LEDs for chalices please share experience.

ReeferBill · Jan 15, 2012

So I have a tank that is 20" deep with a 150MH bulb and 2 actinic t-5 bulbs for growing chalices. I have about 5 chalices, bubble coral and some softies. I want this to be mostly chalices and other LPS. It is time to get a new MH bulb, which is $80, and my brother has said we could build an LED fixture for about $200. It would consist of 3 watt cree white and blue LEDs, not sure how many. I have been doing some research on LEDs and LPS and some have said that it changes the colors of the reds and yellows. Does anyone have any good or bad experience with pure LED chalice tanks, or LPS tanks? I am looking at the dimmable so the corals wont get burned, but I dont want them to loose their reds and pinks and greens. Please give any experiences or pictures of before and after. I know that it changes acans coloration, but acans change colors all the time. I am looking more at chalices and favias and stuff.
Thanks

spero · Jan 15, 2012

Bill -

I'm currently running an all LED setup. Have a few chalices in there right now, the oldest being in there for roughly a month. Haven't noticed any coloration change in those, but one of the eyes just split into two. After only being in there a month, time will tell but it doesn't appear to have an affect on the coloration. FYI, one is a purple/green rim/yellowish eyes, one is purple/blue/green eyes & rim, and one is similar to JF's goldmeister.

I have noticed changes in my acan coloration depending on how much direct light I put on them (shaded brings back bright coloration, direct dulls/lightens it a bit).

spero · Jan 15, 2012

One more thought - I've read quite a bit and if I had it to do over, I would build a DIY with a wider range of wavelengths. My current setup is 25x3w @14k, 4x3w @ 466nm, and 2x1w @ 456nm. The 14k's are STRONG, and I wish I had a dimmer. Toying with the idea of trying to install one, as well as add some more bulbs in the 400-450 range.

LBA · Jan 15, 2012

No long term personal experience, I never was a fan of LED... But! A lot of our customers with a good taste for coral have been talking about selling off their LEDs and going back to T5 for whatever reason.

ReefLEDLights · Jan 16, 2012

Not every LED is created equal.

under the premium bins we carry I have had great success.

(old photo)

-Rick

sexycorals · Jan 16, 2012

+232435154315345314 .... almost all my customers too. but i dont know what brand or what kinda LED they use.

LBA said:
No long term personal experience, I never was a fan of LED... But! A lot of our customers with a good taste for coral have been talking about selling off their LEDs and going back to T5 for whatever reason.

ReeferBill · Jan 16, 2012

Great stuff guys. Thanks for all the comments, keep them coming. I have talked to LED specialists and they all say that LEDs are better....of course, but its hard to know what the god LEDs are and what the bad ones are. Right now my chalices are looking great and I was worried to change things when it is working, but I was hoping for some people who had good experiences long term. Sounds like not everyone is convinced they are good for LPS.
ReefLED lights, how long have you had the chalices under those LEDs? They look like they are not any bigger so I worry its only been a few weeks or months.
Thanks,
Bill

FishLipz · Jan 16, 2012

I use evolution LEDs on my 180 with great color and growth for my LPS. I'm not a chalice fanatic but the ones I do have with red/orange tones (widowmaker, oranji, pink Cadillac WM, sweet tooth WM) all have fantastic color. I think the big advantage that a nice T5 setup is the flexibility to change your color spectrum by simply changing out bulbs where until recently LEDs lacked in that regard.

ReeferBill · Jan 16, 2012

Fish, how long have you had them?

FishLipz · Jan 16, 2012

They've all been six months plus. The widowmaker and sweet tooth WM a year or more

ReefLEDLights · Jan 17, 2012

ReefLEDLights said:
Not every LED is created equal.

under the premium bins we carry I have had great success.

(old photo)

-Rick

Sorry for the cell phone shot. I have been working on my tank and its been in recovery. a gallon of ALK was dumped in so I have been getting her to recuperate since.

The oregon mummy lost 50% from being stung but you can still see its growth.

Rskillz · Jan 17, 2012

Pretty negative. I have LEDs on almost all my tanks--and while I love them--they do not seem to treat LPS very well in general. SPS absolutely love to get baked by LEDs and color up really well, but so far no good on chalices =( They are VERY sensitive to LED light in general, especially focused optics. Pretty much the only downside I've noticed from the switch to LEDs.

ReeferBill · Jan 17, 2012

Rskills, do you use dimmers for your LEDs, and what kind of LEDs do you use? Crees?
Thanks

williamjacobs641 · Jan 17, 2012

I have a miami hurricane that's been under bridgelux leds for about 6 months now . When I 1st put it under leds, it had 3 eyes. Now it has 11 eyes and the color looks great. I also have a tyree pink watermelon that had 3 eyes, and now it has a 4th eye. It took 3 weeks to make the 4th eye. I also have a bm chalice that had 2 eyes and now has 5 eyes. But I run 2 ati 80w blueplus with two panel of 40 leds each. I don't care for leds by themself, but with t5 to supplement, it looks great.

m and m · Jan 17, 2012

Im not to fond at all for chalices and LED's I love T5's but thats just me. I do like a strip to add pop at night when the lights are out. To look across the room and see things pop is just amazing.

keokea · Jan 17, 2012

I have a no name red chalice that turned blue, it started under leds a year ago at around a 2 inch frag, now its bigger than a cd

2 different led fixtures both diy cree

data_loss · Jan 17, 2012

Is anyone keeping chalices under a DIY fixture that incorporates some True Violet 420nm LED's? I wonder if that would help.

spero · Jan 17, 2012

data_loss said:
Is anyone keeping chalices under a DIY fixture that incorporates some True Violet 420nm LED's? I wonder if that would help.

Several believe that's the missing wavelength with most LED setups. I'd be interesting in hearing any experiences with adding a 420 type bulb. It's something that I'd like to try.