LEDs, T5s or HALIDES

[trido]

I'm having just as good of results with my LED's as I ever did with MH. Its just a matter of preference. T-5's were good too but I'm not a fan of the florescent lack of shimmer and IMO Pop that you get from MH or LED.

 

[3lusive]

And that is exactly why I have been debating for awhile now to sell mine and go with a t5 fixture!

I can totally understand. It's the exact reason I went with the LED/T5 combo.

 

[ReefCartel]

Is it true that the radions or LEDs period, affect sps by not hitting every part of the coral?? Therefore leaving it to not color up or not to grow on the entire coral? Or is there no negative affects with LEDs and SPs? Just curious because I have Radions with wide lens and a bunch of acros that are doing good but not great

Yes its true. According to 3lusive's post above. The Leds have limits on total coverage.

 

[ReefCartel]

I'm having just as good of results with my LED's as I ever did with MH. Its just a matter of preference. T-5's were good too but I'm not a fan of the florescent lack of shimmer and IMO Pop that you get from MH or LED.

Thats it! im doing a T5 and LED hybrid! lol

 

[3lusive]

Being a very fine point source light is where the problem lies. Working with optics MIGHT help in some cases, but my fixture doesn't allow me to do that so I just went the for sure route , and added the tubes.

 

[Gwitness]

So maybe I should just keep my Radion and retrofit 4 t5 bulbs on my canopy??!! 2 in front and 2 in back...Radion in middle

 

[ReefCartel]

So maybe I should just keep my Radion and retrofit 4 t5 bulbs on my canopy??!! 2 in front and 2 in back...Radion in middle

+1 That sounds like an awesome plan. Please share results too.

 

[3lusive]

This is mine

 

[Gwitness]

Will do!

 

[trido]

Not to derail the topic of this thread, But LED's are not WAAAY behind MH and T-5. In fact there are plenty of people that have amazing success with them. My tank is one, Sanjay's tank seems to be doing pretty amazing and a couple National aquariums are testing some fixtures over thier displays too. LED's can grow corals just fine and with good color too.


Like many, I get real tired of hearing that LED's cannot grow coral.
.

 

[ReefCartel]

Hey 3lusive, So ATI tubes are good? what color combinations would you prefer for a hybrid with kessils? i have them hooked up to an Apex on a ramp mode from 5k-15k then back down. So its really deep blue already. Also, how would I be able to sync the dimming capabilities on the T5s with the kessils?

 

[Gwitness]

Trido....what kind of LEDs do u run?? Ur corals look great by the way!

 

[3lusive]

Hey 3lusive, So ATI tubes are good? what color combinations would you prefer for a hybrid with kessils? i have them hooked up to an Apex on a ramp mode from 5k-15k then back down. So its really deep blue already. Also, how would I be able to sync the dimming capabilities on the T5s with the kessils?

ATI are one of the if not the best out there IMO. Color combo is more of a personal taste, and since your Kessils are adjustable , you can always fix the spectrum if your tubes are too blue / white. The ATI ballasts run on a 0-10v signal so I'm pretty sure the Apex VDM will work to control them.

 

[Reefer831]

All 3 have there pros and cons...Ill take a 3 some combo if possiable

 

[ReefCartel]

Not to derail the topic of this thread, But LED's are not WAAAY behind MH and T-5. In fact there are plenty of people that have amazing success with them. My tank is one, Sanjay's tank seems to be doing pretty amazing and a couple National aquariums are testing some fixtures over thier displays too. LED's can grow corals just fine and with good color too.


Like many, I get real tired of hearing that LED's cannot grow coral.
.

Dude Wow lol

 

[3lusive]

Are you having issues with what I call naked undersides on any of your SPS ?

I'm not trying to say LED's don't work, so please do not take it that way. I just stating what I have experienced. I had this problem with my current LED's, as well as the AI Vega colors that I used to run.


Also, what units do you run ?

Thanks
-B

 

[trido]

I have the ever so expensive Evergrow LED's supplemented with a couple DIY strips. IMO, one possible issue people might have with LED's is too much blue and lack of white. Everyone seems to think you have to run them at 60% blue and 40% white or somethng like that. I run my blues and whites both at 75% with my cheap fixtures 16" above the water line on my 30" deep tank. I have SPS all the way on the bottom and my Ponape birdsnest is still getting more light than it needs.

 

[ReefCartel]

ATI are one of the if not the best out there IMO. Color combo is more of a personal taste, and since your Kessils are adjustable , you can always fix the spectrum if your tubes are too blue / white. The ATI ballasts run on a 0-10v signal so I'm pretty sure the Apex VDM will work to control them.

Perfect!!! Thanks man

 

[Gwitness]

I heard that the white light burns the corals so you need to keep them turned down?? Also do out have red or green also?? If so what percent do you run those at?

 

[3lusive]

I have the ever so expensive Evergrow LED's supplemented with a couple DIY strips. IMO, one possible issue people might have with LED's is too much blue and lack of white. Everyone seems to think you have to run them at 60% blue and 40% white or somethng like that. I run my blues and whites both at 75% with my cheap fixtures 16" above the water line on my 30" deep tank. I have SPS all the way on the bottom and my Ponape birdsnest is still getting more light than it needs.

Just out of curiosity have you taken any PAR readings ?

I've seen Very good reviews on the Evergrow units, but I've never got to play with one.