T5's to Led's for SPS

[RogerWilco357]

Well I have been kicking around the idea of getting 2 Radions for my SPS but not sure ..How many of you Sps keepers have tried this and how did it play out with you ? Happy,Sad or ended up going back to T5's and selling your leds something I don't want to end up doing so I am asking you sps guys ..the reason is my crazy electric bill I went from metals to t5's and still cost is not coming down but then again the unit is
An ATI Powermodule 10x54 watt bulbs ...ugh..but it does grow sps and looks great ..color pops..so confused any insight is appreciated.
Roger

 

[Reefing8EZ]

I just sold my Radion and bought an ATI Sunpower 6x24. Very happy with my decision. Radion was drawing about 100watts versus my new T5 setup that totals 144 watts. Not a whopping saving in electricity. And if you thought figuring out a nice T5 bulb combo was difficult. Try setting 5 diff color channels for diff intensities at diff times of day. Then thunderstorms and lightning.. Too much thinking for me.
Now I turn on 2 bulbs for dawn/dusk, the other 4 for midday.
And ATI fixtures rock! I love mine, I also own a TEK elite 6x39 and think the ATI is much brighter..

 

[pickupman66]

I went from Halide/T5 to LED. best decision I ever made. Still have that lovely shimmer and much less electricity. on my 180 that went from 912 watts to 378 watts. still getting excellent growth. I did a custom LED build as Im too cheap for those radions. Best part is I did it all for under what a single radion costs. granted I dont have to deal with controlling 5 channels of colors.

 

[Chameleon]

I know someone who went from T5 to LEDs and loves it. Initially it caused evap issues as system went from 5 gal a day evap to 0.5 gal a day and tank wasn't getting enough kalkwasser so levels dropped really rapidly. be careful of that, but other than that they really like em and its a diy build. If you want I can get you in contact with them as they are on R2R just not so active.

 

[chort55]

SPS loved my switch from T5 to DIY LED's.... until I got messing with stuff and knocked out half of 2 panels... $200 mistake, but I plan to fix them and expect things will be fine with doing so.

 

[Reefer831]

I hated LED's for SPS but loved them for LPS....the SPS didn't look to bad under the LED's but when I sold frags to people and they would put them under T5's or MH's the color would be completely different and lacking in color. I now run a 8x53 ATI Powermodule and thought the color was too sort and stale or soft looking so I added 2 blue reef bright LED bars and love it! IMO MH's are always the best choice if you can afford them...

 

[minhvu]

I went from 10bulbs retro T5 to radion about 3 months ago. Absolutely love it. I've noticed a big difference in electric bill. About $40-$50 less then last year per month. My T5 was pulling almost 800w compared to 360w from 3 radion. Also, the heat that was blowing out of the tank from 6 fans made the house warmer which caused the AC to run more. My tank run from 77.5-78.5 now instead of 79-81.5 degree with T5. There's a little bit difference in colors but the radion can adjust it. Plus, the shimmer the radion put out is awesome

 

[RogerWilco357]

anyone have alot of sps while running the leds already like colonies and notice any ill effects or positive effects like growth and color?

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

anyone have alot of sps while running the leds already like colonies and notice any ill effects or positive effects like growth and color?

I have three colonies which went from being under T5s (at the vendor) to my strong LEDs and they all colored up and are growing like crazy.

 

[c.declivisowner]

I Have my frag tank plumbed into my main tank. The frag tank has 4 bulb T5 and the main has 2 AquaIllumination Sol LEDs. One thing I can tell you is that my Tyree/Joes Rainbow Acro turned all Sky Blue color under LEDs. I moved it to the frag tank and it is now rainbow with colors of green, red, blue. Everything was the same since the tanks were plumbed together the only change was the lighting. Just a thought to consider with LED's

 

[chort55]

I Have my frag tank plumbed into my main tank. The frag tank has 4 bulb T5 and the main has 2 AquaIllumination Sol LEDs. One thing I can tell you is that my Tyree/Joes Rainbow Acro turned all Sky Blue color under LEDs. I moved it to the frag tank and it is now rainbow with colors of green, red, blue. Everything was the same since the tanks were plumbed together the only change was the lighting. Just a thought to consider with LED's

Have you actually tested the water in both tanks because I have a good friend who has his tank and frag tank plumbed together and the #s are different.... so just because they are plumbed together doesn't actually mean same water quality.

 

[c.declivisowner]

No, I had no idea they would have different water parameters.

 

[chort55]

No, I had no idea they would have different water parameters.

Yes, it is possible anyways, may not be your case but I wouldn't just assume they are the same.

My thought behind it is simply the water probably doesn't go to each tank equally (even if using same pump, or plumbed off same pump due to head loss or maybe some other factors) so it doesn't go through the sump the same and isn't filtered as much or doesn't get as much from dosing etc, swaying parameters a little. Also, there may not be as many fish or other animals in the frag tank as the display so they don't get as much natural food before it goes to the sump area for filtration.... Again, just my thought on why they could possibly have different parameters although using the "same water", kind of like the ocean is different depending where you are eventhough they are connected as well

 

[reefknight]

I hated LED's for SPS but loved them for LPS....the SPS didn't look to bad under the LED's but when I sold frags to people and they would put them under T5's or MH's the color would be completely different and lacking in color. I now run a 8x53 ATI Powermodule and thought the color was too sort and stale or soft looking so I added 2 blue reef bright LED bars and love it! IMO MH's are always the best choice if you can afford them...

Do you have any photos of your PM fixture with the additions of the leds? I'm running the 10 lamp version and would live to add some leds for pop.

 

[RogerWilco357]

i was also thinking that par plays a large factor . now the spread of light is different from metals to t5's to leds which are more concentrated just becuase you get 200 par on one coral under metals or t5's doesn't mean the same par for leds since the spread or beam maybe less concentrated or off by an inch to the left or right that is why I will be getting a par meter to make sure the same coral getting 200 under other lighting gets the same par under the leds and not more or less and if they still loose color then I will know its the light if it works out than great if the par is under or over i can adjust to make sure not to stun the coral , i may be selling my t5's to make up some of the cash but think i will wait till i test and evaluate really hope it works out i could use a break on that electric bill ..thanks for all the input keep it coming has anyone else done as i will be doing with the par meter?

 

[Big E]

I Have my frag tank plumbed into my main tank. The frag tank has 4 bulb T5 and the main has 2 AquaIllumination Sol LEDs. One thing I can tell you is that my Tyree/Joes Rainbow Acro turned all Sky Blue color under LEDs. I moved it to the frag tank and it is now rainbow with colors of green, red, blue. Everything was the same since the tanks were plumbed together the only change was the lighting. Just a thought to consider with LED's

This is the biggest issue I have with LED's right now. Very few of them aside from radions & the new Maxspects are full specturm. I've seen the same thing your talking about under LED's. Colors like green & blue will be fine.........rainbow type corals, reds, pinks are not going to have the same pop or
colors they do under T5's.

 

[Big E]

i was also thinking that par plays a large factor . now the spread of light is different from metals to t5's to leds which are more concentrated just becuase you get 200 par on one coral under metals or t5's doesn't mean the same par for leds since the spread or beam maybe less concentrated or off by an inch to the left or right that is why I will be getting a par meter to make sure the same coral getting 200 under other lighting gets the same par under the leds and not more or less and if they still loose color then I will know its the light if it works out than great if the par is under or over i can adjust to make sure not to stun the coral , i may be selling my t5's to make up some of the cash but think i will wait till i test and evaluate really hope it works out i could use a break on that electric bill ..thanks for all the input keep it coming has anyone else done as i will be doing with the par meter?

A par meter isn't going to help you in all honestly. The problem is the narrow spectrum of each diode. A white or blue diode will put out say 200 par of only one spectrurm & the coral will take in 100%. A bulb that is usually multiple specturm that is 200par............ the coral is only going to take in a portion & reflect the spectrums it doesn't need to grow, it may only be taking in 50% of the par that bulb gives off.

That's why so many people burned corals early on with LED's.

 

[ColaAddict]

I went from Halide/T5 to LED. best decision I ever made. Still have that lovely shimmer and much less electricity. on my 180 that went from 912 watts to 378 watts. still getting excellent growth. I did a custom LED build as Im too cheap for those radions. Best part is I did it all for under what a single radion costs. granted I dont have to deal with controlling 5 channels of colors.

Where did you buy such cheap DIY LED's enough to light a 180?

 

[pickupman66]

So we got out electric bill for June. it has been Super hot here in TN. My bill was 250 Kwh less than last year for the same period. at our rate that is about a $25 savings for the month. All other factors are the same as far as the house. Id say that is pretty good for running a Large tank. it was Way cooler outside last year so I was really surprised by our bill.


RogerWilco, I have a TON of SPS. check out the last 2 pages or so of my build thread and you can see some incredible growth on all my SPS (except a stupid pink Lemonade)

ColaAddict, I got lucky. I bought a used 4' LED kit that someone had upgraded from on their previous tank. it had Most of what I needed. Paid $500 for it. came with ~100 LED's and the drivers. I added a few extra strings to it and split it apart to make it work. https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/la...-pickupman66s-180-gc-build-10.html#post923047

 

[RogerWilco357]

you say except pink lemonade? I just picked up a nice colony say 8 inch by 4 inch and this thing is beautiful so yellow and the polyps so pink and long it has the craziest full polyps i have of any coral i have owned i love that piece my favorite now and i have some nice deep water acro and it is growing so fast un believable really compared to my other corals this one is a rockstar ..but if i buy this radion I guess i will use that coral as my test subject for color and growth if it stops or looses it pretty pink off come the radions for sure ..i cannot believe how head over heels i am with that coral sorrry for going on ...going to get some cash and hopefully some radions today or over the weekend 2 people have some for sale ..crossing fingers lol..you guys have put up some good intel .
would like to know if anyone has one tank with radions on one side and t5's on the other or any other light for comparison..?