaints. Coral growth is better (although I did add a cal reactor). Color is better too. That's why I'd like to try the halide test. It seems a lot of people in that thread had DIY fixtures. Maybe that's the problem?

That was mu thoughts exactly! Everyone that had AI units seemed to love both the growth and look. Troylee's only complaint was with selling his corals people were complaining they didn't look the same under MH.... no ****! I think thats 90% of the reason for them, no?

[coolsurf]

It seems a lot of people add too much blue. I have a lot of folks who tried to encourage me to go 2:1 blue to white...I went 1:1 and love the color. 2:1 would have been way too overdone IMO and probably would have resulted in poor growth. All part of the planning process before you get started I think.

[DawgFace]

Isn't AI 2:1?

Also I've heard 2:1 adds more par futher down? I have a 30'' depth, whatcha think?

[MvM]

I am at 70% on both blues and 65% on the whites. The whites do turn off early to simulate SR/SS. Money well spent, I think.

[coolsurf]

Originally Posted by DawgFace

Isn't AI 2:1?

Also I've heard 2:1 adds more par futher down? I have a 30'' depth, whatcha think?

Not sure on AI. Light is also controlled by optics. I am not using any so that may have something to do with it as well. I didn't consider that when I responded. I went with a DIY so I could get the results I wanted instead of being force fed of what was out there. That's the main advantage of a DIY. I can fine tune all my LED's and adjust for color/brightness/sunset/sunrise/moonlight and thunderstorms as I desire. Is it the best way? I don't know but it works to the specs I designed it for which is typically outside the norm of most LED lights. I must add, the light is softer and not as harsh as MH. Kind of cool I think. More shimmer with an LED as well.

[MvM]

I agree the shimmer with LEDs is nuts.

[coolsurf]

Originally Posted by MvM

I agree the shimmer with LEDs is nuts.

It takes a bit to get used to.

I'm not here to convince one way or the other. Keep researching and asking until you come up with your definate answer of what will work for you.

[cr500_af]

I'm about to do a DIY on my anemone tank project, and I have to source some raw LEDs. I thought I had a deal for 10 whites along with my blues, but it turns out I have no whites... so I have to find about 10-15 white 3w LEDs.

I've been trying to read up just to know what type of CREEs to order and now I have a headache. There are a ton of varieties and the more I read the less I have sorted out. I feel for you guys who have done it; all I'm trying to do is order a dozen or so and it's like trying to Google particle physics!

[DawgFace]

Originally Posted by cr500_af

I'm about to do a DIY on my anemone tank project, and I have to source some raw LEDs. I thought I had a deal for 10 whites along with my blues, but it turns out I have no whites... so I have to find about 10-15 white 3w LEDs.

I've been trying to read up just to know what type of CREEs to order and now I have a headache. There are a ton of varieties and the more I read the less I have sorted out. I feel for you guys who have done it; all I'm trying to do is order a dozen or so and it's like trying to Google particle physics!

Amen!