Are LEDs really better?

[Liquid360]

The only way to prove any of this is to create the exact identical tank each under a different light source with all chemistry being identical. Each system is FAR too complex to assume its the lights alone which are enhancing/maintaining/preventing optimal growth/color. The closest we can come to this is with the professionals/magazines which do just that. However many believe those studies to be biased and paid for. Everybody likes to believe they're doing what is best but truth is you'll never ever know. Only opinions exist here and that's the only fact.


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[Steelerfan747]

I went from vho, to pc, to mh, to t5 and now to leds. I just recently started keeping sps so I cannot truthfully speak as to what would grow sps better but I can tell you they are growing and I love the shimmer that I got with mh with the loss of the heat along with the ability to ramp up and dim down for true sunrise/sunset. Something that I was not able to do with any other light I previously had. I will never switch back

 

[WesF]

I think the problem is "better" is highly subjective and every lighting option had pros and cons. You just need to weigh out all the pros and cons and choose which lighting solution is the best match for you.

Personally I have achieved the best color in acropora with MH. I've used MH, T5, and LED over the years.

MH has alot of negatives. Electricity, heat, bulb replacement...But to me it's worth it because I love what they do for my corals compared to the other 2 and that is the most important thing to me.

 

[GABENO]

Hi..I'm new..but I have a sps tank..with a 400w mh..I was all for led an got the new Vegas ...now 2weeks later an most of my sps are brown..I under stand they well do this an come back..or some say.but I didn't want to wait to find out..so I'm back to mh..
O an the Vegas were set at 70

 

[gmoney243]

U might have been running.them to high
Watc this video showing real par numbers taken with licor par meter in a DD tank 25% power yields almost 100 par on sandbed 30" down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob1PYQ9buKY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[jedimasterben]

I used LEDs on my frag tank for about a year. My frag tank and display are all plumbed together. The same corals in the same water looked much better under the MH.

It WAS one of the china box LEDs from a vendor here so I won't say the name. I'm sure the nicer fixtures are better but for me it's not worth spending all that money when the MH are working so well.

I found your problem.

 

[jedimasterben]

Hi..I'm new..but I have a sps tank..with a 400w mh..I was all for led an got the new Vegas ...now 2weeks later an most of my sps are brown..I under stand they well do this an come back..or some say.but I didn't want to wait to find out..so I'm back to mh..
O an the Vegas were set at 70

Having such limited spectral output on a fixture basically lets you have two colors - actinic grey and green. Without warmer whites, that's about all you're destined to have.

U might have been running.them to high
Watc this video showing real par numbers taken with licor par meter in a DD tank 25% power yields almost 100 par on sandbed 30" down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob1PYQ9buKY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

That's the Radion, btw.

 

[WesF]

I found your problem.

I'll stick with MH. Too much of a gamble when I am so picky. I don't like T5 either.

It looks like you are having some issues in your tank?

I've got three pieces of SPS left alive that are totally unaffected by the dinoflagellates, one that only has the tips gone, and another four pieces that are 90-95% dead that I'm hoping some tiny piece will survive. :/

Good news, though, dinos are gone, gone, gone. Good friggin riddance.

No offense but I'll wait to see if all you guys preaching the LED actually grow a tank full of colorful SPS. Maybe I'll be convinced to try again in a few years.

I am very hesitant to change my methods. i have too many years of work at risk.

 

[Liquid360]

I think that's a wise choice! I switched to LEDs when a MH bulb went out and grew weary of fighting the heat. If something's working for you it's silly to blow money on LEDs. I'm very happy with my lights but I've zero desire to proselytize....

I'll stick with MH. Too much of a gamble when I am so picky. I don't like T5 either.

It looks like you are having some issues in your tank?



No offense but I'll wait to see if all you guys preaching the LED actually grow a tank full of colorful SPS. Maybe I'll be convinced to try again in a few years.

I am very hesitant to change my methods. i have too many years of work at risk.

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[CoralFragZ]

I'll stick with MH. Too much of a gamble when I am so picky. I don't like T5 either.

It looks like you are having some issues in your tank?



No offense but I'll wait to see if all you guys preaching the LED actually grow a tank full of colorful SPS. Maybe I'll be convinced to try again in a few years.

I am very hesitant to change my methods. i have too many years of work at risk.

Pics posted

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[marinelife]

I am 3 years in on LEDs and love every minute of it. The corals look and grow way better than ever before. I switched out from 400w MHs

 

[maharsreef]

well said poseidon! You took the words right out of my mouth.

I have been in the hobby nearly 30 years, and I have ran Regular Fluorescent, VHO, HALIDE, and T5. I am now running LED. Your statement is clearly not backed by science, rather anecdotal evidence of what you may think is happening. LED does in fact match halides in intensity, and can be manipulated so delicately in spectrum that no halide can compete. I can ramp up my fixture with control of not only intensity, but also spectrum. There is NO HALIDE that can do that, Period.

I am a firm believer in the concept of "pictures or it didn't happen", so I invite you to take a look at my previous tank, it was first lit by halide, then T5. My current tank is only about 3 months old in its current location, so all I have is frags, but in 6-8 months, this new tank will rival my old.

Take a peak for yourself:
Mike LaPorte (PerfectPix)'s Photos : Aquariums | SmugMug

 

[bigfoot86]

My buddy has a tank of all beautiful and colorful sps using LEDs, but not CHEAP leds. Gotta do homework before you buy these things and make judgement on them.

 

[alliecat]

A lot comes down to the person taking care of the aquarium. I've seen "cheap" led tanks, that are rocking sick SPS...Seems like some people can grow sps with a flash light!

i completely agree! i have the cheap LED's from china that everyone hates (beamswork 48" fixture) shipped to my door for $109. while i do not keep SPS (I personally dont like it, and i have a valentini puffer who likes it ALOT lol) i have had a lot of success with my LPS which are the only thing i keep. (and some softies). Keep in mind that i only have 1 48" fixture over my 55 gallon tank. if i added another i am certain that i could keep SPS if i wanted to- but i don't. its true that you get what you pay for, but if you dont have high expectations then why bother? I switched to reef knowing that LPS is what i wanted- so for $109 i couldnt beat it. My corals are doing awesome and GROWING. So if youre buying cheap knockoff fixtures and expecting to keep SPS IMO, you are obviously taking a gamble and it most likely wont work. but for someone like me who keeps an LPS reef- there should be no problem.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Well after being in the hobby over 20 plus years and using almost every possable light combination I can say with out a doubt LEDs are the future of lighting. There really is no need to use MH or T5 lighting as I have seen some of the best Sps aquariums under led lighting. Not only do they give off less heat less power and the cost saving on bulbs it's a no brainer. Yes LEDs do cost more for a quality fixture but in the long run the cost savings and the flexibility of being able to control every led is just unmatched by MH and t5. I can say that the Mitrad lx6100hv I have is the best lighting for my tank at this time and I would never go back.
Just my opinion

 

[jackson6745]

Well after being in the hobby over 20 plus years and using almost every possable light combination I can say with out a doubt LEDs are the future of lighting. There really is no need to use MH or T5 lighting as I have seen some of the best Sps aquariums under led lighting. Not only do they give off less heat less power and the cost saving on bulbs it's a no brainer. Yes LEDs do cost more for a quality fixture but in the long run the cost savings and the flexibility of being able to control every led is just unmatched by MH and t5. I can say that the Mitrad lx6100hv I have is the best lighting for my tank at this time and I would never go back.
Just my opinion

I have seen and experienced the complete opposite. It all depends what your expectations are.

 

[jackson6745]

And have you ever ran leds? Ive ran both side by side clearly corals under leds look way better.

Yep, ran a radion over my frag tank and a 400w halide over my display. Cooked corals with 50% peak intensity. Also hated the coverage, too many shadows. If I ever ran LED's again there would be a lot of t5 in the mix.

 

[jackson6745]

duplicate

 

[naso tang]

I used to run halides. Regarding sps coloration, I think it just takes time for sps to adapt to led. Mine seem happy, I do supplement with t5s though since I don't have a newer broad spectrum unit.



Pink lemonade


Hawkins


Boreal is


Don't know what this gem is. Had great color under halides, and then great new colors under led

 

[mainereefer]

180g diy 40 led white and blue on the sides running 100%, middle light is a 250w hqi with 4x24w t5. you can see where more coral is growing no opinion about it take a look


since this pic I switched to 3x evergrow led and cant say enough about them!!