LED Lighting on a reef tank as the primary lighting will never work!

(2019) What type of lighting is the main source of "coral growing" light on your reef tank?

  • LED

    Votes: 579 77.6%
  • Metal Halide

    Votes: 35 4.7%
  • T5

    Votes: 104 13.9%
  • Other...

    Votes: 28 3.8%

  • Total voters
    746
I am running pair of AP700's with a pair of 24" version 2 Aquatic Life hybrid fixture over a 150G.
The Kessils did a great job growing SPS, which in turn led to too much shading; the T5's remove the shading and create a nice blanket of light.
 
I have a 40 gallon with one 2 puck led and running into shading issues already. Will be adding another to get better spread. I will definitely be doing a hybrid setup when I convert my planted 80 back into a reef.
 
Here’s the tank you can see where I’ve already framed the tabling red coral top left due to shadow and bleaching. My green slimmer was stning a bit due to the same and the angle mounted but the lit side is incrusting nice. Hybrid is the way to go IMHO.

095A58F0-F9B9-44F0-9C15-4056DC76B152.jpeg 8B4C46AD-2C09-4D17-8CF2-4CA8E0BD3434.jpeg
 
Here’s the tank you can see where I’ve already frag d the tabling red coral top left due to shadow and bleaching. My green slimmer was stning a bit due to the same and the angle mounted but the lit side is incrusting nice. Hybrid is the way to go IMHO.
 
The answer is DEPENDS... I just run Kessils on my DT, and my problem is too much growth, as in corals growing into each other. That is my DT, where I don't want tons of growth. I am going for beauty. But in a frag tank, where you really want growth, I would probably want T5s or some hybrid.

IMG_2577.gif
 
Semi off-topic, but we visited the Georgia Aquarium today and did a bit of behind the scenes.

While at the tropical reef tank, I asked about the lighting. This is what they have:

20190928_105110.jpg


According to the lads working there, they switched from MH to all LED lighting about two years ago. Tank looks great though.
 
Semi off-topic, but we visited the Georgia Aquarium today and did a bit of behind the scenes.

While at the tropical reef tank, I asked about the lighting. This is what they have:

20190928_105110.jpg


According to the lads working there, they switched from MH to all LED lighting about two years ago. Tank looks great though.
Wonder what bulbs they are using....
 
48" 120G tank:
2 x R420R 120W 16K
2 x 39W LET Retrofit (ATI Coral Plus) T5
DIY hybrid:
img_6648-jpg.465935


img_6651-jpg.465936


I seem to grow the heck out of Hammer and Frogspawn but everything else is kinda 'meh' on growth rate.
Experimenting with slowly turning up the intensity on the R420Rs over the next few weeks.
 
Wonder what bulbs they are using....

Yeah, I wish I could have spent more time speaking with the lady and two gentlemen at thr tropical exhibit. Unfortunately, they weren't "part of the tour", I strayed from the group and engaged the three of them in conversation. All 3 had reef tanks at home, two worked for the aquarium and one was from the EPA and volunteered his time at the aquarium. I could have spent the rest of the day talking to them; much to the dislike of the tour guide who looked very irritated by the fact that I had strayed and had no interest in the basic information she was providing.

But, I'm derailing the thread, sorry, I was just super excited:p Carry on.
 
Biocube 32 with steve's LED lighting. The original Biocube lighting was very easy to use and seemed just OK. Steve's are way superior and not to hard to install. I wish steve's could have used the same in-lid controller as an option even though the one that comes with steve's has way more options and control. Just don't care for the cord running to it, but all working and LPS, SPS and soft corals all flourishing.
I have steves led's for my 32 biocube. I am trying to set the blue lights to come on at 6:00pm and stay on until 10;00pm. No matter what I try, it won't work! I have no desire to look at my coral in white lights. Please help!
 
The controller is a bit tricky in that you have to see the cursor on the setting you are trying to control. I will go through it when I get home to remind myself how to use it so I respond to your query accurately.
 
The controller is a bit tricky in that you have to see the cursor on the setting you are trying to control. I will go through it when I get home to remind myself how to use it so I respond to your query accurately.
I know about the cursor, it's just that the controller {hurricane x) only seems to allow only 1 1/2 hours of blue lights only.
 
"LED Lighting on a reef tank will never work!"

This is an example of a statement we heard or maybe even you thought or said just a few short years ago. We ran polls about it, talked and argued about it but now how prevalent is it really?

It's time for a NEW poll to compare to the OLD polls! It's 2019 and it sure seems like LED lighting won.

What type of lighting are you using as your primary source of light and what brand and model is it?

coral-farm-LED-light-1.jpg
As we speak there's a public aquarium being built in Sweden and they have to go with all LED lighting and so it must work.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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